Just a quick reminder that we will be CLOSED for the Memorial Day Holiday  – so you Monday folks, make sure to get extra this week!

Thanks to all of you who got your orders in early and on time this week!  Wow!  That really makes planning easier for us.  Remember – Saturday at NOON for Monday deliveries and Tuesday at NOON for Wed-Fri deliveries.

It is getting warmer…..please leave your coolers outside with cold packs in them.  We will transfer your produce into these for you, it will keep fresher for you.

Summer veg and fruits are here for sure – we have another wonderful lineup for you….

Next week’s box picks are as follows:

Mini:  Corn on the Cob, Red Torpedo Onions, Green Beans, Mixed Summer Squash, Persian Cucumbers, Cherries, and Nectarines

Small:  All of the Mini PLUS Portabello Mushrooms, Fennel, and Peaches

Medium:  All of the Small PLUS Leeks, English Shelling Peas, and Ojai Tangerines

Large: All of the Medium PLUS Spinach, Tomatoes, Broccoli, Apricots and Blueberries

Half and half Boxes are 5 veggies and 5 fruits from the list above

Small Veggie Only Boxes are 10 veggies

We also have Mini Fruit Only Boxes (5 fruits), Mini Veggie Only Boxes (7 veggies), Small Fruit Only Boxes (6 fruits) Medium Fruit Only Boxes (8 fruits)

Still going to the store a lot?  Why not get the next bigger size box OR Add any of the following to your boxes:

Breads – from Great Harvest Bread Company in Newbury Park

Olive Oils and Balsamic Vinegars – from Ojai Olive Oil Company in Ojai

Honey – from Somisberry Farms in Somis

Eggs – from Best Apple Farms in Nipomo – or we can get you Shepard Farms Eggs – they are a bit more per dozen – ask us!

Cheeses – Organic from Petaluma, CA – lots of varieties!

Whew!  That was a long one – take care everyone

Lisette and Carol

805.469.7604 or 805.377.0786

As we promised….they are here!  Peaches – white variety only, Apricots, and Cherries!!!!  Yay! Summer is almost here.  We are very excited about our line up this week.  But of course, a few reminders first:

The weather is DEFINITELY warming up – please put out GOOD SIZED coolers with cold packs in the (not ice please) and we will transfer your items into that for you to keep them fresh in the heat

Please put your boxes out on delivery day – we reuse them, as well as the egg cartons and little green baskets.  Every little bit of reuse, recycle helps!

Don’t forgot to add Bread, Olive Oil, Honey, Balsamic Vinegars, and Farm Fresh, cage-free, hormone-free Eggs to your boxes.  Save more trips to the store.

Here is our exciting line up for next week:

Mini Boxes: Green Onions, Broccoli, Asparagus, Tomatoes, Purple Carrots (taste great and look so pretty), Apricots and Peaches (white variety only)

Small Boxes:  All of the Mini PLUS Artichokes, Radishes, and Cherries

Medium Boxes:  All of the Small PLUS Celery, Lettuce, and Blueberries (haven’t they been yummy?)

Large Boxes:  All of the Medium PLUS Yukon Gold Potatoes, Cauliflower, Bok Choy, Oranges and Strawberries

Half and half boxes:  Are 5 veggies and 5 fruits from the list above

Small Veggie Only boxes are 10 veggies from the list above

We also have Mini Fruit Only (5 fruits) and Small Fruit Only (6 fruits) and Medium Fruit Only (8 fruits) as well as Mini Veggie Only (7 veggies)

One more reminder – - if you are paying by check, it really helps us if you have the check ready for the delivery person to pick up.

Thanks, as always, to our wonderful customers!

Lisette and Carol

805.469.7604 or 805.377.0786

We will be closed Monday, May 28 so that we can spend Memorial Day with our families – there will be no deliveries on Monday, May 28.

Good news – the week after next we should have CHERRIES available – not yet, but soon – as well as APRICOTS – - yay!  Summer is coming……

Ever think of cutting down your shopping trips even more?  Try some of our add ons – Great Harvest Bread Company Breads, Ojai Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegars, Somisberry Honey, Farm Fresh, Free Range, Antibiotic and Hormone Free Eggs – as well as check out some of our Grass Fed meats!

