Despite the whacky weather we’ve had this year the raddicho, escarole, endive and other chicories we’re growing are looking good for the shares this fall and winter. I didn’t grow up eating these vegetables, or even knowing what they were, but over the years I’ve been farming I’ve really come to love both growing and eating them. They make the perfect salads for colder months, and are great cooked, too! Pictured here are a few of the many, many varieties we’re growing this year.
If you want to get really geeky about radicchio the Sagra del Radicchio is coming to Portland next month for the first time! Check out the Chicory Week and Culinary Breeding Network websites for more details. I’ll be there talking about escarole – the chicory that got me started growing them. @farmer.laura introduced me to good escarole growing almost 20 years ago (what was that variety – Natacha?). Shortly after that I had one of the best salads ever – made with just escarole, olive oil that had been pressed that day and lemon. That was on a little farm outside of Sienna as we were touring around after representing Slow Food Portland at the amazing 2006 Terra Madre gathering of food producers from around the world put on by Slowfood International.
Fall CSA shares are still available and the fall season start next Thursday so sign up soon!
Cully Neighborhood Farm 