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Easy chicken recipes from Karla in the news!

Healthy eating made easy with humanely raised local chicken

Easy chicken recipes were in the news when Karla dropped by WAVY-TV’s studios for The Hampton Roads Show on August 27.

For those that would like to sign up for Seasonal Roots, be sure to use special code HRSJOIN10 to join for just $10!

Click here to watch Karla’s Hampton Roads Show interview

During the course of one short interview, Karla whipped up three quick and easy chicken recipes. (You could also use tofu or any protein of your choice.) Every ingredient she used came from Seasonal Roots, all locally grown or locally made.

First, she sauteed a panful of chopped up local chicken that was humanely raised with no antibiotics or growth hormones.

From that single batch of chicken she then made three dinner entrees. Each one is so simple that its description is the recipe!

  • Eggplant halves topped with chicken tossed in basil pesto sauce, diced mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
  • Stuffed bell peppers filled with chicken mixed with pico-poco salsa and topped with avocado-cilantro hummus and grated cheddar cheese.
  • Lettuce chicken wraps, each made in a cup-like hydro bibb lettuce leaf topped with chicken, matchstick apple slices, curry aioli sauce, and a sprinkle of chopped fresh chives.

Still got questions? Just watch the 8-minute interview, above, to see how they’re done! Or, scroll down for the full directions and ingredients lists below.

Seasonal Roots makes healthy eating easy

When you eat local food in season, you’re eating food that is fresher. That makes it more flavorful and, most importantly, packed with more nutrients. All those good things fade away the farther produce has to travel and the longer it sits on the shelf. So eating seasonally is really good for you and good for your taste buds, too.

And when you cook at home using real food like local produce and chicken, you know exactly what’s in it. No preservatives, no dangerous chemicals, no unhealthy high fructose corn syrups, no surprise allergy triggers.

Plus, eating a variety of foods ensures you’re getting all the nutrients your body needs!

More tips & tricks for eating seasonally and healthfully

Check out the tips & tricks Karla has shared in other TV gigs:
How to Eat Seasonally
Creative Ways to Enjoy Fresh Local Peaches
Max out Flavor & Nutrients with these Produce Storage Tips
Why Fresh Local Produce Supports Healthy Eating & Boosts Immunity

And now… 3 easy chicken recipes!

 

Stuffed Eggplant Caprese

Eggplant caprese recipeIngredients:

(All available at SeasonalRoots.com when in season locally)

  • Eggplant
  • Diced chicken
  • Diced tomatoes
  • Fresh mozzarella
  • Balsamic vinegar
  • Basil pesto (2 cups fresh basil leaves, 1/2 cup grated parmesan, 1/2 cup olive oil, 3 cloves minced garlic)

Directions:

  • Slice an eggplant in half, scoop out some of the middle.
  • Cook at 350 for about 15 min.
  • Then stuff with cooked, diced chicken, diced fresh mozzarella, diced tomatoes, basil pesto.
  • Put under the broiler until the cheese is browned, and top with fresh basil.
  • You can also cook up the scooped out eggplant and add that to the mixture to not waste anything.
  • Of course, it also makes a great vegetarian dish. Remove chicken and add Tempeh or chickpeas.

Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients:

(All available at SeasonalRoots.com when in season locally)

  • 3 bell peppers any color!
  • Diced cooked chicken
  • Salsa
  • Avocado Cilantro Lime Hummus
  • 2 Tbsp. Garlic, minced
  • 1 Shallot, diced
  • Olive oil
  • Grated Cheddar Cheese

Directions:

  • Cut the tops off the peppers and core them, then throw in boiling water for 3 minutes.
  • Stuff peppers with cooked, diced chicken mixed with salsa.
  • Top with Avocado Cilantro Lime Hummus and grated cheddar.
  • Be creative! You can add beans or rice, mix with refried beans and top with salsa, change up the cheese, use poblano instead of bell peppers. Make it your own.

Curry Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients:

(All available at SeasonalRoots.com when in season locally)

  • Lettuce
  • Cooked chicken
  • Bury Me in Curry Aioli
  • Thinly sliced tart apples
  • Chives
  • Optional add-ons whatever you have on hand: peppers, carrots, onions, grapes, etc.

