Reflections from Ford

WOW! So much is going on. Like all of you, I am very concerned and adjusting to the Corona (COVID-19) virus and its impacts on communities, states and our country. We're praying and counting our blessings even more regularly now. I hope you and your families are safe and you are taking the suggested precautions in your day-to-day lives. As far as your 2020 Farm Share, please rest assured that we've been one of the leading farms in the region with our food safety policies and practices. Beginning in 2017, Sustainable Harvest Farm voluntarily took our food safety plan to one of the highest standards possible for a vegetable farm. We take our food safety plan, protocols, and record keeping as seriously and with the same high level of diligence as we do with our USDA Organic Certification. In light of the pandemic, we have expanded our health and safety precautions to protect our team, family and customers. For a copy of our enhanced procedures click here.

Fortunately, things on the farm and the Spring growing season are going well. In the 2nd week of March, the soil dried out enough and the plants were just strong enough to transplant outside, so we planted the first acre of broccoli, cabbage, kale, collards, kohlrabi, and swiss chard. We also just finished planting the first 2,000 heads of lettuce. Tomato plants were planted into two of our high tunnels in late March and 2,000 pounds of potatoes are being planted currently. Strawberries started blooming in late March and we should be in good shape for starting the first deliveries of Farm Shares the first week of May. Please visit our website, sustainableharvestfarm.com, to review and select the best pick up location for you. We have added some new ones for the 2020 season

Obviously, we are living in very dynamic and changing times, but Sustainable Harvest Farm remains committed to quickly communicating if our plans or pickup locations change due to the Corona Virus.

I hope you are looking forward to this Farm Share season...I sure am!

In Season

Veggie of the Month - Potato

We typically plant most of our potatoes in late March or early April. It is interesting to note, potato seeds are regular potatoes that have been certified to be disease-free. You can plant leftover potatoes from the previous year, but there is a high degree of risk of your potato crop failing due to carried disease. If you still want to try it, take a potato and cut it into smaller pieces – ideally about a 2 oz. piece that has several eyes (sprouts) on it.

Each potato piece (seed) will develop into a plant. As the plant grows, it will start to absorb energy from the sun and utilize nutrients in the soil to develop more potatoes. Typically, each plant produces 3-5 lbs. in an organic farming system.

Potatoes usually take about 90-120 days from planting to harvest but timing varies based on the variety. Potatoes are pretty adaptable from a temperature perspective but the plants can be killed by frost. They require steady moisture particularly in the last two months of production when they need 1” of water per week to produce a good crop. Potatoes thrive in well-drained soil which can be a little acidic - ideally with a pH of 5.5. To ensure a successful crop, Sustainable Harvest Farm must provide a weed-free, rich soil that is neither too wet or dry. Amazingly, the potato famine from long ago still wipes out potato crops during some years. Organically, the disease is impossible to eliminate, but we are thankful it only occurs about

every 5-7 years. The Colorado potato beetle can also destroy a potato field and there is very little that can be done to safeguard against this in an organic system. These beetles have several reproduction cycles during the season and can eat the plant right to the ground in several weeks. Potatoes are one of the “dirty dozen” vegetables because non-organic farms spray a significant amount of high-powered chemicals on the plants to control these beetles. Another risk is the late blight disease that can destroy plants and their potatoes usually just prior to harvest so all the work of growing and tending to them is for naught.

With the limited insect pressure and in the right soil and weather conditions, potatoes are fairly easy to grow. Potatoes grow in the ground and are usually harvested from July – September. Small “new potatoes” or potatoes that are harvested before the potato develops a tough skin are great for many meals, but are very delicate. New potatoes have a short shelf life and are harvested and distributed within a few weeks. Potatoes with a thicker skin are harvested and can be stored in a dark area with good ventilation in a 50-degree temperature for several months. These potatoes can be stored much longer if they are kept at a very cool but not freezing temperature.

Potatoes are commonly used for French fries, roasted or baked. And new potatoes can be boiled and served with a creamy mixture.

Insights

Meet the SHF Team

Introducing Jose Pedro Urdanivia López. Jose’s nickname is The May and his hometown is Apan, Hidalgo, Mexico. He started working at Sustainable Harvest Farm last year in 2019 and is looking forward to his second year on the farm. Jose’s has many responsibilities including sowing, harvesting and the packaging of vegetables for our customers. He loves the countryside and enjoys providing quality, totally healthy and chemical-free food to our customers. When he is not working, he spends his free time contemplating nature and exercising (running or cycling) in both Mexico and the United States, as well as spending time with his family and maintaining constant communication with them. A couple of things Jose wanted to share with Sustainable Harvest Farm customers are that the fruits and vegetables off the farm are of the highest quality and reliability, and that all of us who work on the farm do it as a family. We take care and support one another in everything we can especially when we make dinner or cook something.

Farm Factoid

An acre of land is about the same size as a football field. Sustainable Harvest Farm produces 20+ acres of food each year. Every crop is hand harvested, washed, sorted, packed and delivered by a relatively small but hard-working crew!

Reminders

Enhancements made to our Farm Share portal
A new Farm Share customization screen has been developed and you’ll be able to take advantage of it this season. The intent of this effort was to:

Improve the look and feel of the portal, especially for our mobile users
Bring more visibility to our Farm Share customers if they are going to be charged for a potential “swap” you may be considering. Also, it will require you to approve the change and charge
Inform customers that if items are removed from your share that you have extra "head room" in your share to add more products and it helps facilitate this addition(s)
Provide you a succinct "review share" area that itemizes the charge that our Farm Share customer will see on your credit card – eliminating surprises

We have condensed three separate screens into one interface for you. Before there was a page for swapping, a page for extras, and a "review share" page but with this enhancement, they are all in one place.

Love your share? Share the opportunity with a friend.
Do you know somebody that would enjoy weekly deliveries of our farm-fresh produce? Our online ordering portal allows you to refer a friend. As a token of our appreciation, you’ll receive a $20 credit for future purchase and so will your referred friend!