Welcome to Week 4 of the CSA season!
**A quick note for those who ordered mushrooms this week: If you purchased the mushroom add-on for Week 4, your 6 oz Gourmet Blend will be delivered to your selected pickup location alongside your CSA share. Please note that the mushrooms will not be packed inside your CSA box, so be sure to grab them separately before you leave. If you’re unsure where to find them, just ask the staff or check for a clearly labeled container near the pickup area. We hope you enjoy this flavorful, locally grown addition to your share!**
If you are interested in the mushroom add on, and didn’t get in on the fun for week 4, don’t worry! You will have the option to add mushrooms again this week. The order form will go out Wednesday and will close Sunday at midnight.
Rooted in Tradition, Grown for Today
Pahl Farms has deep roots in Minnesota agriculture, beginning with the Pahl family’s early farming operations in Bloomington in the early 1920’s. For decades, the family cultivated vegetables on the fertile land near the Minnesota River bottoms, earning a reputation for quality produce and a strong work ethic. As the Twin Cities expanded and development closed in, the family made the strategic decision to relocate—carrying their agricultural legacy to more open ground in Apple Valley.
In 1980, Wayne and Joanne Pahl purchased a parcel of land in Apple Valley, opening a new chapter for the family farm. In 1982, two of their children Gary and Lynn began selling fresh vegetables directly out of a semi-trailer parked at the front of the property. A year later, Gary and Lynn’s brother Brian joined the operation, and together the family began to grow the business. In 1988, Gary married Jane, and that same year, the farm expanded into garden center sales—introducing bedding plants, hanging baskets, and Christmas trees alongside their homegrown produce.
Today, Gary and Jane, along with Brian, continue to lead Pahl Farms as a thriving fifth-generation family business. Their son Jack, now actively working on the farm, represents the sixth generation of Pahls carrying on the family tradition. Beyond their farming and retail work, the Pahls are deeply committed to giving back—donating thousands of pounds of fresh, nutritious produce each season to hunger relief organizations, helping ensure that everyone in the community has access to healthy food.
Want to dig deeper into our roots? You can read the full Pahl Farms history at www.pahls.com/pahl-farms
What’s in the box?
This week’s CSA box is packed with Minnesota summer staples, and nothing says July in the Midwest quite like that first bite of Pahl’s homegrown sweet corn. Grown just a few miles from our store in Apple Valley, our sweet corn is picked fresh and full of flavor—whether you like it boiled, grilled, or even raw off the cob. It’s a seasonal favorite, and we’re excited to get it into your hands (and onto your plates!).
You’ll also receive a beautiful head of napa cabbage, which is tender and mild—perfect for slaws, stir-fries, or even quick fermenting if you’re into DIY kimchi. Cauliflower makes another appearance this week, offering versatility for roasting, mashing, or tossing into curries and sheet pan meals. We’re also harvesting fresh leeks, which add a mellow onion flavor to soups, sautés, and even egg dishes. Don’t forget to trim and rinse them well—they love to trap soil in their layers.
To round things out, you’ll find a mix of zucchini and yellow squash, ideal for grilling or baking, plus a bunch of vibrant beets, greens and all. Roast the roots for a sweet, earthy side dish and use the beet greens in place of spinach or chard. And of course, we’ve included fresh-dug potatoes—great for potato salad, roasting, or simply boiled and buttered. This box offers a great mix of staples and inspiration, with something for every kind of cook.
A quick note about the sweet corn this week: You may notice a few unwanted visitors in your sweet corn this week—specifically, a worm or two near the tip. Due to the heavy rainfall earlier this season, we weren’t able to get into the field in time to spray the first round of corn. While it’s not ideal, it’s a natural part of farming in Minnesota. The corn is still fresh, sweet, and perfectly safe to eat. If you notice a worm, just trim off the tip before cooking, and enjoy the peak-of-summer flavor!
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