Newsletter 779

Late summer brings with it a variety of delicious beans that can be prepared and enjoyed in many different ways. From long beans to bumpy beans, purple beans to classic green beans, these seasonal delights are the perfect way to add some crunch and fiber to your next meal. This year, Farmer Frank and his hardworking crew at Crooked Sky Farms have planted many different kinds of beans for Tucson CSA members to enjoy. Before cooking your beans, prepare them by first washing and drying them, then using your fingers or a knife to remove the stem end of the bean (a great task for young ones in the kitchen!). Then, get to bean cooking. 

Contender Beans

You might know Contender beans by other common names, such as green beans, French beans, string beans, or snap beans. This variety is named aptly, as it remains one of the top bean contenders among farmers, gardeners, and gourmands. These bright green beans are typically harvested when they’re about 5-6 inches long and have an earthy taste and a subtle sweetness that makes them versatile in the kitchen. For a quick and delicious side dish, blanch these beans in boiling water for a few minutes, until they’re fork-tender. Then, toss them with grated garlic, freshly squeezed lemon juice and a healthy drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper. Right before serving, top the beans with toasted almond breadcrumbs a handful of minced parsley. 

Cherokee Wax Bush Beans

In this case, the word “wax” is used to describe beans that are yellow in color. Colored yellow like the flesh of a pineapple, this string bean is beloved for its great, squeaky texture and fresh flavor. Similar in size to Contender/green beans, Cherokee Wax Bush beans are wonderful for fresh bean salads, such as niçoise salads and three bean salads. To make a lovely meal that’s perfect for warm days, serve these beans cooked alongside sliced ripe tomatoes, olives, hard-boiled eggs, boiled potatoes, and tuna (or chickpeas, for a vegetarian version). Before serving, drizzle the whole thing with a simple-yet-bright dijon vinaigrette. 

Chinese Red (or Green) Noodle (Yardlong) Beans 

Common in Asian cooking, Chinese Noodle, or Yardlong, beans can grow to be a few feet long and come in pretty purple and green colors. Although they look and taste similar to common string beans, Chinese Noodle Beans can become easily waterlogged and shouldn’t be steamed, boiled, or blanched. Instead, try frying these beans in hot oil to preserve their texture and taste. To make Chinese dry-fried beans, first cut the beans into two-inch pieces. Heat about a tablespoon of neutral oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat and stir fry the beans until they’re shriveled, about 6-7 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the beans and set them aside. Add aromatics, such as chopped garlic, ginger, dried chiles, and scallions, to the hot skillet. Add the beans back to the skillet, along with a few dashes of soy sauce and a pinch each of salt and sugar. 

Romano Beans

Romano beans are an Italian variety of string beans, closely related to the Contender and Cherokee Wax. They’re easily distinguished by their thick, flat bodies and can be colored green, yellow, or purple. Romano beans are quite sweet and snappy and can be used in any way you might use string beans or snap peas. As their wide shape makes them good dippers, try charring them on the grill and serving them with a variety of your favorite dips, kind of like an elevated crudité. 

Black, Pinto, and Mayacoba Beans

Every year the farmers at Crooked Sky Farms grow black, pinto, and mayacoba beans. Rather than harvest these beans when they’re young and “fresh”, the pods are left to dry in the field until September or so, when they’re harvested and shelled. The dried beans are then stored properly so that they can be distributed throughout the year, until the next bean season comes around. Dried beans need to be cooked in water over low heat for a long period of time before they’re tender and ready to eat. Because the dried beans from Crooked Sky Farms come to us so fresh, there’s no need to soak them before cooking. Simply put them in a crock pot (or regular pot), cover them with at least a few inches of water, add some aromatics (bay leaf, dried chile, and onions work well), and simmer over low heat until they’re cooked through, adding salt just at the end of cooking.

There’s a new way to buy local food at Tucson CSA! We now accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/EBT cards for food items in the CSA Shop. SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, is proven to be the most effective food assistance benefit program for reducing hunger. Accepting SNAP allows us to make the local, nourishing food we sell more accessible to our community, helps keep money in our local food system, and aligns with our goal to support a more equitable food system.

Following the SNAP rules set by the USDA, SNAP/EBT benefits can only be used to purchase food items from the CSA Shop. This includes the majority of items we sell and does not include inedible items such as flowers, stickers, tote bags, etc. Due to a USDA rule that stipulates SNAP benefits cannot be used to purchase food that will be picked up more than 14 days after payment, we are currently unable to accept SNAP/EBT as payment for CSA shares – however, we are working closely with community partners to be able to do this in the near future.

Using your SNAP/EBT card at Tucson CSA is easy! Simply visit our CSA Shop, choose the food items you would like to purchase, and tell the Shop volunteer that you would like to pay using your SNAP/EBT card. The volunteer will ask you to swipe your card and enter your PIN number to complete the transaction. You’ll have the opportunity to see your purchase receipt and remaining balance on the spot, and you can email yourself a copy.

We’re thrilled to be able to accept SNAP/EBT at Tucson CSA. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

Whether you’re a longtime baker or just starting out, Oatman Farms’ baking mixes are a wonderful local addition to your pantry. Oatman Flats Ranch is is a family-owned Arizona farm that uses regenerative and organic farming practices to grow heritage climate-adapted crops. Those crops, like White Sonora Wheat and Blue Beard Durum, are then used to make fresh, organic baking mixes that allow you to make delicious and nutrient-dense baked goods at home with ease.

Oatman Farms has a variety of baking mixes for sale, from a classic Sourdough Bread Mix to a White Sonora Wheat and mesquite Buttermilk Pancake and Waffle Mix, and everything in between. Whether you want to dip your toes into sourdough bread baking or have a nutritious pancake mix on hand, you’ll find many local options at Oatman Farms.

Want to taste for yourself what their products are like? Oatman Farms is having a tasting at Mission Garden this Saturday, August 28, from 8 – 10 a.m. Stop by to meet Oatman Farms Farmer Yadi Wang, have some delicious samples, and possibly even take home a baking mix for yourself!