Twenty Bag | Jul 17
In the Jul 10 Twenty Bag: "Personal" watermelon, sweet onions, blueberries from Newton Farms in Hollywood, SC, cucumbers, vine ripe tomato, basil, lunchbox peppers, gourmet potato mix.
Thank you Harleston Towles and Rooting Down Farms!
Harleston’s watermelons are so deliciously sweet, and did you know they’re incredibly nutritious—not just a globe full of water? Here’s the lowdown on the wonderful watermelon from the Mayo Clinic site:
just46 calories
12 grams of carbohydrates
865 international units (IU) of vitamin A — (equates to .26 milligrams)
12 milligrams of vitamin C
170 milligrams of potassium
0.1 milligrams of vitamin B6
Zero fat, cholesterol or sodium
Vitamin A is important for skin and eye health. Vitamin B6 helps your body break down the protein you eat, and is also important for the immune system and nerve function. Vitamin C helps strengthen the immune system and aids in the absorption of iron. Potassium is helpful in lowering blood pressure and is important for nerve function as well.
Additionally, watermelon has more lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable. Lycopene is an antioxidant linked to decreased risk of cancer, heart disease and age-related eye disorders.
A colleague told me her husband tosses cold chunks of melon into a blender and whirls them into a super healthy smoothie. He strains the liquid to remove the seeds and keeps it chilled in the fridge for a refreshing and hydrating sip to combat the summer heat.
A quick search of sweetgrass + grits will take you to plenty more recipes—all curated with an eye toward the weekly Twenty Bag harvest.
Harleston’s storage tips: If greens or herbs of any kind begin to wilt at any point or at pick up, put them in a big bowl of ice water for 20-30 minutes. Almost all produce is washed and should go in the refrigerator. Watermelon in the fridge if you have room. Blueberries in the fridge. Tomatoes and onions on the counter. Cucumber, peppers, and basil in the fridge. Potatoes in a cool, DARK place like the pantry. Light will cause them to turn green
