RUTIZ FAMILY FARMS NEWSLETTER
Growing vegetables, fruits and fresh cut flowers for our community using organic farming practices and no pesticides

Tuesday, Feb 15 Harvest Bag
all for $20
includes the following items: 
radishes
smaller size artichokes ( see recipe idea below )
spinach ( makes a great spinach salad )
white flesh sweet potatoes ( see recipe ideas below )
vine ripened tomatoes ( grown by Jacinto Bautista in Arroyo Grande)
Halcyon Gold yellow potatoes
sugar snap peas ( edible pod, eat the whole thing)
orange Mokum carrots
Satsuma Mandarin oranges from Encino Grande Ranch in Cuyucos, certified organic

Yes, you may encounter a few aphids in the Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli and kale...just use a strong stream of water from your kitchen faucet and you should be able to rinse off most of the critters. One of many "advantages" of not spraying pesticides on the vegetables!

VENDORS THIS TUESDAY
Little Red Hen bread
Oceano Craft scones and cookies

White sweet potatoes: (https://healthiersteps.com/)
As you cut into these, you will see not orange flesh, but light-colored almost white-like flesh. However, the texture of the potatoes is almost like the typical sweet potato. It can be a bit dry and crumbly to some, but it’s on the same road as the orange sweet potato.Thanks to the fact that you can use white sweet potatoes as sweet and savory, there are so many ways you can cook them. In fact, you can cook them the same way as you treat sweet potatoes or your russet potatoes. Because they are “potatoes,” you can do anything with them, and they will taste great. Here are a few ways to cook white sweet potatoes:
  • Roasted sweet white potatoes: You can roast them in your oven. Cut them into wedges, coat them up in your favorite oil and seasonings, and roast them just like your other vegetables.
  • Baked sweet white potatoes: Baked potatoes are delicious and simple. So, wrap your white sweet potatoes in aluminum foil and place them in the oven. Once done, sprinkle salt and pepper and enjoy a delicious and simple dish!
  • Mashed white sweet potatoes: I love mashed potatoes. Their creamy texture is divine. And because the white sweet potatoes are mildly sweet, they make a perfect mashed potato.
  • Boiled white sweet potatoes: And when you don’t feel like cooking anything at all, simply boil them to enjoy their unique mild flavor and nutrients. Also, it makes these a perfect choice for baby food as well.
  • Air-fried white sweet potatoes: Thinking potatoes French fries? White sweet potatoes are at your service. Treat them just like you treat any other potato for French fries. Air fry them to get rid of oil and fat. They taste mildly sweet and very delicious. Perfect for kids and adults, you can eat them with your favorite dips and vegan sauces.

  • Cooking your artichokes....don't use your microwave when steaming your artichokes. I highly recommend the "old fashioned" way and use a steamer on the stove top with lots of water. I feel it makes for a good, moist artichoke, cook until tender. Make sure a knife goes into the heart very easily and the outer leaves should pull off very easily. If you under cook them, they will be tough and inedible...but with the right amount of cooking, the artichokes should be delicious.  The artichokes this week are from our young plants...the insides are very tender and sweet..almost all "heart".
Preparing the smaller size artichokes:
(1) with a sharp knife, cut off the top third of the artichoke and peel the outer skin off the stem ( like peeling a banana ) (2) pull off and discard the outer dark green colored leaves that may be a little tougher until you reach the "cream" color leaves. 
(3) cut the artichoke in half lengthwise
(4) steam until tender (about 20 minutes)
(5) remove from steamer, let cool slightly and coat with olive oil and seasonings on all sides 
(6) grill the artichokes, under a broiler or bar-b-que, turning a few times until browned and crispy on the outsides. Eat the whole artichoke as you would an artichoke heart.
THE FARM STAND TABLE SHOULD HAVE:
from our farm (grown using organic farming practices)
salad mix, baby spinach
orange carrots, purple carrots, rainbow colored carrots, beets, leeks, fennel, kale, chard, sweet potatoes, snap peas, English shelling peas,
baby broccoli, dandelion green, collard greens, mustard greens, Brussels Sprout, Kalelettes, butternut squash,
Potatoes--Halcyon Gold, Sierra Gold, red and yellow fingerling
Raul's dry beans, sunchokes
cilantro, Italian parsley, baby dill, spicy greens,
rosemary,

from our "partner" growers (pesticide free or organically grown)
Navel oranges, Blood oranges, Cara Cara oranges, Mandarin oranges, lemons, limes, avocados, apples, kiwis,, yellow onions,
sunflower sprouts, garlic, Medjool dates,
Grass fed and grass finished ground beef (Springville Ranch)
local bee pollen, duck eggs
local honey-- $14/ 1 pound jar, $22/ 2 pound jar
Almond brittle in 5 oz. and 1 pound bags
vegetable and herb starts from Growing Grounds Farm-- $3 to $4.50 each
Grab and Go Harvest bags will be available only on Tuesdays and Fridays. You will not need to reserve or order these Bags. We will continue to have a table set up adjacent to our parking lot with the Harvest Bags and the white mail box where you can put your payment ($20/ bag) ...exact cash or checks.
We know it's hard sometimes, but we ask that customers only touch what they intend to buy. 
You are welcome to bring your own "shopping basket" that might make holding items easier as you move down the table. 
Covid Guidelines:
Please practice social distancing and be considerate of your fellow shoppers while at our farm stand. Since we are outside, face masks are optional for fully vaccinated customers, but always supported if you feel more comfortable in a mask within a group setting. If you are not fully vaccinated, please continue to wear a mask. Stay home if you feel sick! Our staff is fully vaccinated and they are looking forward to seeing you. We want to keep everyone healthy so we can continue to keep the farm open!

Stand Hours
OPEN RAIN/SHINE 
Tuesdays and Fridays: noon to 5 pm
Saturdays: 10 am to 3 pm

FARM STAND LOCATION:
1075 "The Pike" in Arroyo Grande.
We are located on the south side of The Pike, between Halcyon
Road and Elm Street. Visit our web site at www.Rutizfarms.com 
for a map to the farm.
write an email to us at
Jerry@Rutizfarms.com