2023-04-01 newsletter

Greetings to the residents of Sanibel and Captiva from 12 Seasons
Farm

There seems to be no let up in this heat. This limits most of our
lettuce crop to Summercrisp which is a type of open leaf lettuce. It
remains tender even under intensely warm days. We still have baby
butterhead and romaine, but much less.

Tomatoes are going strong and we should have a goodly amount of
colorful heirloom/specialty tomatoes for those who want them this week.
Cherry tomatoes and camparis are also doing well.

Restaurant sales have been going decently well this season now that
we have been amply supplied in tomatoes.

Here are Chef Michele and Executive Chef James at Bentley Village in
Naples receiving a delivery of fresh produce from 12 Seasons last week.
We are grateful for Bentley’s consistent orders this season.

We are hopeful we can return to providing produce to Sanibel,
Captiva, and Ft. Myers Beach restaurants as they rebuild and reopen.
Currently, we are supplying the Sanctuary Clubhouse and Sweet Melissa’s,
both on Sanibel, with produce. Sweet Melissa’s operates out of Island
Pizza Company on Thursday and Friday evenings.

We look forward to being at McCarthy’s Marina on Captiva this
Tuesday, 9-11 am for our farm market. As usual, we will bring pre-orders
there and have a market stand of produce for those who want to buy off
the table.

Thank you to those that pre-order and pick up your orders at the
market! This is much appreciated.

Thanks to Captain Bob and Jenny Rando with Captiva Cruises for this
continued opportunity!

If you would like to place an order for Tuesday pick up,
please do so before 8 pm Sunday at www.12seasonsfarm.com.

Here is our weekly schedule:

TUESDAY PICK-UP FOR SANIBEL & CAPTIVA: Place an
order online before Sunday, 8 pm, if you want to pick up an order at
McCarthy’s Marina in Captiva on Tuesday, 9-11 am. Extra produce will be
available for those who want to buy off the table. ****

 ** WEDNESDAY LAKE’S PARK FARMERS’
MARKET:** We will be at the Lakes Park Farmers’ Mkt. each
Wednesday from 9 am to 1 pm. in Ft. Myers. Parking is free during the
farmers’ market.

THURSDAY DELIVERIES & FARM PICK-UP: Please place
an order online before Tuesday, 8 pm, if you want home delivery or farm
pick-up for Thursday.

SATURDAY FARMERS’ MARKET AND PREORDER PICK- UP :
Market runs 8 am to noon. Please place an order by Thursday, 8 pm to
pick up your preorder at the Bonita market. If preordering, please pick
up preorders after 10 am.

Orders can be placed online at ** www.12seasonsfarm.com**

This is what we are harvesting:

• Strawberries

• Blueberries (from certified organic farm in Central
  Florida)

• Summercrisp Lettuce

• Baby Butterhead Lettuce

• Romaine lettuce

• Large Leaf Butterhead lettuce

• Cherry tomatoes

• Heirloom/Specialty tomatoes

• Red Slicing tomatoes

• Arugula

• Curly kale

• Flat kale

• Mixed kale

• Broccoli

• Broccoli greens

• Cauliflower (limited)

• Rainbow carrots

• Cucumbers

• Zucchini

• Sweet Peppers

• Eggplant

• Round radish

• Daikon radish

• Watermelon radish

• Green onions

• Large sweet onions

• Dill

• Cilantro

• Italian flat parsley

• Curled parsley

• Saw Palmetto Honey

• Nasturtium Flowers

• Sunflowers

After a slow start to cherry tomato season, we have a very good
supply of cherry tomatoes right now.

We have the next batch of heirloom/specialty tomatoes beginning to
ripen in the new greenhouses.

Broccolini has been a star in the heat. I am very impressed with it
staying tender, even in these very hot daily temperatures.

Fritz and Wally in their garden at the farm. They just came back from
being gone for a week’s vacation with their parents, Dan and Brittany
Hallau, who work on the farm. They ran to their garden upon their return
and Fritz found 2 strawberries and Wally had found 3 tomatoes. They were
beaming with excitement over their garden treasures.

Good job Fritz and Wally! The bounty is just about to begin. It
brings us great joy to see these kids develop such a keen sense of
gardening and individual plant care.

Thank you for supporting 12 Seasons Farm, your local family and
community farm. We work with several families and individuals who have a
desire to learn the craft of raising healthy and delicious crops. Of
course the farm life is also a great way to raise healthy and curious
children.

Hope to see many of you on Tuesday!

Danny, Vicki, the kids, and the 12 Seasons Team