Directions:

  • In a curved piece of lettuce add cooked chicken
  • Mix in Bury Me in Curry Aioli (yum!), thinly sliced tart apples, and sprinkle with chives.
  • Be creative! You can add sliced peppers, carrots, onions, or whatever you have on hand.
ABOUT SEASONAL ROOTS

Since 2011, Seasonal Roots’ online farmers market has connected Virginia families with local family farmers who use sustainable, humane practices. Our veggie fairies – mostly moms who believe in living better through scrumptious, healthy eating, being kind to animals, protecting the environment, and spreading joy – home-deliver freshly harvested produce, pastured eggs, grassfed dairy and meat, plus artisan fare. We empower our members to eat better and live better with more nutritious, flavorful food that’s good for us and good for the planet. More info at seasonalroots.com.

New jams & pickles will be jammin’ in the market!

Can you guess the hit songs these new jams and pickles are named for?

New jams can be edible or they can be dance-able but sometimes they can be both! (And sometimes they can be pickles, but more on that later!)

In the meantime, can you guess the hit songs these jams are named for? “Strawberry Zeal Forever”… “Bohemian Raspberry”… “I See Your Blue Colors”… Or how about this Veggie Fairy’s personal favorite: “Dude Looks Marmalady”.

new jam dude looks marmalady

Whatever your taste in music, these punny new jams are sure to start your tastebuds dancing, and so are the pickles and more. So this one goes out to the one local foodies love: Dayum this is my Jam!

Making delicious, whimsically named yummies is a labor of love for Andy, Chief Jamming Officer and creator of Dayum this is my Jam.

Andy of Dayum this is my Jam

It all goes back to the day when Andy’s BFF Lindsey shared an old family cookbook with handwritten recipes for jams and pickles. Andy, who uses the pronoun they, was looking for a creative outlet. And oh baby baby, did they find it in that cookbook! With Lindsey’s help, they dreamed up the idea of a business that would make mouth-watering jams and pickles with names that riffed on hit songs. And thus, a new jam sensation was born.

Dayum this is my Jam logo

Dayum this is my Jam has been rocking local farmers markets ever since. Andy’s groove includes jams, pickles, and salsas made from local ingredients. They’ve also drummed up waffle mix and even marinara sauce made from tomatoes grown in Hanover, Va. And they’re committed to supporting their fellow business owners from underrepresented communities.

Now they’re celebrating their 6-year Jamaversary! So put your hands together and give Andy a great big round of applause as we welcome them to the Seasonal Roots online farmers market!

We’re starting with these pickled chart-toppers: “Psycho Diller”… “The Sweetest Tang”… and “Blister on the Tongue”.

pickle trio

Look for them under the Artisan Goods tab in the Extras section this weekend!

You can also check out the Dayum is my Jam website and see how many more of those hit songs you recognize. Until next time, keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars!

ABOUT SEASONAL ROOTS

Since 2011, Seasonal Roots’ online farmers market has connected Virginia families with local family farmers who use sustainable, humane practices. Our veggie fairies – mostly moms and dads who believe in living better through scrumptious, healthy eating, being kind to animals, protecting the environment, and spreading joy – home-deliver freshly harvested produce, pasture-raised dairy, eggs, and meat, plus wholesome artisan fare. We empower our members to eat better and live better with more nutritious, flavorful food that’s good for us and good for the planet. More info at seasonalroots.com.

The Perfect Watermelon

Which watermelon hits the sweet spot for you?

A Seasonal Roots member makes some new discoveries about an old fave:

I grew up in central Florida in the Sixties, back when finding the perfect watermelon was simple: It was the one that sounded hollow when you knocked on it at the roadside stand. That told you it was ready to sweetly quench your summer thirst.

Sweating in the humid sunshine, my little sisters and I could hardly wait for our dad to hoist our perfect, massive melon into the (un-airconditioned!) car.

