Blog

Thanksgiving Boxes

Nov 13, 2019

This variety box of local produce will make sure that your Thanksgiving meals are a hit!

Boxes will include:

5lb russet potatoes
3lb carrots
2lb brussel sprouts
4 yellow onions
2lb fuji apples
2lb cranberries
2 butternut squash

Pick up locations:

Crisp Country Acres Farm Store: Saturday, November 23 or Tuesday, November 19.
Kalamazoo Farmers Market: Saturday, November 23.
Muskegon Farmers Market: Saturday, November 23.

The deadline to order is Thursday, November 21.

Where to find local food this winter.

Nov 8, 2019

Local food? Even in the winter?

YES! Even in Michigan you can enjoy local food all year round.

Here is what we are planning for this weekend:

Broccoli
Carrots (Orange & Rainbow)
Fresh Cranberries
Beets (Red, Gold & Candy)
Collards
Green Onions
Kale (Red, Green & Lacinato)
Radishes
Onions
Cauliflower
Lettuce (red Leaf, Green Leaf & Romaine)
Celery
Cabbage
Apples (Honey Crisp, Golden Delicious, Fuji & Gala)
Leek
Celery Root
Turnip
Rutabaga
Sweet Potatoes
Cherry Tomatoes
Fall Squash (Butternut, Spaghetti, Acorn, Buttercup, Ambercup, Sweet Dumpling)
Potatoes (Yukon Gold, Red Skin, Butterball, Blue, Fingerling, Russet, White)
Brussel Sprouts
Beef
Pork
Raw Honey
Eggs

You can find us all of this delicious food plus so much more at our farm store, Muskegon Farmers Market and Kalamazoo Farmers Market.

THANK YOU so much for supporting your local farmers, even in the winter. We appreciate it!

See you soon,

– The Visser Family

NEW! Customizable CSA Shares!

Oct 27, 2019

We just made an exciting change to our CSA farm share program! Ready to hear about it?

Introducing customizable farm shares!

We partnered with Harvie, an online farm share management program. Here is how the new program works:

NEW CUSTOMIZABLE Shares

Once you sign up for a share, you’ll be asked to rate all the products we have to offer on a scale of “not for me” to “I love it.” Your share will be built based on those preferences and what we have available in season at the time. Don’t like beets? Rate them a “not for me” and you won’t ever see them! Love carrots? Give them an “I love it” and we’ll try to get that to you every time they are available!

Swap your veggies!

Prior to your delivery, you’ll have the option to swap out items if you want! Already have enough radishes this week? Just swap them out for something else we have available that week.

And don’t worry, if you love the surprise of not knowing what is in your share, you can simply skip setting preferences and customizing and we’ll pack a regular ole share for you to pick up!

Going on vacation?

Traveling? No problem. Harvie has a built in tool that will allow you to place your share on “hold” or reschedule it for a future date within your season.

Pay 7

We’ve made a slight change to the way you’ll be paying for your shares this season. Members will sign up for 1-3 seven week “sessions” with each session requiring a payment in full for those seven weeks. Each session is 7 weeks so choose 7, 14 or 21 weeks. Don’t worry, you can add more sessions later!

When you join our customizable farm share, you will get the same quality ingredients and farm-to-table connection you’ve come to expect from us over the years, but with the addition of making it easier for you to use and enjoy all your items. You’ll see less food waste and enjoy a more convenient and personalized farm share program!

Wondering what will be available? Check out our winter produce calendar and see what we are planning for the winter season.

Join us this season and we’ll deliver shares of farm-fresh produce customized to your personal preferences!

Ready to sign up?

JOIN NOW

How to use all kinds of fall squash!

Oct 10, 2019

We often get asked at market about the fall squash. Everyone knows what the butternut and acorn is, but the others? What do they taste like? Can you cook them the same?

This fall squash guide will make you feel confident enough to try them all and enjoy everything this fall favorite has to offer.

WHAT KIND OF SQUASH IS THAT?

Butternut Squash – This customer favorite features a bright orange flesh with a sweet taste. It stores well.

Acorn Squash – This squash features a sweet, nutty, mild flavored squash. Acorn squash stores well.

Delicata Squash – Also known as the sweet potato squash, it has a consistency similar to a sweet potato with a bit more earthy flavor. The skin is edible and stores well.

Buttercup Squash – Buttercup squash has a nutty earthy flavor with a touch of sweetness. Buttercup squash stores well.

Ambercup Squash – This sweet, smooth squash is a family favorite! It can be used interchangeably with pie pumpkin. It stores well.

Sweet Dumpling Squash – This squash makes a perfect bowl for cooking your meal in. It is a sweet squash also comparable to a sweet potato. It stores well.

Spaghetti Squash – By scraping the flesh of this squash you will get strings comparable to noodles. This is a great pasta alternative!

HOW TO STORE WINTER SQUASH – Most fall squashes can keep well into the winter. Lay them out in a cool dark spot. Check them occasionally for soft spots, using those first.

HOW TO COOK WINTER SQUASH –

Bake – Cut smaller squash (like acorn squash) in half; scoop out the seeds. Place 2 teaspoons honey, brown sugar, or maple syrup and 1 tablespoon butter into their centers. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees oven for about 30 minutes, or until easily pierced with a fork.

Microwave Method – Cut the squash in half and discard seeds. Microwave on high for seven minutes per pound.

Roast – Cut in half and seed squash. Place the squash halves, cut-side up, on a rimmed baking sheet. Rub the flesh with softened butter or oil, season with salt and pepper, and drizzle with brown sugar, maple syrup, or orange juice. Flip the squash over and roast them for 40 to 45 minutes in a preheated 400 degrees Oven. Roast the squash until the skin is blistered, browned, and the flesh is tender. Insert a fork or knife under the skin to test that the flesh is tender. When the squash has cooled the skin should peel off easily.

