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 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1 LB Fisher Farm Pears – peeled, cored and sliced

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.

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.

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.

The Southern Ontario growing season has been badly hit by the current drought with stone fruit and berries taking some of the biggest hits. Our produce supplier talked with strawberry farms that saw a yield that was well over 50 percent worse than the typical year. Stone fruit isn’t fairing much better with a much later growing season, spotty fruit and lower yields. If the weather continues it will likely mean the Food Box will be paying higher prices and see many shortages on our typical local variety. The weather has taken a different turn with our friends in Northern Ontario seeing double and triple the levels of normal rainfall which is causing even more problems than the drought we’re facing here in the South.

We will all be crossing our fingers that the weather evens out in July in Ontario and we can see the beautiful Ontario stone fruit and  melons we wait so patiently for every year. Due to the late season we will still have two imports this week in Oakville with imported peaches and bananas.

Your Oakville Box for July:

In your $10 bag we have included:  Ontario Apples, Bananas, Peaches, Ontario Green Leaf Lettuce, Ontario Tomatoes, Ontario Green Beans, Ontario Zucchini, Ontario Sweet Potato, Ontario Celery, Ontario English Cucumber, Ontario Pepper Ontario Spinach, Ontario Green Garlic, and Ontario Broccoli

In your $15 Box we have many of the same items in greater quantity  with additional items: Ontario Apples, Bananas, Peaches, Ontario Green Leaf Lettuce, Ontario Tomatoes, Ontario Green Beans, Ontario Zucchini, Ontario Sweet Potato, Ontario Celery, Ontario English Cucumber, Ontario Pepper Ontario Spinach, Ontario Green Garlic, Ontario Broccoli as well as Ontario Jumbo Radish

In your $20 Box we have many of the same items in greater quantity with additional items: Ontario Apples, Bananas, Peaches, Ontario Green Leaf Lettuce, Ontario Tomatoes, Ontario Green Beans, Ontario Zucchini, Ontario Sweet Potato, Ontario Celery, Ontario English Cucumber, Ontario Pepper Ontario Spinach, Ontario Green Garlic, Ontario Broccoli, Ontario Jumbo Radish as well as Ontario Cabbage and Ontario Beet Bunch

Romaine Leaf Tacos

A healthier way to eat tacos and a great way to maximize your Fresh Food Box!

• Yellow bell pepper, chopped
• yellow onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons chicken stock 
• 1 pound ground- (Beef, chicken, tofu- your choice!)
• 3 tablespoons taco seasoning (chili powder, paprika, garlic powder and ground cumin can make for a great substitute)
• 2 large  tomatoes, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
•  shredded cheddar cheese
• 12 large romaine lettuce leaves
• sour cream (Plain yogurt makes a perfect substitute)
• mashed sweet potato (Optional but delicious)

1. Cook and stir bell pepper and yellow onion in a skillet over medium heat with olive oil and chicken broth until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
2. Cut up ground into small pieces; place into a separate skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir ground beef with taco seasoning until ground is browned and crumbly, 5 to 8 minutes. Drain excess grease.
3. Sprinkle tomatoes with salt in a bowl. Place Cheddar cheese into a separate bowl.
4. Fill each lettuce leaf with about 2 tablespoons beef filling; top with 1 to 2 teaspoons green pepper mixture, tomato, sour cream and desired cheese.

We are into July which brings even more Ontario produce, it’s the first week for broccoli and we’re happy to see it back in the boxes. It’s still a bit early but we should be seeing some Ontario melons and stone fruit in the boxes in the  next couple of weeks.

For the second week we are lucky enough to have some beautiful green garlic from Busy Liz’s farm shop. Green garlic gives us the best of several worlds as they often include not only the garlic bulbs and greens but some beautiful garlic scapes as well. To use green garlic, trim off the root ends and any tough part of the green leaves. Chop or slice the white, light green, and the first few inches of the dark green leaves (as long as they are tender). Use green garlic you would green onions or garlic, noting that it is stronger than the former but milder than the latter. It’s quite sharp raw, and mellows tremendously when cooked.