Back home, he’d cut it open on the backyard picnic table with a knife the size of a small sword. We’d eat it right out there, because with all those spittable seeds and drippy juice, watermelon was best eaten outside. In bathing suits. That way our mom could just hose us off afterward.

For kids everywhere, then and now, some things never change.

kids eating watermelon

But back when I was a kid, it seemed like all perfect watermelons were the same: They were big and heavy. They were neon pink inside. And they were stuffed with hard black seeds — perfect for seed-spitting contests.

There’s a science to achieving top seed-spitting velocity. Fill lungs with air. Draw tongue back like a poised piston. Then: Fire mouthful of seeds out through tightly pursed lips with an explosive puff of the cheeks.

It’s a finely honed skill.

Only if you were very young, very old, or very lazy would you settle for weakly poking them out of your mouth with your tongue to dribble down your chin.

But I digress.

More than one perfect watermelon

So let’s dive into what makes for a perfect modern-day watermelon.

kids dives into box of watermelons

Nowadays, the perfect watermelon can be large or small. The first time I came across one of the smaller, personal-sized watermelons I thought it was genius. With just my husband and me doing the eating, no way could we eat an entire old-fashioned watermelon before it went to waste. Here was a watermelon that was perfectly sized for just us.

The perfect watermelon can also be yellow inside instead of pink. I found the first yellow watermelon I ate oddly distracting. Still, it tasted fine.

But then there is the seedless watermelon. The first time I saw one, I ranted: “Seedless watermelon? Does that even qualify as watermelon? What is childhood without special memories of seed-filled-watermelon-eating?!! Without seeds, eating a watermelon would be no different from eating, say, a banana. I have no special memories of banana-eating!”

My husband said calmly, “I never liked eating watermelon because the seeds were annoying. They made it too inconvenient to bother with.”

For him, the perfect watermelon is seedless.

I was gobsmacked. Well, you learn something new everyday.

Watermelon is the perfect health food, too

Anything that you eat like it’s dessert can’t actually be healthful, right? So I always assumed that, healthwise, watermelon was at best neutral.

the perfect watermelon

It’s so sweet that it’s hard to believe it could actually be low in sugar. But it is. That makes watermelon the perfect health food in my book, because it sure doesn’t taste like it’s good for you.

Meanwhile, it’s high in vitamins A and C. Studies also suggest watermelon may lower blood pressure and reduce risk of cardiovascular disease. Plus the lycopene in watermelon could help protect the body from UV rays and cancer. Sign me up!

Watermelon… recipes?

It never occured to me to eat this summer treat any other way than the way I always had, no recipe required. And then I came across it in a salad. It was deee-lish! Now I’m all about adding it to all kinds of things. Here’s that original salad recipe:

Watermelon Salad with Mint and Crispy Proscuitto
(I substituted bacon for the proscuitto because that’s what I had on hand. And everything’s better with bacon.)

And here are a few more recipes, enough for a whole meal of watermelon:

Creamy Watermelon Smoothie (For this one, I sub honey and cream-top whole milk instead of the sugar and fat-free stuff. Decadent, I know.)

Watermelon Caprese Appetizer

Spicy Shrimp & Watermelon Kabobs

Watermelon Popsicles (Because, summer!)

watermelon shrimp kabobs

So what’s your perfect watermelon? What’s your perfect way to eat it? Share it with the rest of us on the Seasonal Roots Facebook page!

Kristin
Seasonal Roots member

ABOUT SEASONAL ROOTS

Since 2011, Seasonal Roots’ online farmers market has connected Virginia families with local family farmers who use sustainable, humane practices. Our veggie fairies – mostly moms and dads who believe in living better through scrumptious, healthy eating, being kind to animals, protecting the environment, and spreading joy – home-deliver freshly harvested produce, eggs, grass-fed dairy and meat, plus artisan fare. We empower our members to eat better and live better with more nutritious, flavorful food that’s good for us and good for the planet. More info at seasonalroots.com.

The REAL cost of food

Eating seasonally and locally helps reduce hidden costs now… and for future generations

What’s the real cost of food? Altogether, we Americans spend $1.1 trillion buying our food every year. But the real cost of food is even higher than that — three times higher!