Any of these can be added to your boxes each week or on a one time basis – just let us know!

Our newly designed website can handle your pay by check orders as well as Paypal orders now.  If you want to customize your box, go online, to the Order Page and Boxes, then click on the + next to customize your box,  and you will see a larger assortment of options there for you.

Next week our box picks are as follows:

Mini Boxes:  Beets, Zucchini, Green Beans, White Mushrooms, Lettuce, Strawberries and Tangerines

Small Boxes:  All of the Mini PLUS Kale OR Swiss Chard, Fingerling Potatoes and Blackberries

Medium Boxes:  All of the Small PLUS Baby Turnips, Green Cabbage, and Blood Oranges

Large Boxes:  All of the Medium PLUS Persian Cucumbers, tomatoes, Yams, as well as Avocados (as a fruit this time) and Blueberries

Half and Half Boxes are 5 veggies and 5 fruits from the list above

Small Veggie Only Boxes are 10 veggies from the list above

Thanks – as always – for being great customers!  Keep those boxes coming as well as egg cartons and green plastic baskets!

Lisette and Carol

805.469.7604 or 805.377.0786

Thanks again to all those who are returning their boxes, egg cartons, and plastic baskets – we reuse as much as possible.

Remember your Mom this month with a box from Farmer Fresh – If you want to order a gift box and have it delivered (within our delivery area, of course) to someone, just email us at lisettealiv@yahoo.com

Don’t forget to add EGGS, Breads from Great Harvest Bread Co., Olive Oils and Balsamic Vinegars from Ojai Olive Oil Company, and wonderful honey from Somisberry Honey – Check our website to see all that can be added to your boxes.

Tell us what you think of the new website ordering – we have combined the screens so that you can order anything that is currently available.  In addition, all of the boxes can now be customized.  Please let us know if you are having problems with this.  We are definitely getting all of your selections, if you choose to use the customize feature.

Next week our box picks are as follows:

Mini:  Broccoli, tomatoes, bok choy, celery, brown onions, tangelos, and blueberries

Small:  All of the Mini PLUS spinach OR arugula, leeks, and strawberries

Medium:  All of the Small PLUS Carrots, Cucumbers, and Yellow Mangos

Large:  All of the Medium PLUS Asparagus, Cauliflower, Kale, Oranges, and Blackberries

Half and Half Boxes are 5 veggies and 5 fruits

Small Veggie Only Boxes are 10 veggies

Thanks, as always, for being wonderful customers!

Lisette and Carol

805.469.7604 or 805.377.0786

Thanks for remembering that the deadline for receiving orders for delivery on Monday is SATURDAY AT NOON
The deadline for receiving orders for delivery Wednesday through Friday is TUESDAY AT NOON

This really helps with our planning, and as we get busier, we will have to be firm on these deadlines.

Don’t forget about your Eggs, Honey, Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegars, and those great Breads from Great Harvest Bread Company. Add these to your box and we can cut down on trips to the store!

The weather is really warming up now, so please leave your coolers out. We are happy to transfer your products into the cooler – they will stay fresher that way!

For next week, our box picks are as follows:
Mini Boxes: Zucchini, Avocadoes, White Mushrooms, Carrots, Beets, Meyer Lemons, Strawberries
Small Boxes: All of the Mini PLUS Lettuce, Green Onions, and Blood Oranges
Medium Boxes: All of the Small PLUS Cucumbers, Fennel, and Blackberries
Large Boxes: All of the Medium PLUS Kale, fingerling potatoes, watercress, blueberries, and yellow mangoes
Half and Half Boxes: 5 veggies and 5 fruits from the list above
Small Veggie Only Boxes: 10 veggies from the list above

See the list on our website under “Customize Your Box” for all of the available fruits and veggies

The new ordering screens seem to be working fairly well. We are getting ALL of your fruit and veggie selections if you use this feature. We have noted from some of you that you are not able to check what you input – We have reported this to our web person, and hope to have a fix for this very soon.

Thanks, as always, for being wonderful customers – enjoy the sunny weather!

Lisette and Carol
Farmer Fresh To You
805.469.7604 or 805.377.0786

First off, thanks to everyone who has returned boxes and plastic containers, green baskets – this really supports our goal of reducing waste and reuse, recycle!

