The Produce Box

Judy Carpenter bought the land for Lucky Clays Fresh Farm in 2009 but took two years to decide how to use the 505 acres. She wanted to find an animal to raise that she would not grow attached to. After much thought, she said, “I don’t think I’d get attached to a fish.” So she started with tilapia. She then grew into various types of lettuce, herbs and other vegetables. She has a wonderful a twist on sustainable agriculture that we just love: using her fish to increase the nutrients in water to grow the plants and then cleaning the water so it gets used again. She has built a no waste, no toxins, no chemicals aquaponics farm. The recirculating aquaculture system now incorporates large tanks that include a variety of fish species and dozens of raised beds, rife with leafy greens and herbs, into one ecofriendly farming system. Lucky Clays Farm’s commitment to modernity extends into all their practices. The farm is nestled in the rolling countryside of Norwood, NC east of Charlotte....

Carolina Farmhouse yogurts are from a small, first- generation farm just north of Durham. The farm,  located on 15 acres, is North Carolina’s first farmstead yogurt dairy farm. Cindy Hamrick and her sons started farming together in 2011. Cindy had made a bold decision to leave her corporate career and urban lifestyle.  She realized the benefits of producing her own food and how vital local food is to the security of our communities. Her family’s love for cows significantly impacted her desire to build a farmstead yogurt business, and in the fall of 2015, they broke ground on what is now Carolina Farmhouse Dairy. The farm’s friendly herd of Jersey cows graze on a variety of grasses year-round and are supplemented with organic, locally milled feed.  All of the ingredients are certified organic – from the fruit to the cane sugar.  Members are enjoying the Strawberry, Plain and Vanilla yogurts, as well as the Golden Milk we have had on the me...

Stem-to-root cooking featuring The Produce Box veggies! a guest post from Kate at Life of Ginger , one of our blogger (and member) favorites! Because of my Produce Box deliveries, I have become much more aware of the parts of food that we use and the parts that go to waste. Produce Box items arrive to your door a little differently than if you pick them up at the grocery store. For example, carrots might have the greens attached when you get them, or you’ll find broccoli and Brussels sprouts still attached to the stalk. At first I would just cut off and throw away the parts I wouldn’t normally use. But then a friend mentioned the broccoli stalk could be used multiple ways instead of throwing it out. Peel and chop up to use in a salad or cook it and puree for a soup. Then I read that the Brussels Sprouts stalk is delicious steamed, once you cut away the bamboo-like outer skin. Little by little I started discovering recipes that used the parts of the vegetable that would n...

If just one-fourth of the food currently lost or wasted globally could be saved, it would be enough to feed 870 million hungry people in the world! There are many ways that you can reduce food waste. Here are some examples: TIP: Keep a collection of potato peels, greens, celery leaves and ends, carrot tops, the woody ends of asparagus stems, onion ends and skins, etc. in the freezer until you have enough to  make a stock . Asparagus: Asparagus woody ends can be made into a delicious soup, stock, or even a tasty relish. Broccoli: Broccoli stalks have a richer flavor than the florets. They make a great soup or simply peel the tough outer skin and then shred the stalk to make a delicious  coleslaw – like salad. Broccoli stalks contain calcium, vitamins A and C, and folate. The leaves are also edible. Throw them into a salad or saute with some olive oil, salt and pepper. Substitute broccoli stalks in recipes that call for Brussels sprouts. Carrots: Carrots...

Guest post from our friend (and member!) Kate at  Life of A Ginger This week my Produce Box delivery contained Cara Cara Red Flesh Navel Oranges (our favorite variety), Mixed-Organic Salad Greens,   Joyce Farms Naked Chicken  Breast Tenders, zucchini, yellow squash, vine ripe tomatoes, and avocados. Plus, two small bags of my all time FAVORITE chips, made right here in North Carolina,  Carolina Kettle Cozumel Jalapeno Queso Kettle Chips .  They are so good I have to lock them away from my husband and kids! (Want to join The Produce Box? Click here and then read on!) My family and I have been on a real health-kick the past few weeks (except for my small Carolina Kettle chip habit). I’ve been replacing a lot of carbs like pasta and rice for steamed or roasted vegetables. We have been eating a lot more vegetable-laden salads, and cutting out items like juice, sugary cereal, and desserts. But I’ve been avoiding cooking a family favorite, Te...

Making it easy to bring the farm to your table James Sharp's family established Deans Farm in 1965 in Wilson. Their mission was to bring the best fresh produce to the community. We've been working with James for many years now and he always brings us delicious and beautiful produce. When we were looking to offer our members some time-savers like prepped and chopped veggies, soups and frozen meals, Deans Farm was at the top of our list. We met with James to talk about the survey responses, Facebook comments, e-mails and calls we were getting from our members about what YOU wanted to see on our menu. James responded in just a few days with a LONG list of what his farm and state-of-the-art farm kitchen could provide!  From veggie lasagna, squash casserole and all kinds of soups (tomato, veggie beef, etc.) to diced onions, carrots, celery and more, James has been helping us expand our menu for the past year.   We're also excited to be offering more in the coming...

Guest post from our friend (and member!) Kate at Life of A Ginger , one of our blog faves! The past few months have been extremely busy with after school activities and work, so we have eaten A LOT of convenience foods. Boxed or frozen dinners that tend to be high in sodium and preservatives and low in nutrients. So, like most everyone in January, I decided it’s time to get healthy and eat better. This time I decided I’m not doing it by myself, but will also include the whole family. It’s so much easier to stick to a healthy meal plan when you only have to prepare one meal for everyone. One thing that has made this decision much easier in my very busy life is The Produce Box . The Produce Box is a wonderful service here in North Carolina that brings fresh produce, meats, dairy, and bakery items directly from North Carolina farmers and small business owners, right to your door. Each week there is a different selection, depending on what’s available and in season, and unlike a CSA , y...