Thursday, June 22, 2017

June 2017 News & Updates


June Is Here!

Finally the rain is letting up and the beautiful sun is shining through! We had a pretty wet spring and because of that we are currently about 2 weeks behind with the growing season. If we get some really hot weather that can change really quick. It just depends on Mother Nature now.  

WE HAVE NEW PRODUCTS!

What a great reception we have received from our powders! We are so happy to hear that so many of you enjoy them! For those who missed last months newsletter, we have new berry powders up in the shop.  You can now purchase:
Our berry powders are a supercharged way of getting your daily fruits into your diet. You can mix our powders into baking, oatmeal, smoothies, milk, ice cream, and more! Just like our dried berries, there are no additives or preservatives, so we're keeping the product as natural and nutritious as possible! 
*Note: Our powders are not soluble*
We've also added a new size to our powders. Now you can purchase all of our powder varieties in 2 lbs. quantities for $110.00.  
We would also like to mention that our free shipping amount has increased to $235.00 after coupons are applied. Our spreads and frozen do not qualify for free shipping. 

Changes Are Coming:

Most of you are aware that last summer we were crazy busy during harvest. In the summer of 2016 we harvested about 2 million pounds of fruit, this year we are projecting at least 3 million. With that much fruit to be harvested we have had to make some hard choices in where to cut back so a balance can be achieved. This has resulted in our decision to not have a U-Pick this summer. We are sad that we can not continue, but our harvest is our first priority. 
We will still be offering already picked & washed blueberries in 30 pound boxes and 5 pound bags. For these you pull around to our office and we help you there. The price for those this year will be the same as in the past at $100 (30 pound box). 
We would like to thank everyone who has come out and supported us over the years. We hope you will continue to enjoy our berries. 
We will have a blog post late May about all the changes we are making why we are making them. 

This Month On The Blog:

Our blog is becoming more active! We will be having a variety of topics, you can expect these posts over the next month:
  • Blackberry Crostini
  • Spring Superfood Bowl with Blueberry Ginger Dressing
  • Blueberry Broccoli Spinach Salad
  • Raspberry Chia Seed Jam
  • Super Berry Bars
  • U-Pick Update

Have you seen this awesome spotlight video on our farm? It's just a little over 2 minutes so take a look!

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Thursday, May 25, 2017

May 2017 News & Updates




What a wet spring we have been having!

Oregon is home to rain but some sun every once in a while would be nice too! With a little luck the fields will start drying out and we can get on with preparing for the coming harvest. The rain has caused us some disruptions, but the berries have been doing well with all the wet weather and our blueberries are starting to bloom. 
WE HAVE NEW PRODUCTS!
What a great reception we have received from our powders! We are so happy to hear that so many of you enjoy them! For those who missed last months newsletter, we have new berry powders up in the shop.  You can now purchase:
Our berry powders are a supercharged way of getting your daily fruits into your diet. You can mix our powders into baking, oatmeal, smoothies, milk, ice cream, and more! Just like our dried berries, there are no additives or preservatives, so we're keeping the product as natural and nutritious as possible! 
*Note: Our powders are not soluble*
We've also added a new size to our powders. Now you can purchase all of our powder varieties in 2 lbs. quantities for $110.00.  
We would also like to mention that our free shipping amount has increased to $235.00 after coupons are applied. Our spreads and frozen do not qualify for free shipping. 
Follow us on Social Media!
Changes Are Coming:
Most of you are aware that last summer we were crazy busy during harvest. In the summer of 2016 we harvested about 2 million pounds of fruit, this year we are projecting at least 3 million. With that much fruit to be harvested we have had to make some hard choices in where to cut back so a balance can be achieved. This has resulted in our decision to not have a U-Pick this summer. We are sad that we can not continue, but our harvest is our first priority. 
We will still be offering already picked & washed blueberries in 30 pound boxes and 5 pound bags. For these you pull around to our office and we help you there. The price for those this year will be the same as in the past at $100 (30 pound box). 
We would like to thank everyone who has come out and supported us over the years. We hope you will continue to enjoy our berries. 
We will have a blog post late May/early June about all the changes we are making why we are making them. 
And did you see our delicious post this month? No-Bake, Nutrient Dense Energy Bites! YUM! 

