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How to blanch & freeze your veggies.
Freezing is a great way to preserve all of your summer favorites to enjoy in the summer months.
Here is how to freeze your produce:
Step 1: Wash and cut up veggies.
Step 2: Blanch Veggies, see below for how to blanch.
Step 3. Place veggies, single layer, on wax paper lined baking sheet and freeze. Transfer the veggies to a freezer bag or container. Label and place in freezer. Frozen produce can be stored for 8 – 12 months.
How to Blanch:
Step 1: Fill pan with enough water to cover the veggies & boil.
Step 2: Add produce, cover & boil for needed time. Each veggie is different!
- Corn: 4 minutes. ( Make sure corn cools down before removing kernels with a knife)
- Beans: 3 minutes.
- Zucchini: 3 minutes. (If you want to freeze zucchini for baking, you don’t need to blanch it.)
- Broccoli: 3 minutes.
- Cauliflower: 3 minutes.
- Carrots: 3 minutes.
Step 3: Once done drain and place veggies in ice water bath for the same length of time as you needed to boil.
Step 4: Drain and pat dry veggies with towel.
**Note that veggies like tomatoes, peppers & onions do not need to be blanched! Here is more information on how to freeze tomatoes & peppers/onions.
Now is the perfect time to freeze produce for next winter. Stop by one of the markets soon to pick up all of your favorites!
How to freeze peppers and onions.
Freeze peppers and onions in just 3 simple steps!
Step 1: Wash and dry peppers/onions.
Step 2: Chop up into sizes that work for you.
Step 3. Freeze!
- Option 1: Toss them into a freezer bag in exact quantities that work for your dishes. The peppers/onions will freeze together with this method and it can be hard to get them apart.
- Option 2: Or you can set them out on a baking sheet, spaced apart and then put into the freezer until they are hard. Once they are frozen you can place them in the freezer bag. This method works best if you want to be able to take out just a few each time.
How to freeze tomatoes!
Having trouble finding canning lids? With this simple freezing method you can still have tomatoes for your sauce & soups this winter!
- Wash and dry your tomatoes.
- Cut away stem and core.
- Cut tomatoes into desired size.
- Place on a baking sheet, 1 layer thick. Skin side down.
- Once frozen, place in labeled freezer bags.
- To remove the excess air use a vacuum sealer or the straw method (See below).
- Place bags in the freezer.
- When ready to use, remove tomatoes from the bag and let thaw. The skins will come right off.
- Use in soups, stews, chili or sauces.
Straw Method: Insert a straw halfway into a freezer bag and seal the rest of the bag, pushing out as much air as possible. Begin sucking the air out of the bag until the bag clings tightly around the tomatoes. Remove the straw and seal the bag closed.
Tomato season is here! Stop by the markets and pick up some regular or roma tomatoes to freeze and enjoy all winter long.
Beef & pork bundles are back!
Is your freezer looking empty? Fill it up with our locally raised meats! Check out this month’s specials:
Large Beef Bundle – $100
The beef bundle includes 8lbs of ground beef, 3lb burgers, 2lbs of stew meat, 2lb fajita strips & 1 roast. The cost is $100.00.
Large Pork Bundle – $100
The pork bundle includes 2 packs of pork chops, 4 pork steaks, 2lbs brats, 2lb ground pork, 3lb bacon, 2lb sausage links and a shoulder roast.
Small Beef Bundle – $50
This bundle includes 3lbs ground beef, 2lb burger patties, 1lb stew meat and 1 roast.
Small Pork Bundle – $50
This bundle includes 2 packs of pork chops, 1lb bacon, 1lb ground pork, 1 pack sausage links, 1 pack brats and 3 pork steaks.
Call/text Lindsey at (616) 795-2571 or email lindsey@crispcountryacres.com to order.
Grandma’s Minnesota Pickles
- 6 – 8 pickles, peeled or unpeeled and sliced
- 1 or 2 onions
- 1 green pepper sliced
Sprinkle with 2 Tbsp. salt and let stand for 2 to 3 hours. Drain and rinse with cold water. Place in Jar.
Mix the following:
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 cup vinegar
- 1 tsp. celery seed.
Bring to a boil. Pour over pickles, onion & peppers then refrigerate.
Canning & Freezing Guide
Stock up your freezer and pantry with local veggies to enjoy this winter!
Here is our canning & freezing guide to make sure you don’t miss out on any of your favorites.
Strawberry Season is HERE!
Have you heard?
Strawberry season is here!
