Get delicious blueberries this week at a great price!

Mountainhome Farm needs your help! The blueberry and lamb/goat farm has a bit of a problem…lots of delicious blueberries all ripening at the same time. The farm, located in a beautiful area between Julian and Unionville, offers u-pick blueberries at an amazing $2.75 a quart, and they do not want to waste a single berry.

That said, farm owners JoAnn and John Sengle sent a request to let people know that this week, starting at 6:00 p.m. until dusk daily, blueberry picking is available. And these are fantastic blueberries, tasty, sweet, and large.

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Tags: blueberries | mountainhomefarm | u-pick |

Pick your favorite berries and discover new ones at Bee Tree Berry Farm

The Bee Tree Berry Farm is a berry lovers’ dream.

Not only does the farm offer “standard” berries like strawberries, red and black raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries, but other types you might not find in a grocery store, such as gooseberries, elderberries, and currants. While the farm is a berry lovers’ dream, it is also the realization of a dream of its owners, Mark and Laura MacDonald.

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Tags: BeeTreeBerryFarm | berries |

What to do with all those strawberries

All the local berry farms like Bee Tree Berry Farm and Way Fruit Farm are in full strawberry mode. You can find great deals at these farms via “U-pick” specials, where you go out and do all the harvesting work.

It’s a great way to get delicious local strawberries that are so much better than the ones in the supermarket in December. Of course, your eyes are bigger than your stomach when out in the field picking strawberries, so you might overdo it and have lots of leftover strawberries. So what to do if you have extras?

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Tags: strawberries | strawberry |

Local Food Notes for Sept 2

Happy Labor Day weekend! This edition of Local Food Notes is wine event heavy, but we also highlight Bee Tree Berry Farm and the annual Crickfest. Keep reading to learn more.

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Tags: LocalFoodnotes | wine | berries |

Local Food Notes for June 24

Pick-your-own raspberries and strawberries, Tait Farm Foods cocktail session, Caitlin’s Smiles benefit at Big Springs Spirits, and Elk Creek’s Sunday music series, all in this week’s Local Food Notes

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Tags: LocalFoodNotes | strawberries | raspberries | TaitFarm | ElkCreek | BigSpring |

Strawberry shortcake, PA Dutch style

It’s still strawberry season, but it’s on the wane. You can still find fresh, local strawberries at places like your local farmers market or favorite roadside stand.

What about pick-your-own? There are a few opportunities for pick-your-own strawberries, including the following (make sure to call ahead to confirm there are still strawberries):

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Tags: recipe | strawberries |

Recipe: Baked steel cut oats with almonds and blueberries

Steel cut oats have been a trendy food item for a while now, and with good reason. They have a lower glycemic index, which is good news for diabetics. They are also pretty tasty, more flavor than rolled oats and a chewy texture that many people find appealing.

They are pretty easy to make, as well. Not quite instant, but you can have a hot bowl of steel cut oats in just over a half-hour. While a bowl of steel cut oats with a little salt and brown sugar is very nice, you can do more with them. This is a pretty easy recipe that you can do much of the prep work for the night before, then pop it in the oven for an hour for a nice, hot, and delicious breakfast.

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Tags: recipe | steelcutoats | blueberries |

These berries are a well-kept, delicious local food secret

I’m passionate about all things relating to local food (a shocking surprise to folks who know me), including eating it. And if it is organic even better. And if its fruit better still. And if it is the fruit pictured above, well it’s a toss-up between them and raspberries in my book. 

From our experience displaying them at the Jade Family Farm stand at local markets, most people have never tasted one. In fact, most don’t know what they are. The most common answer for the uninitiated is “grapes?” People who lived in Europe or England recognize (and prize) them instantly. And for good reason. They are absolutely wonderful, with a complex blend of sweetness and tartness that make them a delight to eat raw or in jams or pies or as a sauce for fowl, beef, or pork, or to spice up a salad, or…well, the list goes on. I can’t think of a more spectacular food that is virtually unknown here, though currants, paw paws, and persimmons would all be runner ups.

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Tags: gooseberries | JadeFamilyFarm |

Strawberry season nearing end, but there’s still time!

It’s strawberry season and I could not be happier! The strawberries in my garden are ripe enough to pick everyday, despite the chipmunk that wants to eat them—he sometimes sneaks under our chicken wire fence to sample a few! The strawberries look lovely at the various farmers markets and the PA strawberries that are being sold in local grocery stores are plump and juicy!

Way Fruit Farm is a great place to take the family for strawberry picking. But with all the rain, the strawberries might have a shorter season this year, as a recent e-mail from them informed. So get there soon for the best berries.

