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September is here again and the weather isn’t letting us forget that Autumn is quickly on its way. September and October are some of the best months of the year for quality food in our boxes with so many fantastic Ontario grown products. September also brings our order numbers back up after our usual summer dip from customers growing their own and farmers markets in full swing.

Your Burlington box this week:

We have four items this week directly from farmers with Busy Liz grape tomatoes and onions, Fisher Farms pears and Tigchelaar apples.

In your $10 bag we have included:  Fisher Farms Ontario Pears, Ontario Peaches, Ontario Romaine Lettuce, Busy Liz Ontario Tomatoes, Ontario New Potatoes, Busy Liz Ontario Yellow Onions, Ontario Corn, Ontario Carrots, Tigchelaar Ontario Apples, Ontario English Cucumber, Ontario Field Pepper, Ontario Eggplant, and Ontario Broccoli

In your $15 Box we have many of the same items in greater quantity  with additional items: Fisher Farms Ontario Pears, Ontario Peaches, Ontario Romaine Lettuce, Busy Liz Ontario Tomatoes, Ontario New Potatoes, Busy Liz Ontario Yellow Onions, Ontario Corn, Ontario Carrots, Tigchelaar Ontario Apples, Ontario English Cucumber, Ontario Field Pepper, Ontario Eggplant, Ontario Broccoli as well as Ontario Cabbage

In your $20 Box we have many of the same items in greater quantity with additional items: Fisher Farms Ontario Pears, Ontario Peaches, Ontario Romaine Lettuce, Busy Liz Ontario Tomatoes, Ontario New Potatoes, Busy Liz Ontario Yellow Onions, Ontario Corn, Ontario Carrots, Tigchelaar Ontario Apples, Ontario English Cucumber, Ontario Field Pepper, Ontario Eggplant, Ontario Broccoli as well as Ontario Cantaloupe and Ontario Pepper Squash

Red Pepper Jelly

Ingredients
  • 2 cups coarsely chopped, seeded red bell peppers
  • 1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
  • 2 cups cider vinegar
  • 6 cups granulated sugar
  • ¼-1/2 tsp crushed chile flakes
  • 2 pouches (each 3oz/85 mL) liquid pectin
Instructions
  1. Prepare canner, jars, and lids:
  2. Place 12 4-oz jars in large canning pot or Dutch oven (ideally on a rack for easy removal). Add enough water to fill jars to the top and just cover them with water. Bring water to a low simmer (do not boil).
  3. In separate sauce pan, cover lids with water and bring to a gentle simmer. Keep lids hot until you need them, then remove with tongs. Wash screw bands with soap and water and rinse thoroughly – do not heat them, you want to be able to handle them.
  4. In blender or food processor, purée peppers and 1 cup vinegar until smooth.
  5. In large, deep stainless steel saucepan, combine pepper puree, remaining 1 cup vinegar, sugar, and crushed chiles. Bring to a boil over high heat (it will bubble up significantly – use your largest saucepan!) Boil, stirring constantly, for 10 minutes. Stir in pectin and boil hard, stirring constantly, for 1 more minute. Remove from heat and quickly skim off any thick foam.
  6. Quick pour hot jelly into hot jars, leaving ¼” headspace. Wipe rims of jars to ensure they are clean. Center lid on jar and screw band on until fingertip tight (don’t over-tighten).
  7. Place jars in canner, ensuring they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil, put lid on canner, and process for 10 minutes. Remove canner lid and turn off heat. Wait 5 minutes, then remove jars, keeping them as straight as possible, to a flat surface where they can sit for 24 hours. Don’t dry them at this point, any water on the tops will evaporate on its own.
  8. After 24 hours, check all lids for seal – you should hear them popping quite quickly as they seal, and the lids should not flex when pushed after 24 hours. If any have not sealed, store in the fridge and use within a month. Canned jars are best used within a year.

 

 

Rain!

