Tanaka Farms CSA

Hi we will be deleting the Tanaka Farms CSA page. Please follow our regular Tanaka Farms page where we will post weekly updates about our CSA boxes and recipes. Thank you very much for following us.

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This week's box 5/16 to 5/22:
The listed contents may change slightly from "This Week's Box" list. Your box will always contain the same number of items.

MINI
Broccoli
Carrots
Romaine Lettuce
Cauliflower (white, yellow, purple, green, romanesco)
Spinach

SMALL
Strawberries
Cabbage OR Celery
Romaine Lettuce
Blackberries
Broccoli
Cauliflower (white, yellow, purple, green, romanesco)
Spinach

LARGE
Cabbage OR Celery
Cauliflower (white, purple, yellow, green, romanesco)
Romaine Lettuce
Broccoli
Carrots
Strawberries
Bok Choy
Avocados
Blackberries
Spinach
Fuji Apples

Can you smell the strawberries before you even open the box? Yum yum!

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This week's box 5/8 to 5/14:
The listed contents may change slightly from "This Week's Box" list. Your box will always contain the same number of items.

MINI
Broccoli
Bok Choy
Romaine Lettuce
Sugar Snap Peas
Spinach

SMALL
Strawberries
Sugar Snap Peas OR Celery
Romaine Lettuce
Fuji Apples OR Blackberries
Broccoli
Arugula
Spinach

LARGE
Sugar Snap Peas OR Celery
Cauliflower (white, purple, yellow, green, romanesco)
Romaine Lettuce
Broccoli
Arugula
Strawberries
Bok Choy
Swiss Chard
Tangerines
Spinach
Fuji Apples OR Blackberries

Springtime colors and flavors! Enjoy your fruits and veggies this week!

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This week's box 5/1 - 5/7:
The listed contents may change slightly from "This Week's Box" list. Your box will always contain the same number of items.

MINI
Broccoli
Cauliflower (white, purple, green, romanesco)
Romaine Lettuce
Sugar Snap Peas
Spinach

SMALL
Strawberries
Cauliflower (white, purple, green, romanesco)
Romaine Lettuce
Fuji Apples OR Blackberries
Broccoli
Arugula
Spinach

LARGE
Celery
Cauliflower (white, purple, yellow, green, romanesco)
Romaine Lettuce
Broccoli
Arugula
Strawberries
Bok Choy
Snap Peas OR Beets (red, gold)
Tangerines
Spinach
Fuji Apples OR Blackberries

Berries in the boxes this week! What sweet dishes will you make?

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This week's box 4/10 to 4/16:
The listed contents may change slightly from "This Week's Box" list. Your box will always contain the same number of items.

MINI
Bok Choy
Beets (red, gold)
Avocados
Romaine Lettuce
Cauliflower

SMALL
Fuji Apples OR Strawberries
Cabbage OR Beets (red, gold)
Romaine Lettuce
Napa Cabbage
Swiss Chard OR Broccoli
Japanese Turnips
Tangerines

LARGE
Cabbage OR Beets (red, gold)
Avocados
Cauliflower (white, purple, yellow, green, romanesco)
Romaine Lettuce
Broccoli OR Swiss Chard
Japanese Turnips
Tangerines
Bok Choy
Napa Cabbage
Fuji Apples OR Strawberries
Spinach

Spring colors and flavors in every box! What will our members be dishing up this week?

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This week's box 3/27 to 4/2:
The listed contents may change slightly from "This Week's Box" list. Your box will always contain the same number of items.

MINI
Bok Choy
Broccoli
Sugar Snap Peas
Romaine Lettuce
Cauliflower

SMALL
Fuji Apples
Avocados OR Cabbage
Romaine Lettuce
Bok Choy
Broccoli OR Cauliflower (white, purple, yellow, green, romanesco)
Arugula
Tangerines

LARGE
Sugar Snap Peas
Avocados OR Cabbage
Cauliflower (white, purple, yellow, green, romanesco)
Romaine Lettuce
Broccoli
Arugula
Tangerines
Bok Choy
Radishes
Fuji Apples

What tasty eats will be made with your box this week?

