Welcome to Week 5 of Island Health’s Farm Stand!

Happy Fourth of July weekend to all! There is something special about sharing summer meals with family and friends. That pleasure intensifies when providing dishes using ingredients grown locally. This sense of place, or terroir is the focus of the Genuine Skagit Valley Initiative.

Island Health is a founding member of GSV because we agree that supporting local agriculture benefits the health of our community. Genuine Skagit Valley is a national initiative designed to increase awareness and consumption of Skagit Valley agricultural related products and services. Learn more about this initiative:

https://genuineskagitvalley.com/

Please note, Water Tank Bakery will not be on site for our Farm Stand on July 5th. They are taking a much needed weekend off from production but will be back with their amazing selection of breads and cookies on July 12th.

Frozen Fresh Berries

While blueberries and raspberries throughout the valley are just beginning to ripen, strawberries are still going strong. Don’t forget to ask Schuh Farms for a berry punch card if purchasing half flats of berries this summer! Freezing berries for use in the winter is a simple process. To ensure berries do not clump together, spread in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and place in freezer until hard. Take individually frozen berries and place in freezer-safe zip top bag. Be sure to label each bag with berry type and the date. Frozen berries are best if consumed within 6-12 months.

Elevate Your Zucchini

Zucchini is a low calorie, low-carb vegetable which is extremely versatile. If prepared improperly, they taste watery and flavorless. However, a few simple tricks can elevate the humble zucchini into a star!

Try cutting zucchini into a variety of shapes for different applications. A mandolin is an excellent tool to keep in your kitchen as it can turn zucchini into spaghetti or lasagna noodle shapes. Try making a cold pesto pasta or hot pan of lasagna using this vegetable in place of pasta. Always bake the cut zucchini at 375 degrees for 5-10 minutes prior to using in place of noodles to dry them out a bit and accentuate their flavor. Baked zucchini spears topped with parmesan cheese makes for an excellent appetizer when dipped in marinara sauce.
This Week’s Participating Vendors
• Schuh Farms will be providing their wide selection of Skagit grown produce, berries, flowers, honey, and cookies as well as choice items from family farms in Eastern Washington. https://schuhfarmswa.com/
• Dog Island Mushrooms grows a variety of culinary mushrooms on Guemes Island and will bring mushrooms by the pound and mushroom growing kits. http://www.dogislandmushrooms.com/
Weekly Fresh-to-Go (FTG) Bags
Fresh-to-Go Bag Contents for Tuesday, July 5th
• Bunched Carrots
• Strawberries
• Greens of your choice
• Zucchini
• Surprise!
How to Order Fresh-to-Go (FTG) Bags
• Reply to this email by noon on Monday, July 4th to indicate you want the current FTG bag.
o Please include a contact phone number (prefer cell phone) when placing your order.
• Pick up FTG bag from the Schuh Farms booth at Farm Stand on Tuesday, July 5th, 11:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
o Please pick up your Fresh-to-Go bag by 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, unless you make a special arrangement when replying to this email.
• Pay at the Farm Stand.

If you pre-paid for the entire season there is no need to respond to this email, we have you on the list!

The Island Health Farm Stand runs 11 a.m.-4 p.m. every Tuesday from June 7th to September 6th. The Farm Stand is held in the 24th Street courtyard on the Island Health campus just to the east of the main campus entrance. Island Health employees and the local community are all welcome to attend.

Thank you,

Island Health Employee Wellness