2023-02-06 newsletter

Greetings from the farm,

Strawberries are starting to bear well and it looks like we should
finally start having a good supply at markets– at least so we don’t sell
out in the first 20-30 minutes. We are super impressed by the quality
and hopefully more people will get to enjoy them now that production is
going up.

The next round of heirloom/specialty tomatoes is also being
harvested. It is fun to see the first fruits come off the vines as they
usually are exceptionally large!

The 12 Seasons team is doing amazing work. Vicki and I are so proud
of this current group. They work hard and with joy to bring you all
fresh, tasty, and healthy produce!

We will plan to be back at McCarthy’s Marina on Captiva tomorrow
(Tuesday), 9-11 am and Lakes Park in Ft. Myers on Wednesday,
9am-1pm.

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

Here is a summary of this week’s 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

• 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

• Cabbage

• Broccoli

• Broccoli greens

• Cauliflower

• Rainbow carrots

• Cucumbers

• Zucchini

• Sweet Peppers

• Eggplant

• Round radish

• Daikon radish

• Watermelon radish

• Green onions

• Italian Basil

• Dill

• Cilantro

• Italian flat parsley

• Curled parsley

• Saw Palmetto Honey

• Sunflowers

Here is Emily Richard between Simeon and Annika with me and Vicki at
Saturday market. Emily is a new worker this season. She came from Maine
with her friend, Grace Washburn, who I mentioned in a previous
newsletter. The two of them have been a great addition to the team. You
will likely see new workers on Saturday as Carrie is taking a break from
Saturday market to have a less strenuous schedule. Carrie still plans to
be at Lakes Park Farmers’ Market each Wednesday.

Here is the next round of pink tomatoes beginning to ripen. It is so
encouraging to have fruitful vines after these greenhouses were damaged
in September and the first crop of tomatoes were destroyed. Now there is
bounty again in repaired, fully functioning greenhouses. Thank you for
your part in helping us get back on our feet so fast.

Here is Jack holding a large “first” fruit. We try to find the right
timing on tomato harvest so the fruit achieves maximum flavor without
getting too soft. This one Jack is holding will have to be eaten as it
is too mature to send to a market, but the staff appreciates getting to
eat the #2s and ripe tomatoes!

Here is Grace harvesting strawberries this morning for the Captiva
market tomorrow. I mentioned in the last newsletter that strawberry
production has been down as the plants were between 2 major flowering
cycles, but today we had a great harvest and there seems to be a lot of
fruit coming behind it. It appears they are moving into the 2nd bloom
cycle which tends to be much heavier.

Here are Ek and Jedilo in front of a screenhouse structure being
erected over the cherry and campari tomatoes. If we don’t build a screen
structure, we will be devastated by stink bugs and leaf diseases like
late blight and bacterial spot. Thankfully, Ek is a master at
engineering and building these structures. He has so much to do with the
quality of tomatoes you have being receiving over the past many
years.

The vent has been installed on a 2nd greenhouse. Both new metal
greenhouses should be ready for putting on greenhouse plastic soon. We
have a good balance of metal greenhouses and seasonal structures that
allow us to rotate the tomatoes.

The intersection of farming and beauty!

The kids performed at ArtFest Ft. Myers this past weekend with their
school, Kellyn Celtic Arts, doing Irish step dance.

Also dancing were Elena Watkins (with black and red dress, left of
instructor in back middle) who has worked for us for 4+ seasons; also,
Lindsay Watkins (Elena’s mom) and Vicki (Lindsay and Vicki are 4th and
3rd from the right). And 3 of our kids, Simeon, Annika, and Josiah.

Annika and Meredith at last Captiva market. We enjoy involving the
children as they have time in various farm-related activities. Thank you
for allowing them to be helpful to you at the markets and challenging
them with their developing math skills.

Here is our team at a morning meeting this past week. We gather each
morning 10-15 minutes to discuss the day’s goals, harvest duties, crop
maintenance and planting schedule, etc. This morning Justin told a story
from the Lakes Park farmers’ market that one customer bought a tomato
from each produce stand 2 weeks prior. Last week they returned to our
stand and bought tomatoes from us stating that our farm “won” the taste
test for the best tasting tomato from all the produce vendors. Fun and
encouraging story! It has always been a mission to raise the bar of
Florida tomato quality.

It truly is a pleasure and a privilege to bring you all such quality
produce each week.

Thank you as always for your loyal and generous support,

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