CSA Product Suggestions / Wish Lists

So, my csa guy called me up last week, and asked for a few opinions and suggestions. He has to raise his prices a tad, and wondered what my thoughts were. From what I know, he has been extremely reasonable, and his subscribers have had plenty of praise for his product. I have no issue at all with his pricing, and basically told him whatever he decided on charging I would pay, because I know him to be good people. I did suggest, however, that he try to grow some more interesting product. He does plenty as it is, but I suggested trying to grow some things that are a little further away from the norm than things he's done in the past. A sampling of items that he's grown that I have loved that I had never tried before, and prolly would have never tried, either:
Scapes (I cannot believe I have been missing out on these all of these years. I am a fully blown addict.)
Golden Beets (I hate beets. I'm one that can't get over the extreme dirt taste to appreciate the sweetness)
Patty Pan Squash

I suggested that he look into growing more things like this, tho the only real examples I could give him were fennel, and ramps (I've still never had a ramp, I just know that folks here love em.) I'm wondering if anyone has any input / suggestions on some things they would like to see from their growers, or surprises they've gotten in their box. Sure, we get plenty of the standards - zukes / cukes / carrots / radishes / tomato varieties aplenty / kale / spinach / taters / salad mix / peas etc. I'm looking for suggestions of veggies that are kinda off the reguar path that you would love to see, or loved being surprised with.


Any Near West Burb folks who are looking, the csa is Gibbs Family Garden, and they are failry new to the game. Great people, and as I've fully disclosed before when I pimp them, close friends.

Gibbs Family Garden Website

I appreciated getting vegetables from my CSA that were not readily available or not good at a grocer: kohlrabi, celeriac, baby turnips, delicata squash. The root veggies/brassica are allowed to grow too large and reedy when sold commercially. The squash doesn't travel well so you don't often find that variety.

Interesting things off the top of my head:

Brussels sprouts, bok choy, cardoons, lemon cucumbers, fiddle-head ferns, edible flowers...

Before your CSA guy heads down the path of boutique vegetables, I'd make sure he or she offers customers a "how-to" guide for each one. LTHers are eager to find and exploit new produce, but many CSA buyers are in the market for other reasons. The IDPH has a whole list of simple ways to prep produce: www.idph.state.ia.us/pickabettersnack

I don't think these folks would be averse to some new veg, but I think they might need some hand-holding.

That being said, from what I see at the Evanston farmer's market, Asian vegetables are the new black. Aromatics are always good: shallots, Chinese celery, lemongrass, culantro, thai basil, shiso leaf.

[quote= culantro,[/quote]

Typo or something Greek to me?

Anyway, we've been growing lemon grass for a few years as a sub for spikes in our planters. I'm now wondering if we could do various types of radicchio. Sorry if I've gone off topic.


typo

culantro,

Typo or something Greek to me?

Bean:

Culantro is a different herb. Toothed semi-succulent leaves, a flavor not unlike cilantro; easy to grow, and doesn't bolt to seed in five minutes like cilantro does. Used a lot in Puerto Rican cooking, particularly in sofrito. Good stuff.

Thanks to sundevilpeg, I have some growing in my window right now - she alerted me to seedlings at Home Depot. The only problem I have with it is that it is SPINY and I've had to snip the stickers off the leaves before using it, but I like it far, far better than cilantro in general.

I keep coming accross recipes that include sorrel, but pretty much never see it in the produce stores I frequent. Maybe I'm not hitting the right stores, but I'd definately be excited to see it in a CSA box.

Thanks, also, to sundevilpeg. Almost anything is better than cilantro (yea, those bolts get to me). Is culantro more cactus/aloe like--succulent? I'm thinking of those spines.
I want some.

Nope, it's sort of like skinnier, smaller, tastier romaine lettuce with fangs.