Our normal office hours are:
Monday - Friday 10 am to 4 pm PST  

Cold Weather Shipping 

Cold Weather Shipping is still going! Since spring is here, if the temperature gets above 75 degrees where you are please call us and we will discuss if it's safe to ground ship berries to you. May is the last month we will be able to ship, and it might not even be available the whole month. It just depends on what the temperature decides to do. 
Thank you to everyone who has taken advantage of our Cold Weather Shipping! 
For those who are new to this, every year when it’s cold (nation-wide) we are able to send our frozen berries by ground rather than 2 day air, which saves a lot of money! We can only offer this while it’s cold out, usually fall through the early part of spring.
You do need to call us if you would the ground shipping though. Our online store is not set up for it. You can call us at 541-752-0460 Monday through Friday 10 am to 4 pm Pacific Standard Time.
**PLEASE NOTE: We are not responsible for shipping delays due to weather conditions**


LEMON BLUEBERRY SWIRL CHEESECAKE

Original Recipe from quartzandleisure.com
Ingredients:
BLUEBERRY FILLING INGREDIENTS:
  • 1.5 Cups fresh blueberries
  • 1 Cup sugar
  • 1 Tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 oz. water
CRUST INGREDIENTS:
  • 1.5 Cups Graham cracker crumbs (I used all 3 blocks from the package – we’ll reserve some of the leftover crumbs for topping)
  • 1/3 Cup melted butter
CHEESECAKE INGREDIENTS:
  • 3 Packages cream cheese (8 oz. each)
  • 1 Cup sugar
  • 3 Eggs
  • 1 tsp. Pure vanilla extract
  • Zest of 2 lemons
  • 1 Cup heavy cream (or whipping cream)
Instructions:
BLUEBERRY FILLING DIRECTIONS:
  1. Pour blueberries & sugar into a pot over medium-high heat. Simmer for about 10 mins.
  2. Add the cornstarch to the water and mix well.  Pour this into the berries.
  3. Continue to stir until it thickens up.
  4. Remove from stove and allow to cool completely (approx 1 hour).
CRUST DIRECTIONS:
  1. Place graham crackers in a Ziploc bag and smash into crumbs.
  2. Measure 1.5 cups of crumbs and mix with the melted butter until evenly coated.
  3. Press into the bottom of a spring form pan and set aside.
CHEESECAKE DIRECTIONS:
  1. Mix cream cheese and sugar with a mixer until smooth, about 2-3 minutes.
  2. Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix for 30 seconds before adding the next egg.
  3. Blend in the vanilla extract and the lemon zest.
  4. Add in the heavy cream and mix until competely smooth.
  5. Scrape down the bowl and give the batter one last mix at HIGH speed for 1 minute.
  6. Pour over the graham cracker crust.
  7. Make a foil “nest” that the pan will sit in while cooking.
  8. Cook the cheesecake for 65-80 minutes at 300° or until the surface no longer looks shiny.
  9. Allow the cheesecake to cool to room temp before moving it to the fridge to cool completely.
  10. Serve with fresh whipped cream and garnish with the remaining graham cracker crumbs.

Our Featured Products in the online Shop:




We are almost to full bloom in our blueberries. The bees have been hard at work despite the rain we've been having.

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Thursday, April 20, 2017

News for March & April From Sunset Valley Organics

 
 
 

 

No-Bake Blueberry Energy Bites

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup creamy almond butter (or cashew butter)
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup Crispy Brown Rice Cereal
  • 1/4 cup ground flax seed
  • pinch of salt
  • 2 tablespoons hemp seeds (or chia seeds)
  • 1/3 cup dried blueberries
Instructions:
  1. In a large bowl, combine the almond butter and maple syrup then stir together. Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl and stir until evenly coated. If the mixture seems to wet, sprinkle in a few more oats. If it seems to dry, add a teaspoon of water at a time until moist it’s enough. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.
  2. Using a scooper, scoop out roughly 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of the mixture at a time and roll into balls. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

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Wednesday, January 18, 2017

January 2017 Newsletter for SVO


Happy New Years! Happy 2017!