That’s according to a report from the Rockefeller Foundation that was recently featured in The Washington Post.

So whether we know it or not, we’re not just paying for the food we buy. We’re also paying for hidden healthcare and environmental costs. Those costs are also being shouldered by businesses, food producers, and the government. Unfortunately, future generations will pay the price, too.

real cost of food for future generations

The bad news: “Our food system is broken.”

That’s what our Head Veggie Fairy Duane said way back in 2011 when he founded Seasonal Roots. That’s why he pioneered what was, back then, a new way of uniting Virginia communities with their local farmers — our home-delivered online farmers market.

duane - food system is broken

And the good news…?

So the good news is, each of us can make a difference by choosing to eat locally and seasonally! Here are some of the findings in the Rockefeller Foundation study…

Rising healthcare costs

The Rockefeller researchers studied 14 aspects of food production in the United States. That gave them the data they needed to add up what our food is really costing us.

One of the biggest hidden costs of our current food system is healthcare.

Before the 1950s, hunger and vitamin deficiency were both big problems. So the goal was to develop a food system that could get lots of low-cost calories and vitamins into a booming population. They didn’t realize that such a system would eventually fuel a boom in other health problems.

Most people now get plenty of calories and enough vitamins to get by. But it’s estimated that every year health problems linked to our modern diet cost us more than $600 billion! Those health problems include diseases like hypertension, cancer, and diabetes.

We could cut those yearly health care costs (and the suffering that goes with it) by $250 billion … if we could just get our rate of diet-related diseases down to the rates you see in countries like Canada.

Two things could help get us there:

  1. The food industry could develop healthier foods and limit how they market unhealthy foods.
  2. Each of us can make healthier choices about what and how we eat.

As individuals, we don’t have much control over the first. But happily, we can control the second!

eating locally eating seasonally

Impact on the environment

Industrial-scale farming and ranching can place serious burdens on the environment. We’re talking about greenhouse gas emissions, water depletion, and soil erosion.

And when industrial farming cuts down forests and plows up grasslands, it also reduces biodiversity. These practices destroy habitats and force animals, birds, reptiles, and insects into ever-shrinking wild spaces. When ecosystems become overcrowded and unproductive, they become unhealthy. And the damage doesn’t just hurt the wildlife. Pests and disease can become a problem for us humans, too, affecting our food supplies.

Each year in America, all these environmental costs add up to almost $900 billion.

Right now, if a farmer wants to switch to using more sustainable methods that are less harmful to the environment, the system isn’t set up to help. So improving how you farm is hard and expensive.

The system has to change, but that requires high level policy changes.

In the meantime, each of us can still make a difference: We can support farmers who are taking the initiative to become more sustainable on their own.

flores farm sustainable farming

Our sustainable farmers are reducing the real cost of food

At Seasonal Roots, we partner with local farmers like Gerardo Flores of G. Flores Produce (pictured above, left, with Sam, our farmer and artisan connector, on the right.) Our farming partners rely on sustainable, humane farming methods that are good for people, animals, and the environment.

To reduce the hidden (but real!) cost of food, our farmers are tilling as little as possible and using cover crops that help build healthy soil and prevent erosion. They’re practicing integrated pest management to reduce the need for pesticides. They’re rotating their livestock between pastures to allow the grass to recover naturally.

harmony hill farm sustainable farming

Some are turning to solar power for their electricity needs. They’re conserving water. Family farmers are often working land that has co-existed for generations with neighboring wild ecosystems.

And when nearby communities buy the food they grow and make, that food doesn’t have to travel far. That reduces its carbon footprint or “foodprint.”

eat locally eat seasonally to reduce the real cost of food

While eating farm fresh produce within days of harvest tastes great, it has a bigger impact. Simply by choosing to eat locally, season by season, you’re making the world a better place — now, and for future generations!

Want to learn more? Get more details from The Washington Post story.

Or take a deep dive into the Rockefeller Foundation’s full report.

