Aley Chubeza #111 – April 30th, May 2nd 2012

Payment Details:

At the end of last week, we billed your credit cards for the April vegetable deliveries, including Monday, April 30th.

Once again, to interpret your bill: One figure is the amount charged for fruits and vegetables (this time including any Open Day purchases), the second is for delivery and the third is for additional products.

Over the next few days, I will be sending out a very detailed bill explaining the different charges.

I repeat my plea: please, please inform me of any requests for changes in your orders no later than one day before delivery. Despite my many requests, we still keep receiving changes at midnight and beyond for next-day deliveries, which result in a host of misunderstandings and problems.

Please respect our working hours by informing us in ample time of any special requests you may have.

Many thanks!

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We’ve come to the end of our Barhi date supply from Kibbutz Samar. The next shipment is due in sometime next November. Thank you, dear sweet Barhis, for delighting our hearts and taste buds this year, thank you Gili and all the Samar Kibbutznikim who found a way to deliver them to us monthly, and thank you to all the loyal Barhi lovers. They were truly delicious…..

We do have a good supply coming soon of “Dekel Nur” dates, which are great, though different from the soft Barhi. They are drier and their sweetness is milder. I highly recommend you give them a try.

Our honey supply from Daniela and Tamir is also dwindling, but we are expecting a fresh new batch of honey in a range of distinctive, delightful flavors. In the meantime, Daniella sent a box of jujube blossom honey in 1 kg jars. For those yet unfamiliar with this variety, it’s a very special honey with a heady flavor. See our order form for other honey flavors now available.

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Transitions

This time of the year, between Pesach and Shavuot, is an interesting time of change. As we count the days and weeks which pass from one holiday to the other, suddenly spring turns to summer.

At Chubeza, this is a season of counting: fewer and fewer winter vegetables in your boxes; two more broccoli beds, one more broccoli bed; three weeks of carrots, two more weeks of carrots, one more… 200 cauliflowers to go, 50, 10…

At the other end of the spectrum, we are slowly counting the additional new summer vegetables: 10 kg of squash, 80 kg of squash, lo and behold- 200 kg! Enough for all of the boxes! And soon our spring squash will be joined by new cohorts: string beans, spring potatoes, melons, faccus…

Almost every year, the transitional seasons are those where there are fewer vegetables ripe for the picking in the field. Though the field is full of planted vegetables, there are still winter vegetables and many summer vegetables seeded, planted, and blooming- all at various stages. But this year, the spring vegetables are taking their time. As you may recall, we recently described the challenges of contending with this bountiful rainy winter, which ended up with our late planting on saturated earth. The results of the delayed planting are being felt right now, in a sparse transitional season. The potatoes, cucumbers, faccus, and green beans which usually join the squash are noticeably absent, while they take a few more weeks to grow and ripen.

 The mild spring is making us very happy when we’re out in the field, enjoying every warm hour (as opposed to the “scorching” hours yet to come) and overcast days that minimize the sunrays. On the other hand, the mild spring inspires the vegetables, which were tardy in the first place, to take their good old time and grow slowly, still deep in slumber.

The bottom line is that we need to prepare for a few weeks in which there will be fewer Chubeza field vegetables in your boxes, and more purchased-vegetables. As always, we try to make you happy with basic essentials (in addition to your tomatoes and cucumbers) such as peppers, onions, etc., plus other field vegetables that we are running short on (carrots, for instance). There will be fewer of them this week, but more in the near future. Next month we believe the Chubeza abundance will return once more.

We wish our vegetables a true-to-themselves growth, balanced and in sync with the weather, bugs, sunshine and other components of the symphony of spring. May the growth be accompanied by good health and the ability to take on the challenges of the upcoming summer. We shall welcome each crop with joy upon its arrival.

Wishing you all a good week, of timely occurrences and the patience to let things happen in their own rhythm!

Alon, Bat Ami and the Chubeza team

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WHAT’S IN THIS WEEK’S BOXES?

Monday: Cabbage or broccoli, lettuce, Swiss chard, daikon, zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, beets, parsley, potatoes

In the large box, in addition: sweet red peppers, fennel, leeks

Wednesday: Swiss chard, lettuce, Remiro long sweet peppers, zucchini, parsley, beets, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, cabbage or broccoli, potatoes

In the large box, in addition: daikon, fennel, onions

And there’s more! You can add to your basket a wide, delectable range of additional products from fine small producers: granola and cookies, flour, sprouts, goat dairies, fruits, honey, crackers, probiotic foods, dried fruits and leathers and organic olive oil too! You can learn more about each producer on the Chubeza website. The attached order form includes a detailed listing of the products and their cost. Fill it out, and send it back to us soon.

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ZUCCHINI RECIPES—AND MORE!

Zucchini Souffle (aka Kishuim Kugel)

Gnocchi with Zucchini Ribbons & Parsley Brown Butter

Zucchini mint and yogurt spread

Six Recipes for all that Zucchini and Summer Squash

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