CSA members seem to be enjoying the new variety of arugula we've been growing! Our seed supplier was out of stock on our usual Surrey Arugula seeds so the farmers tried out Roquette Arugula. Roquette arugula is more tender, with less serrated leaves. The feedback on Roquette (or "rocket" as they call arugula in Commonwealth English) - better flavor and more versatile. What are your thoughts?

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This week's box 3/20-3/26:
The listed contents may change slightly from "This Week's Box" list. Your box will always contain the same number of items.

MINI
Bok Choy
Broccoli
Arugula
Romaine Lettuce
Swiss Chard

SMALL
Fuji Apples
Cabbage
Romaine Lettuce
Bok Choy
Broccoli OR Cauliflower (white, purple, yellow, green, romanesco)
Arugula
Oranges

LARGE
Sugar Snap Peas
Oranges
Cabbage
Broccoli OR Cauliflower (white, purple, yellow, green, romanesco)
Romaine Lettuce
Kale
Arugula
Tangerines
Bok Choy
Swiss Chard
Fuji Apples

This week's box - 3/6 to 3/12:
The listed contents may change slightly from "This Week's Box" list. Your box will always contain the same number of items.

MINI
Bok Choy
Broccoli
Kale
Romaine Lettuce
Swiss Chard

SMALl
Fuji Apples
Beets (red, gold)
Romaine Lettuce
Bok Choy
Broccoli
Kale
Oranges

LARGE
Sugar Snap Peas
Oranges
Cilantro OR Lemons
Broccoli
Romaine Lettuce
Kale
Arugula OR Carrots
Beets (red, gold)
Bok Choy
Swiss Chard
Fuji Apples

We are pleased to announce a new public CSA pick up site in Irvine! Welcome to our new CSA program partner - University United Methodist Church located on University/Culver Dr. Bi-weekly Sunday deliveries begin on March 19th. Members who would like to give this location a try may make changes through Farmigo.

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This week's box 2/20 to 2/26:
The listed contents may change slightly from "This Week's Box" list. Your box will always contain the same number of items.

MINI
Broccoli
Swiss Chard
Cauliflower (white, purple, green, yellow, romanesco)
Arugula
Carrots

SMALL
Fuji Apples
Carrots
Snap Peas OR Romaine Lettuce OR Cauliflower (white, purple, yellow, green, romanesco)
Celery
Broccoli
Kale
Oranges

LARGE
Carrots
Oranges
Celery
Broccoli
Snap Peas OR Romaine Lettuce OR Cauliflower (white, purple, yellow, green, romanesco)
Kale
Arugula OR Bok Choy
Tangerines
Spinach
Swiss Chard
Fuji Apples

Aren't these winter fruits and veggies amazing?! Enjoy your produce this week!

This week's box 2/13 to 2/20:
The listed contents may change slightly from "This Week's Box" list. Your box will always contain the same number of items.

MINI
Broccoli
Celery
Cauliflower (white, purple, green, yellow, romanesco)
Spinach
Carrots

SMALL
Fuji Apples OR Strawberries
Carrots
Cauliflower (white, purple, yellow, green, romanesco)
Celery OR Arugula
Broccoli
Kale OR Spinach
Oranges

LARGE
Carrots
Oranges
Celery
Broccoli
Cauliflower (white, purple, yellow, green, romanesco)
Kale OR Spinach
Arugula
Tangerines
Radishes
Swiss Chard
Fuji Apples OR Strawberries

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This week's box 2/6 to 2/23:
The listed contents may change slightly from "This Week's Box" list. Your box will always contain the same number of items.

MINI
Swiss Chard
Celery
Cauliflower (white, purple, green, yellow, romanesco)
Spinach
Carrots

SMALL
Fuji Apples OR Grapefruit (Pomelo)
Carrots
Cauliflower (white, purple, yellow, green, romanesco)
Celery
Swiss Chard OR Arugula
Kale
Oranges

LARGE
Carrots
Oranges
Celery
Broccoli
Cauliflower (white, purple, yellow, green, romanesco)
Kale
Swiss Chard OR Arugula
Tangerines
Cilantro OR Radishes
Spinach
Fuji Apples OR Grapefruit (Pomelo)

Oh the wonderful colors of fresh fruits and veggies! Let's get cooking!

