July is the month of the blueberry harvest! Blueberry bushes get pollinated in the springtime, so that they can be ready for us to eat in the heat of summer. They can be tart or sweet, depending on their variety and how long they are kept on their bushes. When they’re ready to pick they pop right off the bush! Not only are blueberries super tasty, they are also filled with powerful antioxidants to keep our bodies healthy! They are an awesome snack on their own, but there are also so many healthy and flavorful meals you can make with them, and Oregon Harvest for Schools has some great recipes listed in this month’s newsletter. Read more about blueberries, along with recipes to incorporate them into your meals this month below.
(click image to download PDF version of newsletter)
June is the month of the summer squash harvest! There are many different types of squashes that are ready to be picked and eaten this time of year, and they are part of a category of veggies called summer squash! Squash plants grow low to the ground and spread out really far. They grow super quickly, so once you get them in the ground it wont be too long until you have something yummy to add to your summer meals! You may think that a giant squash would be tasty, but with these veggies, less is more, so be sure to pick them before they get too big so they keep their flavor! There are so many healthy and flavorful meals you can make with summer squashes, and Oregon Harvest for Schools has some great recipes listed in this month’s newsletter. Read more about summer squash, along with recipes to incorporate them into your meals this month below.
(click image to download PDF version of newsletter)
May is the month we start harvesting peas! Peas are hardy and can be planted in the late winter and all through the spring. They grow quickly and are often ready to be picked in early May! Peas grow on vines that climb up onto fences or trellises. The vines sprout out beautiful purple flowers. You may want to pick them, but don’t, these flowers are where the pea pods grow out of! There are so many healthy and flavorful meals you can make with peas, and Oregon Harvest for Schools has some great recipes listed in this month’s newsletter. Read more about peas, along with recipes to incorporate it into your meals this month below.
(click image to download PDF version of newsletter)
March is the month of the broccoli harvest! Springtime is when we plant broccoli seeds in the greenhouse and starts in the garden. Its time from seed to harvest is about 100-150 days, so we want to plant early to ensure a summer harvest! You may see broccoli in your local grocery store all year, but it is most in-season in the late spring and summer time. There are so many healthy and flavorful meals you can make from broccoli, and the Oregon State University Extension’s Food Hero has some yummy recipes listed in this month’s newsletter. Read more about broccoli, along with recipes to incorporate it into your meals this month below.
(click image to download PDF version of newsletter)
We picked celery as February’s Harvest of the Month item because it is used in so many great cold-weather recipes! In Oregon, celery is planted in the early Spring. For our celery crop this year, we will start the seeds in the greenhouse and transplant the small plants into the garden beds when they are big enough, and hopefully by the end of summer they will be ready to be harvested and brought to our kitchens!
Celery can be used in salads, soups, casseroles, or just eaten as a snack! The Oregon State University Extension’s Food Hero has some more information about celery and how to use it in the poster below. Read more about celery, along with recipes to incorporate it into your meals this month!
(click image to download PDF version of newsletter/printable version of recipe)
January is the month of the orange harvest! Oranges are available year round, but are most in season from June to November, making January the perfect month to pick up some oranges and enjoy them for a sweet and tangy desert! Oranges add a fun twist to many recipes you might not think to include them in, and the Oregon State University Extension’s Food Hero has some yummy recipes listed in this month’s newsletter. Read more about oranges, along with recipes to incorporate them into your meals this month below.
(click image to download PDF version of newsletter)
December is the month of the cauliflower harvest! Planted in late summer, this cool season veggie is ready to be picked and eaten in the early months of winter. There are so many things you can do with cauliflower in the kitchen, and the Oregon State University Extension’s Food Hero has a few yummy recipes listed in this month’s newsletter. Read more about the cauliflower, along with recipes to incorporate cauliflower into your meals this month.
(click image to download PDF version of newsletter)
Parsnips
Read all about the Oregon Harvest of the Month item, parsnips, at the link above. Parsnips are similar to carrots in looks and taste, except they’re white! Have you tried parsnips?