What’s News at the Market this Week?
As mentioned last week Blueberry Fields returns this week with blueberries, raspberries AND blackberries.
Otto and Lynette along with their now adult children have been growing blueberries at their Brooklet based orchard for more than 30 years. During that time and influenced by their lifetime membership of SoilCare they have returned to the old fashioned ways of farming — growing their plants in organically rich soil.
Their focus is on enhancing and using what nature has provided to sustainably grow the best quality nutritious berries that we love to eat.
Otto said that they use an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system to closely monitor insect levels to detect any imbalances. If pest management is required they introduce natural predators, pheromones and/or bait traps rather than spraying insecticides. Along the way water, wildlife habitat and biodiversity all benefit.
So we can enjoy Blueberry Fields blueberries, raspberries and blackberries with the confidence that they are doing no harm and more than that, they are good for us. In fact some believe that berries are among the healthiest foods you can eat. They are low in calories and high in antioxidants and are believed to be anti-inflammatory. And like all fresh fruit and vegies they supply us with vitamins and minerals – the fresher the better in this regard. So come and meet Suzanne this week at the Blueberry Fields stall.
TIP: Fresh blueberries may be refrigerated for up to a week, or kept frozen for up to six months.
What’s GREAT at the Market this Week?
| PLUMS, plums and more plums at Costanzo Apples where you will find their new season Pizzaz plums that began being harvested in December. Bio Organic Farm is still picking small heads of broccoli as the season gradually comes to an end so continue to enjoy this local broccoli for just a little longer plus their lettuce, deliciously sweet capsicum, truss tomatoes and cucumbers. Summit Organics will have all their regular range of greens as well as their new season potatoes and onions. Jumping Red Ant has been harvesting all their regular produce including beautiful zucchini, cucumbers and capsicums and while picking they have been consistently mulching their next capsicum crop. They grow heaps and this new crop consists of 7 rows each about 40 – 50 metres long taking 26 bales of mulch. Have a look on their Instagram page to see the very busy Briana mulching this area. As Briana said “capsicum stay in the ground for a long time so they need this extra tender love and care.” Everest Farm continues to supply us with THE BEST bananas along with watermelons and rockmelons that they carry at the market on behalf of grower Anthony Chiesa from his property on Tweed Valley Way. And of course their regular vegies. Sylva Lining Organics have their regular greens plus their organic farm eggs and farm grown garlic. * Three photos below are from Instagram – The Bio Organic Farm’s broccoli and lettuce and Jumping Red Ant’s truck full of capsicum. |
