La Tomatina Padre this Weekend and Harvesting Peppers and Butternuts

June 15th, 2023

We’re gearing up for our annual La Tomatina Padre this weekend! This beloved tomato-themed event gets its name from La Tomatina, a festival in Spain where they salute tomato season by pelting each other with ripe tomatoes. Our version invites kids to throw our overripe tomatoes at their fathers or parental figures! This resident-only event takes place this Saturday, June 17th from 10am-noon. In addition to the tomato throwing festivities, we’ll have light bites provided by Messina Hof and an inflatable water slide to help you cool off. You can secure your tickets here.

Have you had a chance to try any of our hot peppers from the Farm Stand over the past couple of weeks? We’re happy to report that we’re now harvesting from all of the different varieties we planted! Here are the hot peppers you’ll be able to try this summer:

Aji Rico - red pepper with medium heat and a distinct sweet and fruity flavor. We recommend enjoying them in a batch of fresh salsa or pico de gallo.
Habanero - orange pepper that is very hot with a sweet, fruity, and smoky flavor. These spicy peppers are great for making hot sauce or jam.
Pumpkin Spice Jalapeño - orange jalapeño variety with a citrusy flavor and medium heat level. Try pickling or roasting them.
Jalafuego - classic dark green jalapeño with medium heat and a fresh, grassy flavor. Try adding them to cornbread or pairing them with cheddar in a batch of biscuits or scones.
Ancho Poblano - dark green to brown pepper with mild heat and a rich, earthy flavor. These larger peppers are perfect for stuffing or roasting.

From left to right: Aji Rico, Habanero, Pumpkin Spice, Jalafuego, and Ancho Poblano

Though winter squashes are probably far from your mind on these hot days, now is the time for harvesting! We have two different butternut squash varieties curing in the greenhouse: Tiana and Autumn Frost. Tiana (pictured on the left) is a smaller butternut with the classic shape and tan skin. Autumn Frost (pictured on the right) is a specialty butternut that is ribbed with frosty looking orange skin. Both of these varieties have orange flesh that is sweet and nutty. And, since they’re storage squashes, you can keep them in a cool, dry place for up to 2-3 months! We will have limited quantities of these squashes available at the Farm Stand this weekend.

Upcoming Farm Events:

Farmers Markets this month: Saturday June 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 24th from 9am-12pm (new summer hours!)
La Tomatina Padre on Saturday, June 17th from 10am-noon (resident only event)
Meet the Farm Tour on Sunday, June 25th from 1:30-2pm (sign up here)

Currently in Season at the Farm Stand: Butternuts (limited), Ground Cherries (limited), Long Beans, Okra, Eggplant, Assorted Tomatoes, Assorted Sweet and Hot Peppers, Zucchini, Tromboncino Squash, Cucumbers, Leeks, Onions, Kale, Assorted Herbs, Edible Flowers, and Flower Bouquets.