Melinda's Market

09/06/2026

Just wanted to take a moment to thank y'all for donating produce. Each week I try to send a wide variety of produce to our families who receive the donations.

Our donated produce boxes are not simply the regular six veggies on our menu. I try to add as many extra fruits, veggie add-ons, fresh herbs, and pantry spices I have on hand that week. Since what we give them on Thursday is often the only fresh produce the family gets all week, I always want it to be a well-balanced, colorful variety.

Each week I hear back from the families just how thankful they are for the donations. They send me texts about what their kids tried for the first time, pics of their lunches and dinners, and sometimes even ask what a new-to-them veggie is and how to cook it. (And y'all know how much I love it when someone tries something they've never seen!🙂)

It is such a blessing to our family to be able to do this. Letting Eva help curate the boxes, discussing food insecurity in our community with both of them over dinner after veggie day, these are invaluable moments I get to have because of your donations. They get to see firsthand how community involvement can make a real difference to families in need.

If you are interested in donating, it is super-simple. All you need to do is let me know which week or weeks you would like to donate. Then I'll take care of coordinating with a family from my weekly waiting list to be sure they get a box of delicious, nutrient-dense food for those weeks.

You can pay on our website at the DONATE page or I can invoice you at the end of the week for your donation. And if you're a subscriber on vacation, you don't need to do a thing other than let me know you want to donate your box that week.

Curious what was in this week's donated produce box?
🥒Persian Cucumbers
🍅Tomatoes
💛 Spaghetti Squash
❤️🍐Starkrimson Pears
💚Green Beans
🫜 Red Radishes
🥔Gold Potatoes
🌶Jalapeños
🧄Garlic
🫑Mini Sweet Peppers
🍎Gala Apples

That's a lot of good nutrition y'all are sending out into our community! Thank you for helping us with this important work. We appreciate your support!

09/04/2026

Have you ever noticed these little lines on jalapeño peppers? You may think these cracks indicate an older pepper that's on its way out, but that's not what's happening. These peppers are just as fresh as the smooth ones.

Some people actually prefer using these kind of peppers because they are thought to be spicier and more flavorful than the other prettier jalapeño peppers.

These cracks (also called corking) usually happens after heavy rains followed by lots of sun. The peppers have a growth spurt which causes the skin to split just a bit.

American shoppers in particular tend to pick fruits and vegetables that are blemish-free and very uniform in size. But the jalapeño is just one example that a pretty exterior doesn't always equal lots of flavor.

I have learned from experience that most of my Melinda's Market families actually prefer less heat, so I usually save the stripey peppers to use in my kitchen when I make my fermented jalapeño, carrots, and onions. It is so delicious and the extra heat gets distributed to the other veggies in the jar.

What about you? Do you like your jalapeños super-spicy or on the tamer side?

08/29/2026

Here's a few of the things we ate this past week. I usually make three meals a day for my kids. Super-fresh fruits and veggies + real, wholesome ingredients. That's what makes my kitchen work the way it does.

I'm so thankful that my kids are eating such nutritious, delicious food every single day. That is one thing that is totally under my control.

And I couldn't do it without all the amazing produce we get every Thursday from Melinda's Market! So thank you to all of you who buy your fruits and veggies from us. My family eats better because of y'all!

08/26/2026

Did you forget to order? You still have time! Let me know what you need, and we'll take care of the rest!

We make it super-easy to eat local by offering free delivery to Clayton and some surrounding areas.

Thanks for buying your family’s produce from our family! We appreciate you! 💜

08/26/2026

08/15/2026

Alright, so after cooking with the new gourmet variety of summer squash, I'm sold! Here's what I liked most about 'Tempest'.

1. The seed size was extremely small. I don't know about y'all, but I prefer really small seeds in a squash. Everything just turns out better in my opinion.

2. I loved the pretty stripes. While they were a bit muted, I still liked the appearance more than traditional summer squash.

3. I also liked the slight ridges. I didn't fry mine, but I think the ridges would be really good at holding breading better than smooth squash. In case you're curious, my kids prefer my creamed squash casserole to any other version. I will share the recipe, if anybody is interested.

4. Novelty is always appreciated in my kitchen. While both my kids really like squash, I know from experience that any time there is variety in vegetables it's an easier sell. What about y'all? Does that help get your kids want to try (and hopefully like!) veggies?

I would love to hear what you thought of 'Tempest' Summer Squash. Was it a keeper or do you prefer good old-fashioned summer squash?