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Tags: recipe | strawberries | WayFruitFarm |

Recipe: Strawberry mint yogurt smoothie

There are two tasty items that are in season at the farmers markets: strawberries and mint. Finding a use for strawberries is easy: they are fantastic for fresh eating, and there are countless strawberry recipes out there. In my experience, mint is one that stumps people as to how to use it. Sure, it can used in teas and as a garnish, but what about other uses of fresh mint?

One way to use it is in beverages. This recipe for a strawberry mint yogurt smoothie is a great example of how mint can play off other flavors. In this case, it helps to enhance the strawberry flavor with something extra, and the yogurt gives it a nice creamy texture for a refreshing smoothie for those warm June days.

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Tags: recipe | strawberries |

Strawberry time is just around the corner

You scream, I scream, we all scream for…STRAWBERRIES! Yes, it is almost that time of year again! One of the greatest aspects of living in Centre County is all the fantastic fresh fruit and vegetables we can get all summer long. And it starts with strawberries.

There are strawberries we can pick at a U-pick farm such as Way Fruit Farm in Port Matilda. They are expecting their berries to be ripe anytime from June 1 to June 8 this year. A fun family activity is picking berries together—-make it a game and find out who can pick the biggest bucketful. Call Way to find out specific dates, or better yet, sign up for their emails at http://www.wayfruitfarm.com/mail.php.

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Tags: strawberries |

Recipe: It’s still blueberry time! Giving blueberries a chance to shine on the grill

Blueberry season can last well into August here in Central Pennsylvania, and you can still find the little blue globes of greatness at farmers markets, farm stands, and pick-your-own farms like Mountainhome Farm in Julian. Blueberries have a lot of things going for them beyond taste, including lots of antioxidants.

Most people think of blueberries as a dessert food, but blueberries can be a star in savory recipes, such as salads and meat dishes. I have found that blueberries go well with meats such as pork and chicken. With this in mind, this recipe for grilled chicken thighs with honey blueberry sauce is a good introduction to the idea of blueberries as part of an entree.

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Tags: blueberries | recipe |

Your Local Food Weekend for June 14-15

This weekend, you can enjoy pick-your-own strawberries, a Strawberry Festival in Lemont, wine and cheese tastings, and blues and soul to go with your local beer at the Gamble Mill Inn.

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Tags: LocalFoodWeekend | strawberries |

Your Local Food Weekend for Oct. 12-13

It’s fall festival time in Central Pennsylvania, and these events offer fantastic opportunities to sample local food and make some discoveries of new products. This weekend we have the Wasson Farm Fall Fest, Black Moshannon Cranberry Festival, and the Way Fruit Farm Fall Festival to tell you about. Keep reading for more…

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Tags: LocalFoodWeekend | autumn | fall | festival | cranberries |

Strawberry fields producing now

It’s getting to be that time of year. You know that time when you are out hiking and you’re keeping your eyes peeled for them, or waiting patiently at your local farmers market for them to arrive. It’s that time that strawberries can be found.

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Tags: strawberries | recipe | memories |

Cranberry Walnut Salad

Tis’ the season to break out those crazy holiday recipes, and let’s be thankful for the ones that work!

Every year, cranberries are the one ingredient that I can’t seem to find a place for. I love them, but can’t bear the sight of that cylindrical slab or goopy sauce. After a myriad of berry-big failures, I’ve vowed to take a lighter, simpler approach: a salad.

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Tags: recipe | winter | cranberries |

Blueberry Buckle

Blueberries are plentiful now at local farmers markets, as well as at our partners’ retail locations, Way Fruit Farm and Harner Farm. Here is a delicious recipe for Blueberry Buckle from Clare Traynor of Sweet Indulgence Desserts.

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Tags: recipe | summer | blueberries |

Blueberry Ice Cream

Celebrate National Ice Cream Month and July’‘s sweet berries with this easy blueberry ice cream!

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Tags: recipe | summer | blueberries |

Winner of the Cranberries Recipe Contest

Congratulations to Dee Saylor of State College! Her recipe for Cranberry Salsa Dip with Cream Cheese is the winner of the December recipe contest and the recipient of a $25 gift certificate to Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks.

Continue reading for Dee’s salsa recipe, along with others for cranberry cookies, cakes, and muffins.

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Tags: recipe | recipecontest | cranberries |

Orange Marsala Cranberry Sauce

‘Tis the season for cranberries! Share your favorite recipe this month for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks.

Continue reading to see Kristin’s recipe for Orange Marsala Cranberry Sauce.

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Tags: recipe | winter | cranberries |

Unpaid Field Hand: Name this Crop

If you are still reeling from failing to identify the asparagus plants in my first blog post, redemption can be yours. The very immature crop pictured above will produce (with some luck) one of the most sought after food items. What surprises me is that despite their popularity (even though they are pricey), they are not difficult to grow. Anyone reading this who has access to a mostly sunny patch can do it. In addition to being delicious, they contain significant amounts of polyphone antioxidants said to fight cancer and other diseases. One source indicates that one cup provides 69% of the daily requirement for vitamin C. 

