Summer #16/18: Napa Cabbage & the Summer Harvest Homestretch
Get a load of the stunning Napa Cabbage we’re harvesting this week! I gasped when I saw it. It is technically a few weeks early, but somehow also right on time. As we inch closer to Autumn, the seasons sort of dovetail into one another. Even though it really feels like Fall each morning, we’re still picking things that feel like Summer—Corn, Peppers, Tomatoes and yes, one last round of those sweet little Cantaloupes. What a timely gift their abundance has been! We knew that the late-season stone fruit would be in shorter supply due to those untimely May frosts in Eastern Washington. I’m thankful that our melons could fill the gap while we awaited peak Apple season’s arrival. Those heirloom and early varieties are starting to roll in from Okanogan, giving us literal bushels of things to look forward to in the coming months.
It’s happening, y’all. Fall Begins on Oct 6th!
Meanwhile, many of our big bumper Summer crops are starting to taper off just in time for us to get ready for our next phase—storage! There’s a changing of the guard at play between the Zucchini (we’ve picked our last ones) and the Winter Squashes (they’ve been cut and they’re going to spend the next few days curing in the field before we scoop them up).
Our Fall CSA Season is three weeks away and will run for ten weeks from Oct 6-Dec 9, 2026. I have sent Fall invoices and invitations to current CSA members, so check your inboxes (or spam folders). Fall is a very nourishing season, centered around a variety of Winter Squash, Pumpkins, Roots, Apples, Pears and frost-hardy green things--the types of vegetables that make great soups and hearty cool weather meals. I’m happy to answer any questions you may have about signups for Fall and beyond in the coming weeks, and I wanted to point out an important update for Fall. Changes are hard for me to spring on all of you, but after 12+ years, I have finally decided that it is too dark and cold for me to keep the farm stand open until 7pm in the “off-seasons.” Starting in October, we will start closing up the farmstand at 6pm on Tuesday nights. Please know that I am more than happy to pack shares for anyone who needs to pick up after hours on Tuesdays & Wednesdays. I know that many of you are stopping by on your way home from work or in between evening activities, so please let me know if there are any arrangements we need to make heading into Fall in light of this change.
But until then, let’s keep feasting on those Tomatoes and enjoying a few warm and bright September evenings.
Thanks,
Katie
IN THE FARMSHARES THIS WEEK:
Napa Cabbage
Tomatoes
Sweet Corn
Lunchbox and/or Shishito Peppers
Mini Melons or Zucchini
RECIPES & SEASONAL TIPS
BEST CABBAGE SOUP - Downshiftology
MARRY ME MELTING CABBAGE - Noble Pig
EGG ROLL IN A BOWL - Evolving Table
EASY STUFFED CABBAGE CASSEROLE - The View from Great Island
NAPA CABBAGE WEDGE SALAD WITH APPLES & BUTTERMILK DRESSING - Elizabeth Stark
THAI CRUNCH SALAD WITH PEANUT DRESSING - Once Upon a Chef
RISOTTO WITH TOMATOES & CORN - Martha Rose Shulman
PEPPER & CHERRY TOMATO WHITE PIZZA- Half-Baked Harvest
TRADITIONAL NAPA CABBAGE KIMCHI - Maangchi
PIKLIZ (sub recipe) - Bryant Terry
