Any share changes must be submitted to lucsa@theurbancanopy.org by Monday at noon!!!
In your box this week:
- OREGANO - APPLES - BLACK BEANS - POTATOES
- SPAGHETTI SQUASH - JUICE -
MICROGREENS or LETTUCE -
- MUSHROOMS - EGGS - BREAD -
New Vendor Highlight: Monarch Beauty Farm
Radiant tulips blooms are coming to brighten up our winter season! With tulips in dazzling colors, hand-selected varieties, and a shelf life boasting 6-9 days, Maru from Monarch Beauty Farms is partnering with LUCSA to bring fresh tulips to the local Chicago area.
The tulips are grown hyper local, within 10 miles of our facility, and are grown without excessive inputs or waste. Varieties will also be changing from week to week, allowing you to fill your home with new and vibrant colors every week! Monarch Beauty Farm also uses compost obtained from The Urban Canopy’s Compost Club to grow their high-quality tulip varieties, which makes us additionally happy to have found this small local grower.
Join us in supporting this local grower and brighten your home with pops of vibrant color through the grey winter months. Keep up with Maru from Monarch Beauty Farm as well through her website as she regularly posts information and workshop opportunities!
WEEKLY ADD-ONS FOR YOUR BOX
Locally-sourced food and home goods to round out your CSA box! Save trips to the grocery store and get what you need delivered inside your LUCSA share.
For returning LUCSA members, we’re doing Add-Ons a little differently these days… you will access the Shop through your very own member portal! Link below…
Add-On Order form must be submitted by noon on Monday!
New Add-On Items (Available for a limited time):
NEW FOCACCIA FLAVOR:
GARLICKY TOMATO
A new batch of focaccia from the Processing Kitchen. This round comes packed with tomatoes, garlic infused olive oil and mozzarella cheese. Classic flavor. We even used the jarred whole roma tomatoes that we make here in the kitchen that are also available on their own.
Focaccias are made with sourdough starter and are fully baked and then vacuum sealed and frozen. Just pop them in the oven or a toaster oven and they will be hot and fresh and ready in like 20 minutes.
Keep checking back for new flavors.
NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
If you missed a week and want to see what was in a previous share, we archive a PDF of all our previous newsletters here.
You can also use it to look at previous seasons if you are interested to see what crops are coming!
Share Contents
Refer back to this page for updated share contents and photos to help you identify produce!
Please keep in mind that share contents may vary due to market availability so contents may vary slightly from this list. Farming is never 100% predictable. We appreciate your flexibility!!!
Pro-tip: When your share arrives, immediately unpack your produce and move into proper storage containers!
ALWAYS wash produce before eating!
Remember to return your wax box, egg cartons, and pint containers during your next delivery…we re-use all of these items!
Beverage:
Juice - Midwest Juicery (Grand Rapids, MI)
Storage Tip - Store in the refrigerator.
Bread:
Wednesday: Cibatta Publican Quality Bread (Chicago, IL)
Thursday: Brioche dinner rolls FranHer Bakery (Pilsen, Chicago, IL)
Friday: Honey Whole Wheat Zeitlin’s Delicatessen (Chicago, IL) Storage Tip - Storage Tip - Keep your bread cut side down in a bag on your counter for two to three days. At that point you will want to slice or rip/cut your bread into pieces and freeze for future toast, croutons, or panzanella! If it’s particularly hot, you may want to move it to the refrigerator after a day or two (the only time we will tell you to refrigerate bread).
Mushrooms:
Wednesday: Crimini River Valley Ranch (Burlington, WI)
Thursday: Oyster Windy City Mushrooms (Chicago, IL)
Friday: Crimini River Valley Ranch (Burlington, WI) Storage Tip - Open the paper bag to reduce moisture, and keep mushrooms out of plastic. Smoke, dehydrate, or par-cook and freeze for longer storage.
Eggs - Finn's Steak and Egg Ranch (Buchanan, MI)
Storage Tip - You can freeze your eggs to make them last longer. Crack and scramble in a container, or crack whole into oiled muffin tins, and keep frozen for up to 6 months.
Oregano - Wind Ridge Herb Farm (Caledonia, IL)
Storage Tip - Store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to three days. If you place a slightly damp paper towel in the bag with the oregano and leave some air in the bag, it can extend the life up to one week.
Microgreens or Lettuce - Enhanced Earth (Bolingbrook, IL) / Closed Loop Farms (Back of the Yards, Chicago, IL)
Storage Tip - Your greens will come in a green compostable bag, remove your greens from the bag and store them in a plastic container or bag with a paper towel covering them for up to a week in the fridge.
Spaghetti or Butternut Squash - Family Farm Fresh (Rockville, IN)
Storage Tip - Keep undamaged squash in a cool, dark, dry place, out of the fridge, for up to 6 months.
Apples - Nichols Farm and Orchard (Marengo, IL)
Storage Tip - Keep at a consistent temperature on the counter for up to a week, or in the crisper for up to a month.
Potatoes - Nichols Farm and Orchard (Marengo, IL)
Storage Tip - Keep cool, dry and out of direct light, on your counter, in a cupboard or in a perforated paper bag, for up to 6 months.
Black Beans - Carlson Arbogast Farm (Howard City, MI)
Storage Tip - Store beans in a reusable container or plastic bag in a cool, dry place.
Substitutions
beets, navy beans, oregano, potatoes
Items for those already opting out of beverage, bread, mushrooms, or eggs OR having a conflicting allergy; subject to change, even if specified. Please refer back to this newsletter throughout the week for updates!!!
Beets- Nichols Farm and Orchard (Marengo, IL)
Storage Tip - Keep dry and tightly sealed in a bag in the crisper for up to a month.
Carrots - Family Farm Fresh (Rockville, IN)
Storage Tip - Remove greens to preserve the root longer. Greens can be used within a week and the carrot itself can be stored in the crisper or in a plastic bag for a few weeks.
Garlic - Happy Valley Farm (Black Earth, WI)
Storage Tip - Keep cool and dry on the counter for up to a month.
Kohlrabi - Nichols Farm and Orchard (Marengo, IL)
Storage Tip - Remove greens, keep in a sealed plastic bag in the crisper for up to a week. Keep root or stem dry in a plastic bag in the crisper for up to three weeks.
Sweet Potatoes - Nichols Farm and Orchard (Marengo, IL)
Storage Tip - Sweet potatoes should never be cold til cooked! Keep them dry at a stable temperature out of direct light, on your counter or in a cupboard, for up to 6 months.
For more recipe ideas, follow us on Instagram! Our recipe reels provide additional information on how to use produce and processing items each week!