It does not matter if you like to make jam, strawberry shortcake or just eat them right out of the quart…Michigan strawberries are the best!
Here is where you can find them:
Crisp Country Acres Farm Store: Monday – Saturday | 8am – 6pm.
Muskegon Farmers Market: Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday | 8am – 2pm.
Kalamazoo Farmers Market: Saturday | 7am – 1pm.
Trufant Market: Thursday | 7am – 12pm.
We also have beautiful tomatoes, sugar snap peas, asparagus, broccoli, onions, tons of greens & so much more ready for you!
Thank you for supporting your local farmers. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Join our CSA!
The last few months have been crazy. Stores and restaurants have been closed. The grocery store shelves have been empty.
But you don’t need wonder where your food is going to coming from this summer! Join a CSA. Know that your fridge will be full of good healthy food and support local farms.
Our new CSA program makes it easier than ever to get produce that your entire family will love. Here are few of the highlights:
- Personalized: Once you sign up you will rate all the produce we grow. Your boxes will be customized according to your preferences.
- Customization: You can swap out items prior to delivery. Have too many carrots in the fridge? No problem! You have 48 hours to log in to the Harvie site and swap them out for something else.
- Add Ons: Need extra items? Our members are able choose and add more items to their box from a variety of produce and extras from area businesses.
- Flexibility: Going on vacation? You can reschedule your boxes for another week during the current program.
- Recipes: Each week you will be emailed a list of recipe ideas specified to your box! You can also find lots of recipe ideas on our website.
- Community: Join our CSA member facebook group for weekly videos and to connect with other members.
You can sign up for produce every week during the summer (20 weeks) or sign up for our every other week share (10 weeks). Payment plans are available!
Pick up locations:
- Farm Pick Up (Holland): Wednesday | 10am – 6pm.
- Kalamazoo Market (Summer Season): Saturday | 8am – 1pm.
- Muskegon Market (Summer Season): Saturday | 8am – 1pm.
- Ventura (Employees): Wednesday | 12pm – 5pm.
- Bronson – Kalamazoo (Employees): Terrace Cafe, Thursday | 2pm – 6pm.
- Bronson – Lakeview (Employees): Tuesday | 4pm – 6pm.
Find out all of the details on our website. If you have any questions please let us know!
Ready to sign up? Sign up is available on our Harvie page. The signup deadline is June 3.
Please also know that we are here for you! We have increased our plantings and have been working hard to get the fields filled with produce for you all to enjoy. We look forward to feeding you and your family this summer!
Don’t miss out on your favorite produce this summer!
The summer season goes by so fast. There is such a great variety of produce grown right here in our great state of Michigan!
We want to make sure that you enjoy everything that is available and we have just what you need to make sure that happens!
From strawberries to green beans, tomatoes, sweet corn and brussel sprouts, our produce guide will let give you an idea of when to expect all of your favorites.
Get your free produce guide HERE.
Looking forward to seeing you all soon. Thank you for supporting your local farmers!
-The Visser Family
PS – Did you know the farmers markets are open? Asparagus, green onions, radishes, cherry tomatoes, rhubarb and salad mix is ready right now. Here is where you can find us!
It’s time for some asparagus!
Asparagus season has arrived!
Along with this spring favorite we also have cherry tomatoes, rhubarb, green onions, salad mix, kale, swiss chard, potatoes, carrots, radishes, beets, parsnips & more!
Here is where you can find us:
MUSKEGON Farmers Market: Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday 8am – 1pm.
HOLLAND – Crisp Country Acres Farm Store: Our farm store is your one-stop shop for all your groceries! Produce, meats, eggs, bread, milk, cheese, quiche, pop corn, bread & more is available. The store is open Monday – Friday, 8am – 6pm & Saturday, 8am – 5pm .
KALAMAZOO Farmers Market: This market is open for drive thru, preorder pick up only in May. Order on our website by Friday at noon for Saturday pick up. Make sure to read all the details on how this will work HERE. We are hoping that the market will open for normal purchasing on June 6. Want to pick out your own items? See our other Kalamazoo options below!
KALAMAZOO – Pop Up Market: Want to shop & pick out your own produce? Visit us at the Michigan Egg Exchange parking lot on Saturday from 8am – 1pm. The egg exchange is right across from KIK pool, around the corner from the outdoor market. Here is the address: 923 Walter St, Kalamazoo, MI 49001. Otto’s chicken will also be at this location.
Thank you so much for supporting the farm! We look forward to seeing you all soon!
– The Visser Family