October 23: This Week's Harvest!
Items (count)
Bosc pears (3) Bananas (2)
Jumbo apples (1)
Broccoli crowns (2) Beefsteak tomatoes (2) Aloha bell peppers (bag of 4)
1 lb baby red potatoes 1/2 lb baby spinach
Replacement Items (count)
Seedless cucumbers (1) 1 lb Asparagus Organic celery (1) Cactus pears (3)
Flash Sale Items (count)
Pineapple (1) 2 lbs seedless grapes
What on earth are Aloha Peppers and what do I do with them?
What it is: Aloha Peppers are a variety of bell pepper with beautiful yellow, orange, and red striping.
How it tastes: Aloha peppers taste very similar to regular bell peppers. They are significantly denser though, so each Aloha Pepper will be heavier than a bell pepper of the same size.
Health benefits: Bell Peppers (and Alohas too) contain more than 200% of your Daily Value of Vitamin C, along with potassium, folate, and beta-carotene. Eat them up to boost your immune system during this seasonal transition.
Storage tips: Like bell peppers, refrigerate them unwashed in a plastic bag in the produce drawer until ready to eat. Be sure to keep them dry! Moisture will cause them to go bad much more quickly!
How to eat: Aloha peppers are great for stuffing (see recipe below) because keeping them whole allows you to enjoy their beautiful striping as you eat! If you do cut them, slice in the opposite direction as the stripes so that you can still see the alternating colors on each piece!
What on earth is a cactus pear, and how do I eat it?
What it is: Cactus pears -- also known as Prickly Pears (which you may remember from the Jungle Book) or Tunas (which means thorn) to those in Latin America --are edible cacti! The thorns of the cactus pears we’re sending you are already removed, so they’re safe and easy to handle and eat!
How it tastes: Their neon flesh and watermelon-meets-bubblegum flavor.
Health benefits: With lots of fiber, antioxidants, and minerals, the cactus pear is incredibly good for you too!
Storage tips: They should be firm and are ripe when magenta all over. Store them unwashed in the fridge for up to 5 days.
How to eat: You can use them in salads, tarts, or on top of yogurt just like you would an apple, but we like to eat them straight up, seeds and all.
Really Yummy Recipes
This recipe plays off of the name of the Aloha Peppers it stuffs. Reminiscent of Hawaiian pizza, it includes pineapple and ham, along with rice and a ginger honey lime soy sauce to bring some sunshine into your life on these chilly fall days.
Get creative with this week’s Cactus Pears and try an easy Prickly Pear and Raspberry Smoothie or trade your usual apple pie for this delicious, hot pink Prickly Pear Galette!
Broccoli, Spinach, Potatoes: 'Tis the season to break out your slow cooker and make this Broccoli Spinach Potato Soup
Pineapple, Cucumber, Celery, Bananas: Get your body ready to fight off germs with this Pineapple Detox Smoothie
Enjoy!