Boil – Cut the squash in half and discard the seeds. Peel and cut the squash into chunks. Place in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook until the squash is tender. Let the chunks cool, then purée the flesh in a food processor or mash. To use the purée in pies, pass it through a strainer or sieve to remove any fibers or chunks.

Side Note: Make sure to save the squash seeds! You can cook them just like pumpkin seeds for a delicious healthy snack!

HOW TO FREEZE WINTER SQUASH – Fall squash is very easy to freeze! We typically cook a whole oven full at one time. Cut the squash in half and scoop the seeds out. Place in a pan with water in the bottom. Cover. Bake until soft and scoop out the squash. Mash until you have the consistency you like. Place in freezer containers or freezer bags.

Want to give them all a try? Stop by the farm store or farmers markets and ask about our fill a bag sale going on now!

What kind of squash is your favorite?

Find your fall favorites at the markets this weekend!

Sep 20, 2019

Are you excited for fall?

We are! The trees are turning color, big fluffy fall clouds are appearing in the sky and lots delicious fall veggies are ready for you!

Here is what we are expecting to have ready for you this weekend:

Broccoli
Cauliflower
Fall Squash
Carrots (Orange & Rainbow)
Potatoes (Red Skin, White, Russet, Butterball, Blue, Sweet)
Onions
Beans (Green, Yellow & Purple)
Peppers (Sweet Bell Peppers & Hot Peppers)
Lettuce (Green Leaf, Red Leaf & Romaine)
Kale
Swiss Chard
Peaches
Tomatoes
Strawberries
Plums
Apples (Gala, Honey Crisp, Fuji)
Pears
Leek
Beets (Red, Golden & Candy)
Cabbage
Egg Plant
Parsnips
Zucchini
Summer Squash
Pickles
Brussel Sprouts

Which fall vegetable are you most excited for?

Find all of your favorites at the markets this Saturday. You can find us
at the Muskegon Farmers Market, Kalamazoo Farmers Market & our farm store.

Thank you for supporting your local farmers!

– The Visser Family

It is salsa season!

Aug 29, 2019

Tomatoes are in their prime. We have tons of hot peppers, sweet peppers and onions. Whether you like to can salsa to enjoy during the winter months or you love fresh salsa we have you covered!

Never made fresh salsa? Here is my favorite quick & easy recipe for you to try.

Do you have a favorite salsa recipe? If so, please let us know! We can add it to the collection of recipes on the website.

Few new fall items will be hitting the market tables this Saturday.

Spaghetti squash, parsnips, gold beets & leeks are now being harvested. Find these new items and all your summer favorites at the Muskegon Farmers Market, Kalamazoo Farmers Market & our farm store this weekend!

Enjoy this beautiful weekend,

– The Visser Family

Fresh Salsa

Aug 29, 2019

2 ripe tomatoes, diced
2 green bell peppers, diced
1 white onion, diced
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro, for garnish
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 jalapeno pepper, diced

Directions

In a medium bowl, mix tomatoes, green bell peppers, white onion, cilantro, lemon juice and jalapeno pepper. Cover and chill in the refrigerator until serving.

It’s pickle time!

Aug 1, 2019

Do you need to make your pickles yet? NOW is the time! Do you need a special size? Give the farm a call and order them. We will get them sorted & ready for you.

Never canned pickles before? Don’t have any canning equipment? My grandma makes refrigerator pickles that are so easy to make and don’t require any canning equipment. Here is the recipe. Give them a try this weekend.

The market tables will be FULL this week. Ready to make your grocery list? Here is what you can expect:

Beans (Green, Yellow & Purple)
Zucchini
Celery
Pickles – Time to can your pickles! We will have dill available as well.
Summer Squash
New Potatoes (Butterball, Red Skin, White & Blue)
Cucumbers
Peppers (Sweet Bell & Jalapeno)
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Radishes
Lettuce (Green Leaf, Romaine & Red Leaf)
Kale
Swiss Chard
Beets
Green Onions
Sweet Corn
Carrots (Orange & Rainbow)
Candy Sweet Onions (The BEST on the grill!)
Slicing Tomatoes
Cherry Tomatoes

Not sure where you to find us? Here is a market schedule.

Thank you for supporting your local farmers. Have a great weekend!

– The Visser Family

What is a new potato?

Jun 27, 2019

Well, it feels like it has taken a LONG time to get here, but summer has arrived and we have finally have the temperatures to match!

We started harvesting new potatoes a couple weeks ago. These potatoes are a favorite for many of our customers. Wonder why we call them “new” potatoes? The potatoes are dug while the plants are still green.

The skins on the new potatoes have not had a chance to cure and are extremely tender. The potatoes are also very creamy. It is important to note that because the skins are so sensitive, they need to be stored in a bag/container in the fridge.

Here is a picture of harvesting new potatoes. They are dug with the potato digger then picked up by hand.

The cool/wet weather has set some of the crops back, but we have new produce popping up every week. Some of the new things include:

Broccoli
Cauliflower
Zucchini
Green, Yellow & Purple Beans
New Potatoes

Strawberries are looking great. We also have lots of asparagus, radishes, sweet onions, greens, tomatoes & peas.

Plan a trip to the markets this weekend and stock up on all the fixings you need for you 4^th of July parties. Wondering where you can find us? Here is a market schedule.

Thank you so much for your support & we look forward to seeing you soon!

– The Visser Family