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Tags: fieldhand | raspberries |

Winner of the Strawberries Recipe Contest

Congratulations to Nancy Cord-Baran of State College! She is the winner of our June strawberries recipe contest and the recipient of a $25 gift certificate to Harrison’s Wine Grill & Catering.

Thank you to everyone who participated—continue reading to see all of the strawberries recipe submissions. And stay tuned for the start of our July recipe contest. Details to come!

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Tags: recipecontest | strawberries |

Final Day of the Strawberries Recipe Contest

Strawberry season has sadly come to an end. What is the best thing you made this month with summer’s first berries? Share it today for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Harrison’s Wine Grill in State College. Today is the final day to enter the contest, so submit your recipe now!

Looking for inspiration?

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Tags: recipecontest | strawberries |

Three Minute Gardener: How to Renovate a Strawberry Patch

After the June harvest of strawberries, patches should be renovated in preparation for the following year. Penn State Senior Extension Educator Kathy Demchak explains why these renovations are important and how to complete them.

Watch the video.

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Tags: strawberries | farming |

Simple Strawberry Cake

Strawberry season is my favorite season; though it is a short one. Throughout the month of June, I enjoy strawberries on my morning cereal and swirled into yogurt, tossed with spinach salad, on top of shortcakes and waffles, and layered with vanilla cake and cream cheese frosting. We also currently have four quarts in the freezer just begging to be thawed and consumed.

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Tags: recipe | spring | summer | strawberries |

Strawberry Vinaigrette

Have you submitted your favorite strawberries recipe for the June contest? Share it today for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Harrison’s Wine Grill in State College.

Enjoy this favorite from Tait Farm Foods.

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Tags: recipe | spring | summer | strawberries |

Field Notes: A Hopeful Start to Summer

It’s not that it’s been a bad year for farmers in our region, or that it’s going to be one, but it sure has been a rough spring. We’re still seeing the somewhat disappointing effects of it, but it will soon be behind us. And, fortunately, summer season is looking great!

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Tags: strawberries | fieldnotes |

Field Notes: Strawberry-Rhubarb Dessert Bars

Tait Farm’s CSA, Community Harvest, kicked off its main season in mid-May with a bang! To see the excitement on our CSA members’ faces when they picked up their “share” of asparagus, Swiss chard, salad mix, and more was so gratifying. We work hard to produce this food, and people couldn’t wait to get home to eat it. Ideas spouted left and right for favorite green garlic recipes and grilled asparagus.

It’s a comforting bustle of people who love being a part of our CSA. Eating is something we all have to do everyday anyway, and when the ingredients are fresh, organic, and seasonal, it adds a whole other ingredient to the meal: contentment.

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Tags: recipe | spring | strawberries | rhubarb | fieldnotes |

Strawberries Recipe Contest

How do you like to eat strawberries? Tossed in a salad? Layered in a trifle? Dipped in chocolate? Or sprinkled with sugar and set on shortcakes?

Share your favorite strawberries recipe with the Local Food Journey blog for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Harrison’s Wine Grill & Catering in State College.

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Tags: recipecontest | strawberries |

Roasted Butternut Squash Orzo

December dinners tends to be hearty and heavy, and sometimes we need a break from weighty winter food. Enter roasted butternut squash orzo with wilted spinach and dried cranberries.

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Tags: recipe | fall | winter | butternutsquash | cranberries | garlic |

Blueberry Peach Cobbler

Some people love summer for its long, leisurely days. I love it for its abundance of local fruit.

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Tags: recipe | summer | blueberries | peaches |

Broccoli Salad with Cranberries and Almonds

Looking for a simple compliment to a summer cookout? Try chopped fresh broccoli, sweet cranberries, and crunchy toasted almonds tossed with a tangy buttermilk dressing.

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Tags: recipe | summer | fall | broccoli | cranberries |

Strawberry Shortcake Cake

A traditional chocolate cake with fluffy white frosting is a fine dessert choice, but during the month of June, why not choose a seasonal strawberry shortcake cake?

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Tags: recipe | summer | strawberries | dessert |

Strawberry Spinach Salad

This simple summer salad combines tender spinach leaves and fresh sliced strawberries with a sweet dressing and crunchy sunflower seeds.

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Tags: recipe | summer | strawberries | spinach |

Berries from Baronner’s Farm Market in Hollidaysburg

Strawberry season is a short one. Or perhaps it’s no shorter than blueberry season or blackberry season, but because the strawberry is my favorite fruit, its season just can’t be long enough.

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Tags: market | strawberries |