Secondly, the website ordering pages will look very different to you this time around. We have made changes that we hope will make getting your orders to us easier and allow you MUCH more flexibility in ordering. We hope you like them. They should even take away the need to send follow up emails with your specific orders.

What you will see and how you should use it

Now, when you order a box and you want to customize your order,

Please Click on the + next to Customize your order

You will see a large number of selections under both fruit and vegetables

Click in the box that has a 0 in it next to the veggie that you want.  If you want 1 portion of that veggie, type a 1 – if you want more portions type whatever number you would like.

Please make sure you have ordered the standard number of veggie portions and fruit portions that go with the box you are ordering

Mini Veggie Only – 7 veggie portions

Mini Mixed Fruit and Veggie – 5 veggie portions and 2 fruit portions

Small Veggie Only – 10 veggie portions

Small Mixed Fruit and Veggie – 7 veggie portions and 3 fruit portions

Medium Mixed Fruit and Veggie – 9 veggie portions and 4 fruit portions

Large Mixed Fruit and Veggie – 12 veggie portions and 6 fruit portions

Half and Half Boxes – 5 veggie portions and 5 fruit portions

Mini Fruit only – 5  fruit portions – in quantities for 1 person for 1 week

Small Fruit only – 6 fruit portions – in quantities for 2-3 persons for 1 week

Medium Fruit Only – 8 fruit portions – in quantities for 4 or more persons for 1 week

IF YOU DO NOT INDICATE WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE, WE WILL DELIVER THE STANDARD BOX FOR THE SIZE BOX THAT YOU ORDERED

NOW– finally, here are the STANDARD BOX PICKS FOR NEXT WEEK

Mini Boxes:  Spinach, Spring Onions, Broccoli, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Navel Oranges, and Anjou Pears

Small Boxes:  All of the Mini PLUS Artichokes, Yukon Gold Potatoes, and Yellow Mangoes

Medium Boxes:  All of the Small PLUS Brussels Sprouts, Leeks, and Strawberries

Large Boxes:  All of the Medium PLUS Carrots, Cauliflower, Asparagus, Tangelos, and Blueberries

Thanks, as always for being great customers – If you have problems viewing the website, PLEASE clear you browser history and retry or just hold down your shift key and press reload.

Lisette and Carol

805.469.7604 or 805.377.0786

I want to take a minute to everyone who took note and sent their picks via email as well as on the order form.  I am not sure how long we will have to do this, but it certainly worked MUCH better.  Remember, the email to send your selections to is:

lisettealiv@yahoo.com

This provides us with a clear list of ALL your picks, and you get what you want.  If we do not receive email with your list, you will most likely get the “standard box” for your size group.

Ever thought about why buy local? or why use a service like ours?  I know I am preaching to the choir here – but possibly when you are asked about the service, these are some bits you can talk about

Several studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally-owned businesses, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms — continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community

Locally owned businesses can make more local purchases requiring less transportation and generally set up shop in town or city centers as opposed to developing on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution

Oftentimes we have heard that eating a teaspoon of LOCAL Honey each day reduces allergy struggles.

Finally, in using our service, you are definitely giving yourself more time in the day that used to be dedicated to shopping for many of the products we can bring you in your boxes.

We still can supply you with breads – from Great Harvest Bread Co. in Newbury Park, Olive Oils and Balsamic Vinegars from Ojai Olive Oil Company – located in Ojai, Somisberry Honey from Somis, and Chivas Skin Care Products made in Fillmore.  We can also supply you with organic free range eggs. free range organic chicken as well as grass fed Beef, Pork, and Lamb.  See our website for these items and don’t forget to add these to your orders as well.  Think of how many more trips you can save!

We still provide a $5.00 rebate in your next box every time a new customer orders AND gives your name as the referral point.