ABOUT SEASONAL ROOTS

Since 2011, Seasonal Roots’ online farmers market has connected Virginia families with local family farmers who use sustainable, humane practices. Our veggie fairies – mostly moms and dads who believe in living better through scrumptious, healthy eating, being kind to animals, protecting the environment, and spreading joy – home-deliver freshly harvested produce, eggs, grass-fed dairy and meat, plus artisan fare. We empower our members to eat better and live better with more nutritious, flavorful food that’s good for us and good for the planet. More info at seasonalroots.com.

Why farm-fresh food lovers LOVE Seasonal Roots

Don’t just take our word for it — check out what our members have to say!

(Got less than 2 minutes? Click here to watch our members talk farm-fresh food on the Seasonal Roots YouTube Channel.)

Nothing beats farm-fresh food. And once you have a taste for it, Seasonal Roots is the easiest way to get the freshest local food. Seasonal Roots members explain why.

hannah supports local farmers

“I first heard about Seasonal Roots from two local friends,” says Hannah, a Seasonal Roots member since 2020. “They told us how easy it was to order and that everything came right to your doorstep, and it was all fresh local food.”

Has Seasonal Roots lived up to those promises?

“Oh yes, above and beyond!  It’s fresh, it’s local, it’s high quality, and delicious.”

Taste the farm-fresh difference

“When it comes to having farm-fresh produce, it is just a world of difference,” says Erica, who’s been enjoying fresh local food from Seasonal Roots since 2016.

erica loves convenient home delivery

A busy mom, she found us through a quick Google search. She grew up with fresh produce from her grandparents’ garden. “I just love the fresh produce. Once you have it, and you taste the difference, you taste the freshness of the fruits and the vegetables — then buying grocery store produce, even organic produce from the grocery store, you still get that kind of filmy taste where they have sprayed it just to try to preserve the shelf life of it. So there is a huge difference.”

“I grew up on a farm,” Hannah recalls. How does Seasonal Roots compare? “The quality of the fruits and the veggies and the artisan foods is amazing.”

hamilton can taste the farm-fresh difference

Hannah’s husband Hamilton adds, “I had worked on her family farm for a summer, so I know the difference between store-bought groceries and right-from-the-farm groceries. And you can really taste a difference.”

Erica agrees. “I cannot eat grocery store carrots anymore just because I swear by these carrots that come from the local farms. They’re sweet. They taste fresh.” (So tell us how you really feel about the carrots, Erica!) She laughs, “The carrots are, like, out of this world!”

farm-fresh carrots

For Jo Anne, who’s also been a member since 2016, her fave is greener: “Kale for my juices.”

jo anne enjoys farm-fresh produce in season

As Jo Anne sorts through her freshly delivered box of goodies she sighs, “Beautiful, my box is always beautiful. I always get whatever’s in season. Never disappointed.” She holds up a green and white bouquet of spring onions. “Mmmm, yummy!”

jo anne's box of fresh local food

Hannah’s fave? “I love the hydroponic lettuce that comes from the hydroponic farm. And the fresh farm eggs. They are so delicious! Better than Costco.”

hannah's daughter loves fresh local yogurt

Hannah and Hamilton’s little one chimes in: “I like strawberry yogurt!”

Convenient online ordering plus home delivery of farm-fresh food

“It’s convenient that it’s just delivered to my door,” says Erica. “I have small kids and we have a busy schedule, always on the go. And so if I don’t have to worry about going to the farmers market or going to the grocery store, then that’s just one less thing. That is off my list.”

home-delivered farm-fresh food

Neighborhood Market Managers provide personalized customer care

Hannah says, “We love our Market Manager who delivers our food. She’s become a friend.” She turns to her daughter. “Do you like it when the Veggie Fairy comes?” The answer is a definite, “Yeah!”

Erica explains the advantage of knowing exactly who’s dropping off your food. “She writes me these little, I call them little love notes — updates if something’s missing, or she swapped something out or she put a little extra peppers or something like that in my box.”

According to Jo Anne, “I have the best Veggie Fairy ever.” (Everyone says that!) “Really, you can always count on the freshness. And guaranteed, too. If something isn’t right, you make a phone call — they WILL make it right.”

farm-fresh food delivered with personalized customer care

Erica concludes: “Having someone that cares, someone that is coming and delivering produce to your family, that is just everything.”