Thank you to our neighbor University United Methodist Church Irvine for inviting us to your Health Fair. What a wonderful and friendly community! We enjoyed talking to you about our farm.

Come to our first CSA cooking demonstration of 2023!

Chef Joni will be showing how to make:
Veggie-Ful Salad for Sandwiches Three Ways - Curry Style, Deli Style, and Waldorf Style using the ingredients from this season's CSA box.

Date: Sunday, Jan. 29th
Time: 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Where: Tanaka Farms stage
Cost: Free for CSA members - $5.00 farm entry fee for non-members

Enjoy your CSA perk of daily free admission to the farm and bring up to 4 guests. Check in at the tour entry gate and provide them your member name. Member must accompany the group for free admission. You'll leave with some great new recipes!

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This week's box 1/23 to 1/29:
The listed contents may change slightly from "This Week's Box" list. Your box will always contain the same number of items.

MINI
Broccoli
Bok Choy
Cauliflower (white, purple, green, yellow, romanesco)
Spinach
Romaine Lettuce

SMALL
Fuji Apples
Spinach
Beets (red, gold)
Romaine Lettuce
Broccoli
Kale
Oranges

LARGE
Romaine Lettuce
Oranges
Carrots OR Celery
Broccoli
Cauliflower (white, purple, yellow, green, romanesco)
Kale
Bok Choy OR Swiss Chard
Beets (red, gold)
Tomatoes OR Lemons
Spinach
Fuji Apples

Soooo many possibilities here! What are you making this week?

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Reason #749 to join a farm direct CSA? Lettuce mention that romaine crops are in short supply nationwide.

Farming is an imperfect science anytime and anywhere, but getting your produce from a CSA farm near you (ahem, Tanaka Farms) helps ensure a more healthy and stable supply of fruits and vegetables.
Sometimes our CSA members experience sticker shock at the supermarket since they haven't shopped stores for produce in a while. If you are a CSA member, do your friends have romaine lettuce envy yet?

I Just Bought A Head Of Lettuce For $7.50—Is This The New Normal? A lettuce shortage caused by unseasonably high temperatures and crop disease has raised prices.

Cali Style Chopped Cauliflower Salad with Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing

This recipe makes use of the seasonal items in this week's box - cauliflower, Fuji apples, cilantro, lettuce and greens. The market stand may carry a limited early harvest of strawberries. You can substitute with frozen strawberries or dried cranberries or raisins.

This salad makes a meal! The added nuts for protein, all the yummy veggies, plus that addition of grilled apple and fresh strawberries for a nice sweet surprise make this the perfect salad for dinner parties, potlucks…and, of course, LUNCH!

Created by our very own JONI MARIE NEWMAN.

YIELD: 6 SERVINGS

INGREDIENTS:

For the Salad:
1 head cauliflower, pulsed
1 cup chopped cilantro
1 cup baby Maui-style onions
2 cups sliced strawberries
1 Fuji apple, thinly sliced and grilled, then chopped
1 cup walnuts (or pecans, almonds...)
4 cups chopped mixed greens

For the Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing:
12 ounces silken tofu
½ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup rice vinegar
1 ounce (a fistful) cilantro
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon ground mustard seed
½ teaspoon salt, or to taste

DIRECTIONS:

To make the salad, toss all ingredients in a large bowl.

To make the dressing, place all ingredients into a blender and puree until smooth.

Drizzle dressing liberally over salad when serving.

https://www.tanakafarms.com/calistyle-chopped-cauliflower-salad

This week's box 1/16 to 1/22:
The listed contents may change slightly from "This Week's Box" list. Your box will always contain the same number of items.

MINI
Broccoli
Tomatoes
Cauliflower (white, purple, green, yellow, romanesco)
Celery
Romaine Lettuce

SMALL
Fuji Apples
Bok Choy OR Spinach
Cauliflower (white, purple, yellow, green, romanesco)
Romaine Lettuce
Broccoli
Celery
Oranges OR Tangerines

LARGE
Romaine Lettuce
Oranges OR Tangerines
Celery
Broccoli
Cauliflower (white, purple, yellow, green, romanesco)
Cilantro
Bok Choy
Arugula
Tomatoes
Spinach
Fuji Apples

What's coming out of your CSA kitchen this week?

