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Produce problems and how to solve them

written by

Marie Reedell

posted on

July 3, 2020

produce.jpeg

Miller’s Bio Farm started offering produce this spring, knowing that our customers needed access to fresh fruits and veggies during the lockdown. We can tell that our customers like it, because.... well... you keep ordering more fruits and veggies! 


Produce offerings this week include broccoli, curly parsley, English hull peas, fresh garlic, garlic scapes, gold grape tomatoes, green cabbage, lettuce, green zucchini, red beets, mini purplette onions, NJ blueberries, ginger, pineapple, slicing cucumbers, snow peas, sweet basil, yellow onions, and white mushrooms.

We are so happy to be able to provide you this service and are happy to solve any produce problems that come our way.

Depleted soils and distance traveled result in less nutritious produce. Our produce comes from local regenerative farmers.

A simple broccoli crown is not what it was 100 years ago, when most soil was naturally rich in vitamins and minerals. Now, after decades of conventional farming practices, soils are depleted. 

“A Kushi Institute analysis of nutrient data from 1975 to 1997 found that average calcium levels in 12 fresh vegetables dropped 27 percent; iron levels 37 percent; vitamin A levels 21 percent, and vitamin C levels 30 percent.” (Dirt Poor, Have Fruits and Vegetables Become Less Nutritious?)

Add this to the fact that some fruits and veggies like strawberries or oranges are harvested before they are ripe so they can travel thousands of miles to the consumer… you get the point.

Our produce comes from Lancaster Farm Fresh. The collective of farmers are stewards of land and think forward generationally. They aim to improve the health of communities through fresh nutrient-rich produce as well as the health of the land. It goes hand in hand!

It can be hard to predict exactly what will be available and how much folks will be interested in. We do our best to keep it interesting and get what you want.

Lancaster Farm Fresh’s offerings change every week based on what’s in season and what’s available. Our inventory changes accordingly and is typically updated mid-week.

The on farm manager Lena has been having fun picking different fruits and veggies for you and trying her best to get things that sell out again and again. She hopes you are enjoying it.

Keeping it fresh and avoiding spoiled produce is a constant work in progress.

It can be a challenge to get fruits and veggies to you in perfect condition. Too much condensation or not enough air flow for too long can completely ruin a great cucumber.

The farm staff are constantly improving their packing. And all that they do is in response to your valued feedback!

Different sizes led us to charge by the pound.

We are now selling most produce by the pound! This is because a large tomato and a small tomato should not be the same cost. It not only makes packing easier but also makes charges fairer for you.

We love hearing feedback from our customers. Is there a way we can improve the produce? Is there something you’d like to see that we aren’t carrying?

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*Update 12/3/25: Since this post, we took on a single source, local veggie farmer - Root Stream Farm. So our produce now comes from them as well as Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative.

Health and Nutrition

Farming Practices

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