Rain For Ontario Crops

We finally some much needed rain for our Ontario crops this week after one of the driest summers that Ontario has ever seen. Many farmers have been running their irrigation systems nearly every day this summer often needing to have them on for 10-12 hours per day. We are extremely lucky to have modern irrigation systems as past generations would have faced massive loss of crops that we were able to avoid this year. While there is often seasonal changes for various reasons another summer like this one next year would push our crops and systems to the brink. Farmers now hope for some heavy rain in the fall season to make up for the dry season.

Food Waste

Droughts and crop issues only help to highlight on of the most problematic aspects of the Canadian food system, food waste. Approximately $30,000,000,000.00 (Yes, 30 Billion, that isn’t a typo) in food ends up in landfills every year in Canada, a massive problem that extends through every aspect of a broken system. There are terrific organizations that have existed for years across Canada and here in Halton that try and tackle this issue, trying to solve issues of food security at the same time.

Food For Life is a fantastic organization that saves thousands of pounds of food from ending up wasted and redirects it back into the community. http://www.foodforlife.ca/whoweare.php

In a newer development a brilliant new company in Toronto have also created an app called flashfood that can truly help to make a difference in the food waste issue while also offering affordable food to those who could use it most. By allowing restaurants and grocery stores to post food near its ideal shelf life at strongly reduced prices they keep good food out of landfills and help some pocketbooks at the same time. While the app is currently running in Toronto alone it’s only a matter of time before we see options like this in Halton Region and beyond, and along with many other exciting initiatives we can hope to take a massive chunk out of that 30 Billion.

Your Burlington box this week:

In your $10 bag we have included:  Fisher Farms Ontario Pears, Ontario Peaches, Ontario Green Leaf Lettuce, Ontario Tomatoes, Ontario New Potatoes, Ontario Zucchini, Ontario Corn, Ontario Carrots, Ontario Celery, Ontario English Cucumber, Ontario Field Pepper, Ontario Green Onion, and Ontario Broccoli

In your $15 Box we have many of the same items in greater quantity  with additional items: Fisher Farms Ontario Pears, Ontario Peaches, Ontario Green Leaf Lettuce, Ontario Tomatoes, Ontario New Potatoes, Ontario Zucchini, Ontario Corn, Ontario Carrots, Ontario Celery, Ontario English Cucumber, Ontario Field Pepper, Ontario Green Onion,  Ontario Broccoli as well as Ontario Cauliflower

In your $20 Box we have many of the same items in greater quantity with additional items: Fisher Farms Ontario Pears, Ontario Peaches, Ontario Green Leaf Lettuce, Ontario Tomatoes, Ontario New Potatoes, Ontario Zucchini, Ontario Corn, Ontario Carrots, Ontario Celery, Ontario English Cucumber, Ontario Field Pepper, Ontario Green Onion, Ontario Broccoli, Ontario Cauliflower as well as Ontario Cantaloupe and Ontario Field Eggplant

Baked Eggplant

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Prepare a baking dish with non-stick play.
  2. Arrange eggplant and tomato slices into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Drizzle olive oil over the vegetables; season with oregano, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the entire mixture.
  3. Bake in preheated oven until the cheese is beginning to brown, about 30 minutes. Switch oven broiler to high; continue baking until completely browned, about 5 minutes.

Eggplant

 

Ontario Corn!

Ontario Corn has arrived and will be making its first appearance in our Oakville Fresh Food Box this week. Ontario field veg is coming in at full force now and with lowering prices and a greater quantity of produce we will be able to increase the quantity and variety over the coming months.

No Way Out

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We are still in great need of some driver help for our upcoming Tuesday pack at Kerr St Ministries. We are looking for a driver for both our morning and afternoon runs in Oakville.

Driver– Helps deliver food boxes to drop sites across the city, loading and unloading boxes with help from a drivers assistant. Boxes range between 15-35 pounds and requires strength and range of movement.

