Happy New Year all! We are nearly through our first full year of operation here at Volante’s and everyday is still an adventure for us. We learned a lot of lessons in the past year and learned that we still have a lot to learn as we continue into the next season, which will be our 96th season of farming!

A few things to note in the short run, we are continuing to search out as much local produce and products to complement our homegrown and home made products.  We were thrilled to have homegrown lettuce and parsnips right through Christmas, and will certainly work on extending the season even more this year. Keep an eye on the shelves for what’s local now like dried beans from Baer’s Best Beans in S Hamilton MA, with over a dozen varieties perfect for your winter chili or soup recipe.

Local Apples In January! Yum!

We still have several varieties of Apples from our favorite local orchards, a real treat to have that crisp taste persisting into the winter. We still have these varieties available:

  • Cortland
  • Empire
  • Fuji
  • Golden Delicious
  • Hampshire
  • Macintosh
  • Mutsu
  • Pink Lady
  • Red Delicious

Tropical Foliage and Tasty Fruit Trees, fend off winter chills with these warm looking plants.

Although the greenhouse is shut down post Christmas and pre-pansy season, we have brought in some magnificent tropical houseplants and chief among them are the citrus tress laden with grapefruit and lemons. Nothing beats back the winter blues like a fruit heavy tree in your living room!

No Scurvy in Sight

Speaking of citrus, that is our current varietal explosion on the stand. What a great time of year for some new tastes from down south: oranges, clementines, lemons, limes, grapefruit are just the beginning. We have blood oranges, cava cava, ugli fruit, pommelo, mineolas in an ever changing array of vitamin C sweet and sourness. Time to get your juicer in gear and get those tropical tastes flowing.

Chef Todd’s first two cooking classes have already sold out, but we will be sitting down this week to plan a winter full of more great opportunities for you to interact with the farm: gift worthy classes, easy morning workshops, contests, demos, and much more. As always Stay Tuned!

Coming up very soon catch us on the Dr. Oz Show this Monday, or at least our greenhouse as the backdrop for a healthy culinary herb segment.

On the Edge Knife Sharpening will be back sharpening knives on Monday from 3-5; yours are probably dull post-holiday and these winter root vegetables can take a toll. Start the year off with sharp blades!