Week 7: Safe Food, Funny Stories, and Space Cabbage
It seems like every time we think summer is headed one way, it takes a turn and goes in the complete opposite direction. At this point, we don't even want to guess what's next on the 2026 bingo card! One thing we do know is that, no matter what comes our way, we're committed to bringing you fresh, safe, and clean produce.
If you've been around since the early days, you may remember that we were Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certified. GAP is a set of food safety standards designed to ensure fruits and vegetables are grown, harvested, packed, and stored in ways that reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
Back then, we sold through a growers' co-op that supplied ProMedica hospitals, restaurants throughout Ohio, and other large distributors. You may have even eaten our produce at the Bryan hospital! Even though we're no longer GAP certified, we continue to follow those same food safety practices on our farm today because we believe they're the right thing to do.
One of our favorite farm stories comes from those days. We used to raise turkeys, rabbits, meat chickens, and a flock of laying hens alongside our vegetables. Since Matt had to avoid the livestock to prevent cross-contamination, all the animal chores fell to me (Allie).
One day, our rooster decided he wasn't a fan of chore time. He attacked me and managed to get me completely covered in chicken poop right before I had to leave for work. Matt heard me scream from across the farm and came running. The first thing I said was, "Look, it's Food Safety Matt... and I'm Chicken S*** (poop) Allie."
Not long after that, we decided our future was growing vegetables, not chasing angry roosters.
Link to the Online Store:
www.thatonefarmerguy.com/onlinestore
Please place your orders by 5 p.m. Tuesday for delivery later this week.
This Week's Salad Club Share Includes:
• One 5 oz bag of salad mix
• Kohlrabi
• Rainbow chard
Matt has been calling kohlrabi "space cabbage," and honestly, it fits. The round bulb grows above the ground with leaves sticking out in every direction, making it look like something from another planet.
Kohlrabi is a member of the cabbage family with a mild, sweet flavor that's often compared to broccoli stems or a crisp apple. Peel away the tough outer layer to reveal the tender interior. Our favorite way to eat it is fresh with a little salt, or shredded into a kohl-slaw (see what we did there?). It's also delicious roasted, sautéed, mashed with potatoes, or added to soups.
Rainbow chard is one of those vegetables that's almost too pretty to eat, but definitely don't let that stop you! Think of it as spinach's sturdier, sassier cousin.
Here are a few ways to enjoy it:
• Sauté it: Cook the chopped stems first, then add the leaves. Finish with garlic and a squeeze of lemon or a splash of vinegar.
• Add it to soup: Stir chopped chard into soups during the last few minutes of cooking.
• Enjoy it raw: Young leaves are delicious sliced thin into salads.
• Use it as a wrap: Blanch large leaves for a few seconds, then fill them with your favorite ingredients.
Whatever life throws our way, we'll keep doing what we do best, growing fresh, healthy food for our community. Thank you for trusting us to fill your table each week. We appreciate your support more than you'll ever know.
With greens and gratitude,
Matt and Allie
That One Farmer Guy