Second Tuesday of the month in Oakville leaving from Kerr Street Ministries. Morning deliveries running from 11:00 AM- 1:00PM and afternoon from 1:00PM-3:00PM.
If you or anyone you know is interested please reach out to manager@haltonfreshfoodbox.com for more info!
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In your $10 bag we have included:  Fisher Farms Ontario Pears, Ontario Peaches, Ontario Green Leaf Lettuce, Busy Liz Cherry Tomatoes, Ontario New Potatoes, Ontario Zucchini, Ontario Corn, Ontario Turnips, Ontario Celery, Ontario English Cucumber, Ontario Field Pepper, Ontario Green Onion, and Ontario Broccoli

In your $15 Box we have many of the same items in greater quantity  with additional items: Fisher Farms Ontario Pears, Ontario Peaches, Ontario Green Leaf Lettuce, Busy Liz Cherry Tomatoes, Ontario New Potatoes, Ontario Zucchini, Ontario Corn, Ontario Turnips, Ontario Celery, Ontario English Cucumber, Ontario Field Pepper, Ontario Green Onion,  Ontario Broccoli as well as Ontario Cauliflower

In your $20 Box we have many of the same items in greater quantity with additional items: Fisher Farms Ontario Pears, Ontario Peaches, Ontario Green Leaf Lettuce, Busy Liz Cherry Tomatoes, Ontario New Potatoes, Ontario Zucchini, Ontario Corn, Ontario Turnips, Ontario Celery, Ontario English Cucumber, Ontario Field Pepper, Ontario Green Onion, Ontario Broccoli, Ontario Cauliflower as well as Ontario Cantaloupe and Ontario Field Eggplant

 

Ontario Veg Nachos

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9×13-inch pan with cooking spray.
  2. Mix 1/2 shredded Cheese, mayonnaise, 1/2 the cherry tomatoes, 1/2 cooked corn kernals, 1/2 chopped green onions, chopped peppers, and garlic powder together in a bowl.
  3. Spread tortilla chips into the prepared pan; top with cheese-tomato mixture. Sprinkle remaining Cheddar cheese on top.
  4. Bake in the preheated oven until bubbling and browned, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle nachos with remaining cherry tomatoes and green onions. 

100% Ontario

Fruit is always the last holdout to keep our boxes 100% Ontario, and with the arrival of some early season pears at Fisher Farms we will be able to do just that this week in Milton! The first crop of the season at Fisher farms are the of the sweet pear variety which grow much smaller than bosc or bartlett pears. These are definitely a special variety that you wouldn’t find in the grocery store and it’s always a treat to get them in the Fresh Food Box for the limited time that they’re available. The perfect size for your kids or a quick snack enjoy these while they last!

Your Milton Fresh Food Box for August:

In your $10 bag we have included:  Fisher Farms Ontario Pears, Ontario Peaches, Ontario Green Leaf Lettuce, Ontario Tomatoes, Ontario New Potatoes, Ontario Zucchini, Ontario Jumbo Radish, Ontario Kale, Ontario Celery, Ontario English Cucumber, Busy Liz Ontario Field Pepper, Ontario Green Onion, and Ontario Broccoli

In your $15 Box we have many of the same items in greater quantity  with additional items: Fisher Farms Ontario Pears, Ontario Peaches, Ontario Green Leaf Lettuce, Ontario Tomatoes, Ontario New Potatoes, Ontario Zucchini, Ontario Jumbo Radish, Ontario Kale, Ontario Celery, Ontario English Cucumber, Busy Liz Ontario Field Pepper, Ontario Green Onion, Ontario Broccoli as well as Ontario Cauliflower

In your $20 Box we have many of the same items in greater quantity with additional items: Fisher Farms Ontario Pears, Ontario Peaches, Ontario Green Leaf Lettuce, Ontario Tomatoes, Ontario New Potatoes, Ontario Zucchini, Ontario Jumbo Radish, Ontario Kale, Ontario Celery, Ontario English Cucumber, Busy Liz Ontario Field Pepper, Ontario Green Onion, and Ontario Broccoli, Ontario Cauliflower as well as Ontario Cabbage and Ontario Cantaloupe

 

Custard Style Pear Pie

 

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C.)
  2. In a large bowl, combine eggs, flour, sugar, vanilla extract and melted butter. Pour into unbaked pie crust. Arrange sliced pears in spokes radiating from center.
  3. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, then reduce temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and bake for 25 to 35 minutes, or until custard is firm. Cool completely before serving.

something sweet

 

Ontario Peaches and Cantaloupe!

