Early Summer Update: What's Growing at New Leaf Produce

Summer has arrived and the farm is growing! We want to take a moment to reflect on this past quarter. If you've met Selma and her team, you know that the hydroponic container (and the larger farm that is Somersett Farm) always requests attention. Our weekly Saturday Markets on the Farm are increasingly popular; thank you Beaufortonians for supporting us! We're in a continual cycle of seeding, transplanting, harvesting, and marketing on the farm, but we are also growing into new areas to serve our community (stay tuned). Every week we love getting our hands and feet dirty to ensure there's artisanal lettuce, root vegetables, and gourmet herbs ready for you, so you can #skipthesupermarket. Requests are welcomed; contact us to be added to the mailing list or share your crop wants with us in person on the Saturday markets; we'll try our best to get the most popular produce wishes into our growing cycle. 

During the past three months, we've engaged with interested local media to help share our story, resulting in a Post & Courier feature, a video with SK Designs' Lowcountry Conversation, and an upcoming feature with CH2/CB2 Magazine (stay tuned for the July issue and socials). We're so grateful for the local writers and talented photogs for helping to get the word out about us. 

On a fun note: one of our local restaurant partners Locals Raw Bar, created The Selma cocktail (ask for it!). We're also sharing new recipes on our social media about how to use our produce this Summer. Is there a vegetable or herb that you're not sure how to use? Ask us! We're foodies and we cook what we grow and want to inspire and guide you. 

We're also reaching out for new volunteers for the farm; we're contacting local school systems (classroom chats and inviting summer camps to schedule tours) and senior groups. We're also experimenting with soil-based seedlings for customers' gardens to go to market.

We're also continuing to build relationships with new local fine dining establishments and creating small-batch offerings like chefs' cut gourmet garnish boxes and compound butter; this week we launched two bespoke flavors for Gay Fish Company, a fellow friend on St. Helena Island: Old Bay & Lemon and a Garlic Garden Herb flavor, only available at Gay Fish Company's retail spot (well worth visiting!). Note: there is a special pop-up at Gay Fish Company on Thursday, July 3rd where you can snag not only our produce (and butter), but delicious fresh-caught shrimp and fish: SAVE the DATE and come early -- it is a wildly popular 4th of July meal prep event. 

You can look forward to exciting new vegetables this Summer. Thank you, again, for your generous support. Share New Leaf Produce with your friends and neighbors this Summer. We'd love to meet them! 

p.s. A special shout-out to our volunteers, mentors, and regular customers...We couldn't do this without your time and cheerleading. 

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