With all of the news about Cage Free eggs you might think this is a great development for the chickens but it must drive up cost for producers. Just look at the price of eggs in the stores! Well... sort of. This Michigan law was actually passed in 2009 with an enactment date of 2019 and later had enactment delayed until 2025. Also, the law applies only to producers with more than 3,000 hens, so these are the big guys. Michigan's cage free law actually puts the burden on retailers to ensure that the producers from whom they source their eggs comply with the cage free standard. This standard states in summary that hens cannot be confined in cages and must be able to move freely in a cage free housing system with between 1 and 1.5 square feet of floor space per bird. To put this into context, that is a space about the size of the laptop I am writing this on. Editorially, these requirements likely do not make life much better for these hens, and likely actually increase their stress levels as thy now have to compete with other hens for space, food and water in an environment where there is not a lot of room to move. These birds are still a long way from living like a chicken the way our pasture raised birds do! It is clear that a such a change in production systems would take investment, but these large producers have had plenty of time to adjust to the new requirements before its 202 enactment, Investments made between 2009 and 2025 must already be built into the cost of production and thus the price of eggs. It is also likely true that these new production systems require additional labor, but I think the same applies. In summary, the higher prices you are seeing the stores are likely NOT the result of Michigan's cage free law. “The price changes that we’re seeing in eggs are more due to the bird flu epidemic than this law going into effect,” said Vic Veda, The Michigan Retailers Association's vice president of communications. In April of 2024, 6.5 million hens were euthanized at Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch in Ionia County in Michigan, and over 90 million chickens have been infected since 2022. In December, flocks tested positive in two more counties in Michigan. These are staggering numbers. This epidemic is definitely not under control, and it is clearly having an effect on the supply, and thus the price, of our eggs. So the next time you push your cart past those eight-dollar eggs in the grocery store, curse the virus, not the lawmakers! Warmest regards, Rob (your personal farmer)

They are coming! For all of you pepper heads, fasten your seatbelts. Thanks to Kathryn Whitehead for this one - pepper! Here is a site where you can finnd all kinds of ideas about how to use our peppers. www.chilipeppermadness.com. Kathryn, it would be great to see some pictures of your results! Also, check this out Coyote Cafe: Miller, Mark: 9781580084666: Amazon.com: Books. We knew Mark through a mutual friend when he was developing the cafe, and we LOVED his food. If you like SouthWest quisine and chilis, this is really a must have.

2022 CSA week one is in the books! Some things really worked well, others, well, we will improve them. I hope that you have all already had a chance to enjoy the contents of your boxes from this week, and we would all love to know how! Please tell us here (pictures would be great!), so we can all get more great ideas about how to enjoy. Don't be humble, ever picture and story counts, please share yours here.

I love squash, and I am not ashamed to admit it. It is great the simple way (just cut in half, take out seeds, and microwave face-down on a plate until it is very easy to push a fork through the skin), traditionally roasted, made into soup, as part of Thanksgiving stuffing, and any one of another thousand ways. In your boxes this week is a winter squash called Delicata (Delicata squash - Wikipedia.) Here are some ideas: Turkey Sausage-Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe | Allrecipes, Crispy Delicata Squash Rings - Bing video, Wegmans Balsamic Roasted Delicata Squash - Bing video, but honestly, the microwave approach turns out just great with some butter and brown sugar. Speaking of the microwave, I learned a new use for it last week. I have had a passionate relationship with corn on the cob since I was very young. I still remember my grandfather Herman slathering Miracle Whip on a cob when I was too young to know any better, which, by the way, is quite delicious. Herman put salt on his cantaloupe, as well, but that is for a different day. My favorite way to cook whole corn is to just throw it on the grill, husk and all, turn one-fourth every five minutes or so, and viola! I have also done the boiling water method and the redneck cooler cooking method. (Yes, it really works when cooking large quantities for a party: Cooler Corn | Just A Pinch Recipes.) Until last week, however, I had never cooked corn in the microwave. Let me tell you...genius. You just put the whole cob with husks on in the microwave for four minutes or so, remove the husk, and eat! Corn on the cob is now fast food! The way of removing husks described in this recipe is also very cool: The Easiest Way to Microwave Corn on the Cob (simplyrecipes.com). You also have some Anaheim and guajillo peppers in your boxes. These are best roasted and peeled. (How to Roast Green Chiles at Home simplyrecipes.com). If you are not into the heat, take out the seeds and the membrane on the inside that holds them in. They are great in your eggs, as part of a relleno casserole (Chili Rellenos Casserole Recipe | Allrecipes), or, if you want to put a little effort in and have a real treat, this recipe makes the best relleno I have ever had (and I have had some good ones): Chiles Rellenos Recipe - Recipezazz.com. For reference, any recipe from the Coyote Cafe is worth doing. Founding chef Mark Miller is a genius and a friend of a friend. I hope you enjoy some new adventures with your food this week. I continue to be humbled by how God's creation provides and at the faith you put in us to feed your families. Thank you. Warm regards, Rob (your farmer)

In your boxes this week, you have some very grillable veggies! We love the skinny eggplants (long indecent-looking purple things), zuchinni, patty pan squash, and yellow squash sliced the long way about 1/2 inch thick. Coat with a little olive oil, sprinkle with lemon pepper, then put straight onto a very hot grill. The onions are great grilled too! A tip for grilling onions...cut into wedges leaving a little bit of the root end in tact on each wedge. This will help hold the wedges together. Another favorite is hobo potatoes. Slice potatoes and unions thin, put on a double layer of tinfoil with plenty of butter, and a package of onion soup mix (I know, but trust me.) Wrap up tinfoil and put it on grill ( or in campfire) and cook until potatoes are done. The ones that get crispy on the bottom are the best! What are your favorites?

Good evening all and happy Independance day! In your boxes so far we included some milder varieties of chili peppers (Pablonos, Anaheims, and Jalepenos) I hope you have enjoyed them, but realize they may not be everyone's thing. If these peppers are too spicy for your tastes, please let me know and I will substitute something else. If you love them, let me know that too (we have a lot more.) If, on the other hand, you really like it spicy we have some other things you might like. Let men know and I will include them in your box.

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