Jen & Derek's Farm Fresh Veggies

“Try something new!” Exclaims Jennifer Campbell, something she repeats weekly at her seasonal farm stall at the Spring Street Farmers’ market in Summerside.  “There aren’t many people growing the varieties we grow,” she explains. Taking a look at just their vegetable selection confirms this. With a stall full of interesting varieties of greens such as Mizuna, Arugula and Tatsoi along with blue potatoes and purple beans, Jen proves that she likes to grow the unusual. Often people don’t even know what to do with the vegetables she’s selling and she enjoys explaining the cooking procedures and sharing new recipes from week to week.  “It’s the niche market I’ve always been interested in,” she says, “it’s why I first became interested in the organic farming movement.”

            Jen grew up on Prince Edward Island on her parents’ conventional potato farm where she spent most of her time working in the horse stable.  “I wasn’t all that interested in the farm life as a child,” she says.  But after she received her diploma as a technician and technologist in Ecosystem Management from Sir Sanford Fleming College in Ontario, she decided to complete an internship on an organic CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Farm.  During her time as a farm apprentice her career path changed as she slowly made plans to become a farmer herself.

            She knew from her internship experience on the farm that she was interested in direct marketing, small scale and sustainable agriculture.  The Farmers’ market clientele clearly preferred organic produce, so it seemed like the best choice for environmental reasons as well as for social and economic reasons.

            Jen and her husband Derek, who shares her passion for farm-fresh veggies, purchased their farm together in the hills of Brookvale, PEI in 2006. In 2008, her dream was fully realized when she was able to quit her job as a Quality Control employee at the local dairy processing operation and become a full-time farmer on her own land.  By 2009 they received their organic certification. Derek still works full-time off the farm as a computer programmer with the Federal Government, but he looks forward to one day being able to spend a lot more time in the fields. 

            Besides the farmers market, together they run a small CSA program, where clients buy a share in the year's harvest and receive weekly baskets of mixed produce throughout the season.  Jen prides herself on a diverse basket of veggies that can include such things as basil, bok choi, eggplant and fennel in one basket as well as the regular staples like potatoes, beans and carrots.  “Before people would hesitate to use the arugula and mizuna, now we have customers returning asking for more and for specific varieties!  It has been a delight creating a change in the demand - from meat and potatoes to mizuna and eggplant!”

            A friendly, enthusiastic and energetic couple, they can likely get anyone to try something new.  Watch out for their new varieties from season to season.

Jen & Derek's Farm Fresh Veggies - SELL SHEET
Product	Description	Availability
Arugula		Mid June – July & end of Aug – end of October
Basil	Available as bunches and as plants	Mid August – first of October
Beans, bush	Gold Rush (yellow) Provider (green) Royal Burgandy (purple)	End of July – first of October
Beets	Merlin, First Crop, Pablo, Taunus, Chioggia (swirl beets)	End of July – November
Beet greens	Bulls Blood	July and September
Broccoli	Arcadia, Belstar	August – September
BokChoi		June- July.  September-October
Cabbage	Green and Red varieties	August-November
Cantelope	Fastbreak	September
Carrots	Main Season - Sweetness III, Sugar Snax, Early – Morkum, Nelson	July-November
Cauliflower	Minuteman, Veronica, Symphony	August – October
Chinese Cabbage	Blues Hybrid	June-July & September-October
Cilantro	An absolute must for your fall salsa.  We love to add this to eggs, potatoes or anything with tomatoes, yummy!!!	Mid July-Mid August & Mid Sept – October
Cucumbers	Pickling Cucumbers and Slicers available	August-September
Dill	A wonderful addition to a salmon dish or simply chop and add to baby new potatoes.	August-September
Fennel	Bulb & Leaves	August-September
Garlic	Music, Colorado Black, Persian Star, Rocamboli	September-November
Garlic scapes	We love to chop these garlic treats early spring and add to any dish for a fresh garlic flavor!	End of June-July
Green onions	Parade, Red Baron	July-October
Gourds	Crown of Thorns, Autumn Wings	September-October
Kale	Winterbor	August-November
Leeks	Lancelot, Giant Musselburgh	September-November
Lettuce mix	Baby leaf blend	June-November
Lettuce heads	Romaine (Green Forest, Parris Island Cos), Butterhead (Optima), Leaf (Calvary, Vulcan), Oakleaf (Red Salad Bowl)	June-July & Sept-November
Mizuna	A great mild green used in salads, on sandwiches or in a sitr-fry.	June-November
Onions, bulk	Red, yellow, white	September-October
Parsnips	Albion, Harris Model	October-November
Peas, snap	Super Sugar Snax	July
Peas, snow	Oregon Giant	July
Peppers	Sweet bell peppers – green, yellow, purple	Augst-October
Potatoes	Red (Red Norland), White (Superior), Blue (True Blue), Yellow (Fabula).  While at the market check out our red, white and blue mixtures for a truly colorful tasty treat.	Early varieties ready in July, continues on until October
Pumpkins	Pie Pumpkins (Small Sugar), Carving Pumpkin (New Rocket)	September-October
Radish	Rudolf, French Breakfast	June-July & September-October
Rutabega	York	October-November
Strawberries	Kent, Annapolis, Sable	June-July
Summer onions	Enjoy the best of both worlds, fresh tender green onion tops with the fresh onion still attached.	July-September
Summer Turnip	Early Purple Top White Globe	July-August
Summer Squash	Golden Dawn (yellow zucchini) Richgreen (green zucchini). Flying saucer, Papya, Magda	August-October
Swiss Chard	Lucullus, Fordhook Giant	July-October
Tatsoi	A lovely small dark glossy green that adds delicious fresh flavor to a spring salad.  We love to chop this green coarsely and add to an omelet.	June-July & Sept-October
Tomatoes	Large (Carnival, Mortgage Lifter); Medium (Legend, Pilgrim, Duchess)	August-October
Cherry Tomatoes	Golden Cherry, Cherry Grande, Yellow Plum	August-October
Watermelon	New Queen	September
Winter Squash	Buttercup & Butternut	September-November