(Discover what neighborhood Market Managers have to say about Seasonal Roots)

Supporting local farmers is a win-win!

Part of the reason Hannah joined was because of where she grew up. “I grew up on my family’s farm. So when we moved down here I wanted to support the local farmers.”

Jo Anne points out, “It tastes different from the grocery store, because it IS much fresher. You’re also supporting the local farms. So it’s a win-win situation!”

erica's box of farm-fresh produce

Hamilton sums it all up: “If you’re looking for higher quality, this is the way to go.”

ABOUT SEASONAL ROOTS

Since 2011, Seasonal Roots’ online farmers market has connected Virginia families with local family farmers who use sustainable, humane practices. Our veggie fairies – mostly moms and dads who believe in living better through scrumptious, healthy eating, being kind to animals, protecting the environment, and spreading joy – home-deliver freshly harvested produce, eggs, grass-fed dairy and meat, plus artisan fare. We empower our members to eat better and live better with more nutritious, flavorful food that’s good for us and good for the planet. More info at seasonalroots.com.

New veggie sides, new name, new shop – still scrumptious!

Try 3 new veggie sides from Leek & Thistle, formerly known as Truly Scrumptious

Fans of Truly Scrumptious, rejoice! This local foodie favorite is now Leek & Thistle. The new name brings more new veggie sides and a new retail shop in Richmond!

The new offerings in our online farmers market start with yummy Herbed Chickpea Salad that you can actually make a meal of. Plus there’s addictive Roasted Carrot and White Bean Dip as well as the luscious Quinoa Salad with Summer Veggies pictured above.

local soup salads sides leek & thistle

They’re just the latest in a banquet of yummy soups, sides, salads, and more from the talented local artisan who makes them.

leek & thistle sides

For Mela, the British chef who makes it all so scrumptious, the new name of Leek & Thistle harkens back to her roots. She grew up on the west coast of Scotland.

(Read our interview with Mela when she first joined the Seasonal Roots online farmers market.)

In addition to a new name, Mela has opened a new retail store in the old Nota Bene spot on Main Street in Richmond’s east end.

mela outside leek & thistle shop

leek & thistle interior

If you’ve got a hankering to stop by in person, the Leek & Thistle Facebook page has all the details. And you can always find Mela’s convenient local food in the Extras section of our home-delivered farmers market.

ABOUT SEASONAL ROOTS

Since 2011, Seasonal Roots’ online farmers market has connected Virginia families with local family farmers who use sustainable, humane practices. Our veggie fairies – mostly moms and dads who believe in living better through scrumptious, healthy eating, being kind to animals, protecting the environment, and spreading joy – home-deliver freshly harvested produce, pasture-raised dairy, eggs, and meat, plus wholesome artisan fare. We empower our members to eat better and live better with more nutritious, flavorful food that’s good for us and good for the planet. More info at seasonalroots.com.

Karla shares her Peach Cobbler Recipe in the News!

Our very own Karla Robinson was featured in the news in Hampton Roads! This time it was to share an easy and delicious recipe for Peach Cobbler using fresh local fruit. 

On July 9th, she was asked to share her know-how on WTKR News Channel 3’s Coast Live.

Click here to watch Karla’s latest Coast Live interview

Karla shared some great tips and tricks about peaches, including: 

  • The different types of peaches you might receive in your Seasonal Roots order like the yellow, white, and flat peach! 
  • Always wait to wash your peaches and other produce because the moisture makes things go bad faster! 
  • Don’t put them in the fridge if they’re not ripe or if you don’t want them to ripen. They tend to dehydrate and the skin will wrinkle. 
  • Freeze them to prevent them from going bad. Peal and cut first. Perfect for smoothies!
  • A quick tip for peeling: put the peaches in boiling water for 15-30 seconds, and then put them into ice cold water and the skin will come right off!

Finally for the best part! Karla’s delicious Peach Cobbler recipe! 