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This week's box 1/9/23 to 1/15/23:
The listed contents may change slightly from "This Week's Box" list. Your box will always contain the same number of items.

MINI
Broccoli
Tomatoes
Cauliflower (white, purple, green, yellow, romanesco)
Celery
Romaine Lettuce

SMALL
Fuji Apples
Japanese Turnips
Cauliflower (white, purple, yellow, green, romanesco)
Romaine Lettuce
Broccoli
Kale
Tangerines

LARGE
Romaine Lettuce
Tangerines
Kale
Broccoli
Cauliflower (white, purple, yellow, green, romanesco)
Radishes OR Cilantro
Bok Choy
Japanese Turnips
Tomatoes
Celery
Fuji Apples

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This week's box 12/19 to 12/25:
The listed contents may change slightly from "This Week's Box" list. Your box will always contain the same number of items.

MINI:
Broccoli
Tomatoes
Kale
Arugula
Romaine Lettuce

SMALL:
Fuji Apples
Kale
Carrots OR Arugula
Romaine Lettuce
Broccoli OR Cauliflower
Tangerines

LARGE:
Romaine Lettuce
Tangerines
Kale
Broccoli
Bok Choy OR Cauliflower
Carrots
Persimmons OR Kabocha Squash
Radishes
Tomatoes
Arugula
Fuji Apples

Have a happy and healthy with your loved ones!

Our holiday closure dates have been recently updated with 12/26/22 and 01/02/23 being added. This gives our field employees time to enjoy the holidays and be able to harvest fresh crops. There will be no CSA pick ups or deliveries on closed dates. The CSA program resumes on 01/03/22. Schools and church sites may have additional break closures, so please contact your site host if you have any questions.

Going to be missing your box during the closures? Members may make a one time change to pick up from the farm on another day through Farmigo:
On dashboard, select "Pick-Up Site Change - Next Delivery"
Scroll to Tanaka Farms and choose pickup day and save.
Or email [email protected] for assistance (at least 4 days ahead).
Have a relaxing and enjoyable holiday season!

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Boy, our cherry tomato season is stretching out as long as this cherry tomato vine! How are you enjoying your CSA items this week?

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This week's box 12/5 to 12/11:
The listed contents may change slightly from "This Week's Box" list. Your box will always contain the same number of items.

MINI
Broccoli
Bok Choy
Kale
Green Beans
Tomatoes - cherry

SMALL
Celery OR TBA
Tangerines OR Fuji Apples
Kale
Bok Choy
Green Beans
Broccoli
Grapes

LARGE
Celery
Tangerines OR Fuji Apples
Kale
Broccoli
Bok Choy
Green Beans
Persimmons
Turnips OR Cilantro
Grapes
Tomatoes - cherry
Butternut Squash
(Item to be determined)

What is your favorite item this season?

What supply chain?

As a Tanaka Farms CSA member, you love the freshness and flavors of our 30 acre farm. It's an honest appreciation of the simple things in life. But think back a couple of years... when a pandemic put a lot of kinks into the system. It wasn't until then that people came to realize the fragility of food availability. Remember the empty shelves of 2020?

Here's a hefty report on the ongoing challenges of getting food to the table - labor, transportation, extreme weather, border delays, energy shortages, trade restrictions, political instability and yes... pandemics are all mentioned here. There's a lot to rely on!

Simplicity came into clear focus in early 2020, when folks across the country knocked on the doors of their neighborhood farms. At Tanaka Farms, in 2 weeks our CSA hit capacity with a waitlist of over 400! The uncertainty was felt across all demographics. What was of great comfort for our existing CSA members was the security of being plugged into a local food source.

Hopefully supply chains hold through future catastrophes. But, as long as there are soil, sun and seeds our hardworking farmers will be there for you - with fresh, flavorful and available food!
https://assets.lloyds.com/media/60e7d0b6-3702-4cf6-a819-2ba10d68f4d4/Lloyds-Futureset_From-farm-to-fork_The-food-and-drink-industry_Part-2.pdf

It's persimmon season and we have a great recipe here! We've been including some amazing organic Fuyu persimmons from our local farm partner, Cardenas Farms.