BOX PICKS FOR WEEK BEGINNING MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012 are:

Mini Boxes:  Broccoli, Turnips OR Rutabega, Mixed Salad Greens OR Arugula, Spring Onions, Tomatoes, Strawberries and Tangerines

Small Boxes:  All of the Mini Box PLUS cucumbers, Asparagus, and Asian Pears

Medium Boxes:  All of the Small Box PLUS Celery, Beets, and Navel Oranges

Large Boxes:  All of the Medium Box PLUS Carrots, Brussels Sprouts, Portabello Mushrooms, Blackberries and Raspberries

Half and Half Boxes are 5 veggies and 5 fruits from the list above

Small Veggie Only Boxes are 10 veggies from the list above

Yay!  We got some rain – the farmers are really excited about that, and followed by glorious weather!  Where else but in California?

Thanks to all who have returned their boxes and egg cartons and green baskets – we really appreciate it and it does help with the reuse, recycle efforts we all want to be a part of.

Once again, I have to mention that our website seems to be acting up a bit.  Some of your orders are coming through just fine, while others – well suffice it to say we wish things were working a bit better.

To ensure that we are getting your orders properly – if you want anything other than the standard box in the size you are ordering, it is best if you send a follow up email to

lisettealiv@yahoo.com

detailing exactly what you would like in your box.  I know this is kind of a pain and do apologize, but we REALLY WANT you to get what you order!

For next week our box picks are as follows:

Mini Boxes:  Winter Squash, Brussels Sprouts (these are coming to an end very soon), Red Onions, Thin Asparagus (it is the beginning of the season so they are really thin right now), Kale OR Swiss Chard, Apples and Pink Grapefruit OR lemons

Small Boxes:  All of the Mini PLUS Bok Choy, Cauliflower, and Bosc Pears

Medium Boxes: All of the Small PLUS Colorful Carrots (these are yellow, orange, purple, red and multicolored and may or might not have tops – makes a beautiful presentation) Fingerling Potatoes, and Strawberries

Large Boxes:  All of the Medium PLUS White or Cremini Mushrooms, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Navel Oranges and Avocados (as a fruit this time)

Small Veggie Only Boxes are 10 of the above veggies

Half and Half Boxes are 5 veggies and 5 fruits from the list above

Don’t forget you Ojai Olive Oil Company’s Oils and Balsamic Vinegars – we have Tuscan Oil, Signature Oil, Basil Oil, Garlic Oil, Lemon Oil, Rosemary Oil, as well as Traditional Balsamic Vinegar, Pomegranate Balsamic, Peach Balsamic, Cinnamon Pear Balsamic, Blackberry Ginger Balsamic, Fig Balsamic and Mandarin Balsamic Vinegars.

And last, but not least – - Great Harvest Bread Co. Breads – see the website for the listings.

Eggs and Local Honey as well – All of these vendors are LOCAL – and provide wonderful products that we are proud to add to your basket

Still available for substitutions:  Parsnips, Sunchokes, Broccoli, Celery, Baby Broccoli, Tangerines, Raspberries, Blueberries, Blackberries, Cheremoya, Turnips, Green Onions, Beets, Celery and more – just ask!

Thanks, as always, for being GREAT Customers!

Thanks to everyone who has returned their boxes – we really appreciate this.

Remember to check the website from time to time for your add-ons!  We have Great Harvest Bread Co. breads, Ojai Olive Oils and Vinegars, Somisberry Honey, Fresh Eggs, Grass fed meats and organic chicken, Organic Cheeses, Chivas Skin Care Products.  Why make trips you don’t need to – we can bring it with your box!

For next week our box picks are as follows:

Mini Boxes: Broccoli, Beets, Cabbage, Tomatoes, Carrots, Tangerines, and Asian Pears

Small Boxes:  All of the Mini PLUS Celery or Celery Root, Fennel, and Apples

Medium Boxes:  All of the Small PLUS Spinach, Onions, and Navel Oranges

Large Boxes:  All of the Medium PLUS Avocados, Lettuce, Portobello Mushrooms, Raspberries and Blueberries

Half and Half Boxes are 5 fruits and 5 veggies from the list above

Small Veggie Only Boxes are 10 veggies from the list above.
Still available for substitutions: cauliflower, bok choy, kale, swiss chard, cucumbers, brussels sprouts, artichokes, potatoes of all types and sizes, turnips, and much more – just ask and we will let you know!  PERSIMMONS ARE DEFINITELY GONE NOW -  but CHEREMOYA ARE BACK IN

Thanks, as always for being wonderful customers!

Lisette and Carol