Ingredients: 

  • 6-8 cups of sliced peaches
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • ½ tsp. nutmeg
  • 1 cup flour 
  • 1 cup sugar 
  • 1 tsp. baking powder 
  • ½ tsp. salt 
  • 1 large egg 
  • ½ cup melted butter

Directions: 

  • Mix the fruit, cinnamon, and nutmeg together place in a baking dish. 
  • Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. 
  • Add the egg and with a fork press the egg into the mixture without mixing too much. 
  • Sprinkle this mixture over the fruit. 
  • Drizzle melted butter and bake at 350 for 40 min. 

Enjoy!

 

 

ABOUT SEASONAL ROOTS

Since 2011, Seasonal Roots’ online farmers market has connected Virginia families with local family farmers who use sustainable, humane practices. Our veggie fairies – mostly moms who believe in living better through scrumptious, healthy eating, being kind to animals, protecting the environment, and spreading joy – home-deliver freshly harvested produce, pastured eggs, grassfed dairy and meat, plus artisan fare. We empower our members to eat better and live better with more nutritious, flavorful food that’s good for us and good for the planet. More info at seasonalroots.com.

Neighborhood Market Managers share their experience!

Get the inside scoop on local food, home delivery… even family?!!

Neighborhood Market Managers are the original Veggie Fairies. (Here’s how they got that nickname!) They’re the critical link connecting local families with local farmers and food artisans.

Sometimes Market Managers jump straight into the Veggie Fairy business. Sometimes, like Yvonne, they start out as Seasonal Roots customers first.

market manager yvonne

“I’ve been a member of Seasonal Roots for the last two years,” says Yvonne. “My Market Manager would deliver to me and we would talk at times. And I enjoyed that so much — learning about Seasonal Roots and recipes from her — that I decided to become one.”

(Watch a video of these Veggie Fairies as they tell all on our Seasonal Roots YouTube Channel!)

More than just a job

Even Veggie Fairies don’t work for free. But for most Market Managers, it’s more than just a job. According to Kerry, it’s a way to practice what she believes in.

market manager kerry

“There are so many things that I love about Seasonal Roots,” says Kerry. “All the fruits and vegetables are locally sourced and sustainably grown. That’s not only good for me and my family, but it’s also good for the environment.”

For Yvonne, it’s Seasonal Roots’ commitment to supporting local businesses and meeting the needs of busy families: “I enjoy the philosophy of small producers, local farmers, and having it conveniently delivered to my front door.”

And then there are the perks

“I love getting discounts on the freshest fruits and vegetables you can find in the local area,” says Mary Kate. (Yep, neighborhood Market Managers do get discounts!) Plus, “I get the privilege of tasting incredible things from small businesses.”

market manager mary kate

Another perk is flexibility. Market Managers deliver one morning per week, and there are additional opportunities to boost their income as their schedule allows.

“I love it because it fits into my schedule flawlessly. Even with three children!” says Mary Kate.

The pandemic drove home the benefits of flexibility for Kerry. Looking back, she says, “This past year was really crazy. When the schools went virtual, I didn’t know what I was going to do with my children. Luckily, I was able to bring them with me. And they were able to get their responsibilities done, and I was able to get my responsibilities done.”

(Pro tip: Kids love playing Veggie Fairy.)

market manager and son

Yvonne sums it up. “I get some great discounts on the food, I earn a little extra money, and I get to talk with my customers and be out there.”

On delivery day, Yvonne also enjoys connecting with her fellow Veggie Fairies. Market Managers in each area meet up at party stops. That’s where they collect their customers’ boxes and load them into their cars before heading out on their rounds. “It’s a lot of fun. It’s been a great experience.”

market manager party stop

To anyone who’s thinking about getting into the Veggie Fairy biz, Kerry doesn’t hold back. “Become a part of this family. It’s wonderful!”

neighborhood market managers

If taking care of your neighbors with Seasonal Roots sounds like a good fit for you, we want to hear from you! Just email karla@seasonalroots.com to learn more.

Click here to watch Yvonne, Kerry, and Mary Kate talk about what it’s like to be a neighborhood Market Manager on the Seasonal Roots YouTube Channel.

