PEI Organic Farmers
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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 |
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Product
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Description
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Availability
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| Arugula |
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Mid June – July & end of Aug – end of October
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| Basil |
Available as bunches and as plants |
Mid August – first of October
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| Beans, bush |
Gold Rush (yellow) Provider (green) Royal Burgandy (purple) |
End of July – first of October
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| Beets |
Merlin, First Crop, Pablo, Taunus, Chioggia (swirl beets) |
End of July – November
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| Beet greens |
Bulls Blood |
July and September
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| Broccoli |
Arcadia, Belstar |
August – September
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| BokChoi |
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June- July. September-October
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| Cabbage |
Green and Red varieties |
August-November
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| Cantelope |
Fastbreak |
September
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| Carrots |
Main Season - Sweetness III, Sugar Snax, Early – Morkum, Nelson |
July-November
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| Cauliflower |
Minuteman, Veronica, Symphony |
August – October
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| Chinese Cabbage |
Blues Hybrid |
June-July & September-October
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| 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
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| Cucumbers |
Pickling Cucumbers and Slicers available |
August-September
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| Dill |
A wonderful addition to a salmon dish or simply chop and add to baby new potatoes. |
August-September
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| Fennel |
Bulb & Leaves |
August-September
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| Garlic |
Music, Colorado Black, Persian Star, Rocamboli |
September-November
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| 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
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| Green onions |
Parade, Red Baron |
July-October
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| Gourds |
Crown of Thorns, Autumn Wings |
September-October
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| Kale |
Winterbor |
August-November
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| Leeks |
Lancelot, Giant Musselburgh |
September-November
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| Lettuce mix |
Baby leaf blend |
June-November
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| Lettuce heads |
Romaine (Green Forest, Parris Island Cos), Butterhead (Optima), Leaf (Calvary, Vulcan), Oakleaf (Red Salad Bowl) |
June-July & Sept-November
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| Mizuna |
A great mild green used in salads, on sandwiches or in a sitr-fry. |
June-November
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| Onions, bulk |
Red, yellow, white |
September-October
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| Parsnips |
Albion, Harris Model |
October-November
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| Peas, snap |
Super Sugar Snax |
July
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| Peas, snow |
Oregon Giant |
July
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| Peppers |
Sweet bell peppers – green, yellow, purple |
Augst-October
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| 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
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| Pumpkins |
Pie Pumpkins (Small Sugar), Carving Pumpkin (New Rocket) |
September-October
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| Radish |
Rudolf, French Breakfast |
June-July & September-October
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| Rutabega |
York |
October-November
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| Strawberries |
Kent, Annapolis, Sable |
June-July
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| Summer onions |
Enjoy the best of both worlds, fresh tender green onion tops with the fresh onion still attached. |
July-September
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| Summer Turnip |
Early Purple Top White Globe |
July-August
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| Summer Squash |
Golden Dawn (yellow zucchini) Richgreen (green zucchini). Flying saucer, Papya, Magda |
August-October
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| Swiss Chard |
Lucullus, Fordhook Giant |
July-October
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| 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
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| Tomatoes |
Large (Carnival, Mortgage Lifter); Medium (Legend, Pilgrim, Duchess) |
August-October
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| Cherry Tomatoes |
Golden Cherry, Cherry Grande, Yellow Plum |
August-October
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| Watermelon |
New Queen |
September
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| Winter Squash |
Buttercup & Butternut |
September-November
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