Unlike Hachiya persimmons which are quite astringent unless softened, the Fuyu variety can be enjoyed either firm like an apple or soft like a peach. Keep them on the counter to let them soften and develop a deeper sweetness. Use firm persimmons in salads or made into this yummy dish:

Kimberly's Fall Spiced Apples & Persimmons
(Recipe from CSA Day on Dec. 5, 2015)
2 Fuji Apples
2 Fuyu Persimmons
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons butter

Slice apples and persimmons to desired size. The smaller the pieces, the faster it will cook. Add ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, salt, and honey and toss all together.

To make brown butter, melt butter in a medium or large sauté pan. After the butter is melted continue to cook it until the butter solids begin to brown. It will start to smell nutty. Be sure not to burn the butter. It should be brown, not black.

Once butter has browned, add the apples and persimmons and cook for 7-10 minutes. This will soften the apples and persimmons but they will still have a bit of a crunch. For softer apples and persimmons, you can cook them longer. Serve with coconut granola (recipe below).

https://www.tanakafarms.com/recipes

Yield: 4 to 5 servings

🥦🥦🥦 Got a big head of broccoli?
⚽️🏈🏀 Got a big game to watch?
Here's the perfect dip!

Hot Broccoli Cheese Dip
Created by Joni Marie Newman

It’s like a creamy bowl of broccoli cheese soup, but in a dip! This one hits all the checkboxes. Creamy? Check. Cheesy? Check. Comforting? Check.

NOTE: This recipe is written to be made either plant-based or with meat and cheese added. If you want to make the vegan version, make sure to use vegan versions of the mentioned ingredients, such as vegan shredded cheese.

YIELD: 8 PIES

INGREDIENTS:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon dried dill
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt (more or less to taste)
1/4 teaspoon chipotle powder or cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup shredded cheddar, divided
1/2 cup shredded parmesan, divided
3 cups chopped broccoli florets, divided

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350F. Have ready a 9-inch baking dish, such as a pie pan or casserole dish, lightly sprayed with cooking spray.

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sour cream, and spices until blended.

Fold in 2 cups of the broccoli florets, 3/4 cup of the cheddar, and 1/4 cup of the parmesan.

Spread evenly into the baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining broccoli florets on top and bake for 20 minutes.

Remove from oven, sprinkle with remaining cheeses and bake an additional 5 minutes, or until melted.

Serve hot with crackers, chips, or crusty bread for dipping.

https://www.tanakafarms.com/hot-broccoli-cheese-dip

Looking for more Tanaka Farms recipes? Check out our Recipe Library https://www.tanakafarms.com/recipes-from-the-farm

🥦🍏🍅🥕🍇🥬🌱
This week's box 11/28 to 12/4:
The listed contents may change slightly from "This Week's Box" list. Your box will always contain the same number of items.

MINI
Broccoli
Bok Choy
Celery
Green Beans
Carrots

SMALL
Celery
Persimmons OR Fuji Apples
Carrots OR Tomatoes
Bok Choy
Green Beans OR Kale
Butternut Squash
Grapes

LARGE
Celery
Fuji Apples
Radishes
Broccoli
Bok Choy
Green Beans OR Kale
Persimmons
Cilantro OR Arugula
Grapes
Carrots OR Tomatoes
Butternut Squash

Happy cooking and don't forget to tag us in your recipe posts!

This week's box 11/7 to 11/13:
The listed contents may change slightly from "This Week's Box" list. Your box will always contain the same number of items.

MINI
Broccoli
Bok Choy
Celery
Butternut Squash
Zucchini

SMALL
Celery
Pomegranate OR Persimmons
Radishes
Bok Choy
Broccoli
Butternut Squash
Grapes

LARGE
Celery
Pomegranate OR Persimmons
Radishes
Broccoli
Bok Choy
Zucchini OR Tomatoes
Green Onions OR Maui Onion
Grapefruit
Grapes
Kale
Butternut Squash

Enjoy your farm box this week! Happy cooking!