Click here to read how this Veggie Fairy gets her own kids to eat their veggies.

ABOUT SEASONAL ROOTS

Since 2011, Seasonal Roots’ online farmers market has connected Virginia families with local family farmers who use sustainable, humane practices. Our veggie fairies – mostly moms who believe in living better through scrumptious, healthy eating, being kind to animals, protecting the environment, and spreading joy – home-deliver freshly harvested produce, eggs, grass-fed dairy and meat, plus artisan fare. We empower our members to eat better and live better with more nutritious, flavorful food that’s good for us and good for the planet. More info at seasonalroots.com.

In the news! Karla shares tips for storing produce

Tips and tricks to max out flavor and nutrients

Karla’s tips for storing produce will help you get the most out of your delicious, nutritious, fresh local produce.

On June 18th, she was asked to share her know-how on WTKR NewsChannel 3’s Coast Live.

Click here to watch Karla’s latest Coast Live interview

Karla shared some great tips and tricks for storing produce, including:

  1. Store tomatoes on the counter. They may last longer in the fridge, but the texture turns a little mealy. They’re also not as flavorful when they’re cold. But if you gotta chill ’em down, just give them time to warm up to room temp before you eat them. The flavor, if not the texture, will be almost as good as before.
  2. Wait to wash your produce until you’re ready to use it. The moisture and bruising that comes with washing will make the produce turn mushy and moldy faster.
  3. Avoid crowding. Fresh produce needs its space, especially fruits. Cramming them tightly together allows moisture to build up, and once again the produce will turn to mush more quickly.
  4. Feel free to freeze. Frozen produce lasts up to a year in the freezer, and hangs onto almost all of its original nutrients and flavor. Frozen blueberries make a great snack or addition to smoothies and pancakes. Simply wash them, let them dry, and store them in a single layer in a resealable bag. Then you can grab a handful anytime.
  5. Put stems in water. If your greens, herbs, or asparagas have started to wilt, cut off the tips of the stems and put them in a jar or vase of water. They’ll perk right up like a bouquet of flowers.
  6. Eat sweet corn right away. It’s best when eaten within a few days of harvest because it’s mostly sugar, so it breaks down fast into starch. You can tell when sweet corn is fresh-picked because the silk tassels are still green-gold and the husks are still green. It also has some weight to it because the kernels haven’t dehydrated yet.

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ABOUT SEASONAL ROOTS

Since 2011, Seasonal Roots’ online farmers market has connected Virginia families with local family farmers who use sustainable, humane practices. Our veggie fairies – mostly moms who believe in living better through scrumptious, healthy eating, being kind to animals, protecting the environment, and spreading joy – home-deliver freshly harvested produce, pastured eggs, grassfed dairy and meat, plus artisan fare. We empower our members to eat better and live better with more nutritious, flavorful food that’s good for us and good for the planet. More info at seasonalroots.com.

Karla Robinson from Seasonal Roots Team, Discusses Healthy Eating, Immunity on “Coast Live” TV Show

On April 19, people all across Hampton Roads got a healthy slice of Seasonal Roots.

That’s because our very own Karla Robinson, Director of Teams at Seasonal Roots in Hampton Roads, appeared on Coast Live, the popular lifestyle TV show on WTKR NewsChannel 3 (CBS news outlet in the Norfolk/Va Beach area).

Karla chatted about the variety of healthy local produce and artisan goods we offer to customers in Virginia and Maryland. She also discussed the importance of healthy eating to boost immunity, fun smoothie ideas and more.

Click here to watch Karla’s Seasonal Roots interview

 

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ABOUT SEASONAL ROOTS

Since 2011, Seasonal Roots’ online farmers market has connected Virginia families with local family farmers who use sustainable, humane practices. Our veggie fairies – mostly moms who believe in living better through scrumptious, healthy eating, being kind to animals, protecting the environment, and spreading joy – home-deliver freshly harvested produce, pastured eggs, grassfed dairy and meat, plus artisan fare. We empower our members to eat better and live better with more nutritious, flavorful food that’s good for us and good for the planet. More info at seasonalroots.com.