New From Ontario:

Ontario peaches and cantaloupes are finally at our farmers markets and in the Fresh Food Box, import peaches and melons can’t do justice to Ontario fruit picked at the perfect ripeness. Imports need to come an extremely long distance and are picked much earlier than would be ideal for the best taste and freshness. Ontario fruit needs only travel a few hours at maximum and the taste shows, I picked up some peaches at the Burlington farmers market on Wednesday and they were beyond delicious.

Volunteer Needs:

Our program has an amazing team of nearly 200 volunteers, there are a couple of specific positions that we are hoping to fill over the next several weeks and would love for fans of the program to pass this information on to anyone that may be interested:

Volunteer Needs

Driver– Helps deliver food boxes to drop sites across the city, loading and unloading boxes with help from a drivers assistant. Boxes range between 15-35 pounds and requires strength and range of movement.

Dates needed:
Second Tuesday of the month in Oakville leaving from Kerr Street Ministries. Morning deliveries running from 11:00 AM- 1:00PM

Third Tuesday of the month in Burlington leaving from St. Christophers Church. Afternoon deliveries running from 1:00 PM-3:00 PM

Drivers assistant– Assists driver with unloading and loading the fresh food boxes to drop sites across the city. Boxes range between 15-35 pounds and requires strength and range of movement.
Dates needed:
First Tuesday of the month in Milton leaving from Bob Rumball associations for the deaf. Deliveries run from 11:00 AM- 1:30 PM.
Second Tuesday of the month in Oakville leaving from Kerr Street Ministries. Afternoon deliveries running from 1:00 PM- 3:30 PM.
Third Tuesday of the month in Burlington leaving from St. Christopher’s Church. Afternoon deliveries running from 1:00 PM-3:00 PM

 

Your Halton Hills Fresh Food Box for July:

In your $10 bag we have included:  Plums, Ontario Peaches, Ontario Green Leaf Lettuce, Ontario Tomatoes, Ontario New Potatoes, Ontario Zucchini, Ontario Jumbo Radish, Ontario Kale, Ontario Celery, Ontario English Cucumber, Busy Liz Ontario Field Pepper, Ontario Green Onion, and Ontario Broccoli

In your $15 Box we have many of the same items in greater quantity  with additional items: Plums, Ontario Peaches, Ontario Green Leaf Lettuce, Ontario Tomatoes, Ontario New Potatoes, Ontario Zucchini, Ontario Jumbo Radish, Ontario Kale, Ontario Celery, Ontario English Cucumber, Busy Liz Ontario Field Pepper, Ontario Green Onion, Ontario Broccoli as well as Ontario Cauliflower

In your $20 Box we have many of the same items in greater quantity with additional items: Plums, Ontario Peaches, Ontario Green Leaf Lettuce, Ontario Tomatoes, Ontario New Potatoes, Ontario Zucchini, Ontario Jumbo Radish, Ontario Kale, Ontario Celery, Ontario English Cucumber, Busy Liz Ontario Field Pepper, Ontario Green Onion, and Ontario Broccoli, Ontario Cauliflower as well as Ontario Cabbage and Ontario Cantaloupe

 

Summer Radish and Potato Salad

2 pounds new yellow potatoes scrubbed, skin on

1 cup olive oil

1/4 cup vinegar – white or apple cider

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 (about 4 cups) chopped celery, thinly sliced

1 bunches radishes, thinly sliced

8 (1 cup) green onions, white and light green parts only, thinly sliced

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the potatoes and cook until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and let cool slightly. Slice the potatoes 1/2 inch thick

In a large bowl, whisk the olive oil with the vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Gently fold in the potatoes and celery. Let stand at room temperature until cool, about 30 minutes. Just before serving, fold in the radishes and green onions and season with salt and pepper.

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