Your Milton Box for July:

In your $10 bag we have included:  Ontario Apples, Bananas, Peaches, Ontario Green Leaf Lettuce, Ontario Tomatoes, Ontario Kale, Ontario Zucchini, Ontario Radishes, Ontario Celery, Ontario English Cucumber, Ontario Pepper Ontario Kohlrabi and Ontario Broccoli

In your $15 Box we have many of the same items in greater quantity  with additional items: Ontario Apples, Bananas, Peaches, Ontario Green Leaf Lettuce, Ontario Pepper, Ontario Tomatoes, Ontario Kale, Ontario Zucchini, Ontario Radishes, Ontario Celery, Ontario English Cucumber, Ontario Kohlrabi,   Ontario Broccoli and Ontario Green Garlic

In your $20 Box we have many of the same items in greater quantity with additional items: Ontario Apples, Bananas, Peaches, Ontario Green Leaf Lettuce, Ontario Tomatoes, Ontario Kale, Ontario Zucchini, Ontario Radishes, Ontario Peppers, Ontario Celery, Ontario English Cucumber, Ontario Green Garlic,   Ontario Broccoli, Ontario Kohlrabi as well as Ontario Green Peas and Ontario Beet Bunch.

Mini Broccoli Quiche

• 1 package of refrigerated piecrust, or make your own piecrust dough
• 4 small heads of fresh broccoli, chopped into small pieces
• 8 ounces of shredded cheese
• 2 cups milk
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 2 teaspoons dill
• 1/4 cup chopped Ontario green garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Place the piecrusts on a lightly-floured surface; if making your own, roll the dough to a thickness of just under 1/8-inch. Take a round, 3-inch cookie cutter (you can also use a glass of that size) and make 24 circles in the dough.
2. Lightly grease the cups of a standard muffin tin, and then place a piecrust circle in each cup. Press down.
3. Into each muffin cup, add an equal amount of the chopped broccoli and the cheese so that both ingredients are evenly distributed.
4. Combine the eggs and milk in a mixing bowl, then add the dill, garlic, and salt, and mix.
5. Add approximately 1 1/2 tablespoons of the liquid ingredients to each cup; pour directly over the broccoli and Swiss.
6. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and then bake the quiches for approximately 25 minutes.

In your $10 bag we have included:  Ontario Apples, Bananas, Peaches, Ontario Green Leaf Lettuce, Ontario Tomatoes, Ontario Kale, Ontario Zucchini, Ontario Radishes, Ontario Sweet Potato, Ontario English Cucumber, Ontario Green Onion,   Ontario Spinach and Ontario Beet Bunch as an extra item for May box issues.

In your $15 Box we have many of the same items in greater quantity  with additional items: Ontario Apples, Bananas, Peaches, Ontario Green Leaf Lettuce, Ontario Tomatoes, Ontario Kale, Ontario Zucchini, Ontario Radishes, Ontario Sweet Potato, Ontario English Cucumber, Ontario Green Onion,   Ontario Spinach and Ontario Beet Bunch as an extra item for May box issues.

In your $20 Box we have many of the same items in greater quantity with additional items: Ontario Apples, Bananas, Peaches, Ontario Green Leaf Lettuce, Ontario Tomatoes, Ontario Kale, Ontario Zucchini, Ontario Radishes, Ontario Sweet Potato, Ontario English Cucumber, Ontario Green Onion,   Ontario Spinach as well as Ontario Rhubarb and Ontario Kohlrabi and Ontario Beet Bunch as an extra item for May box issues.

Beet Greens Pasta

Beet Bunches can be used for for a variety of recipes as both the beets and the greens attached to them can be utilized. Beet greens cook very similarly to swiss chard and can be used in many of the same ways.

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 bunch chopped green onion
• 2 chopped garlic cloves
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Greens from 1 bunch of beets, washed, ribs removed, and coarsely chopped
• 1 pound penne pasta
• 1/2 Cup Crumbled feta
• Salt for taste

1. Boil a large pot of water and heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Once the oil is simmering add the onion and garlic, season with salt and pepper, and cook until the vegetables are translucent, about 3 minutes.
2. Add the beet greens and cook until just wilted, about 3 minutes. Season well with salt and pepper, remove from heat, and reserve. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water.
3. Return the pasta to the pot and place over low heat. Add the reserved pasta water and the beet green mixture, then sprinkle in the crumbled feta. Stir until thoroughly combined and heated through. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.