We hope everyone had a good holiday season! We enjoyed our two week break with a lot of relaxing and family time. We know 2016 wasn't the greatest year for the world but have hopes that 2017 will make up for it, and we hope everyone has a fantastic 2017!
We still have our annual survey available until the end of January. As a thank you there is a coupon at the end that can be used on your next order. We truly value your feedback, and it helps us improve where we can. 
Our next Instagram sale will be starting sometime during the week of the 16th. Be sure to be following us to know when the sale starts! 
The Pacific Northwest has been getting a good amount of snow. The snow has melted here in the valley; however, Portland still has a decent amount of snow which has been interfering with deliveries and shipments. We thank everyone who have bared with us. This is the first winter where the snow has actually effected more than a day of normal operations.
With the snow melted, we've been starting to prune our blueberries. If you have blueberries in your back yard now is a good time to start thinking about trimming them up, and be sure to check out our blog post on pruning.
Our normal office hours are:
Monday - Friday 10 am to 4 pm PST 

Our Featured Products in the online Shop:

New Products Coming Soon:
  • Red Raspberry Powder
  • Black Raspberry Powder
  • Aronia Berry Powder


Cold Weather Shipping 

Cold Weather Shipping is back! For those who are new to this, every year when it’s cold (nation-wide) we are able to send our frozen berries by ground rather than 2 day air, which saves a lot of money! We can only offer this while it’s cold out, usually fall through the early part of spring. You do need to call us if you would the ground shipping though. Our online store is not set up for it. You can call us at 541-752-0460 Monday through Friday 10 am to 4 pm Pacific Standard Time.
**PLEASE NOTE: We are not responsible for shipping delays due to weather conditions**


Blueberry Breakfast Cake

A deliciously moist, lightly sweet "coffee" cake bursting with juicy ripe blueberries.
INGREDIENTS
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • Zest from 1 lemon
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (divided)
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 cups fresh, ripe blueberries
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon turbinado sugar for sprinkling
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  2. Lightly grease and flour an 8-inch springform pan. Set aside.
  3. In a small bowl combine the flour, salt, and baking powder. Remove two tablespoons of the flour and set aside.
  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer combine the butter, lemon zest and ¾ cup of sugar. Beat for several minutes, scraping down the sides as needed, until light and fluffy.
  5. Beat in the egg and vanilla just until incorporated.
  6. Add ⅓ of the flour mixture to the creamed butter and sugar. Beat on low until incorporated. Add ⅓ of the buttermilk and blend until smooth. Repeat adding ⅓ of the flour then ⅓ of the buttermilk until both are incorporated. Remove the bowl from the mixer.
  7. Toss the blueberries with the reserved 2 tablespoons of flour. Gently fold the blueberries and any extra flour into the batter using a rubber spatula. Take care not to rupture the blueberries.
  8. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle with the turbinado sugar and bake in a 325 preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until the top is lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean.

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Saturday, December 3, 2016

December 2016 Newsletter from SVO


News From Around the Farm

Happy December everyone! We've been so busy with the holiday season already and it's just starting! We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. We would also like to thank everyone who participated in our Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday sales! It really means a lot that you shopped with us!
Featured products in our shop:
Holiday Shipping: 
With the holidays coming up we would like to draw your attention to two important areas in the newsletter this month. The first being dates which we will be closed:
Our normal winter office hours are: Monday - Friday 10 am to 4 pm PST 
We will be closed:
  • December 19th- January 1st
This means the last day we will be shipping holiday packages will be December 16th.
The second, Holiday shipping dates as suggested by USPS and FedEx:
USPS:
  • First-Class Mail: Dec. 20th
  • Priority Mail: Dec. 21st
  • Priority Mail Express: Dec. 23rd
  • USPS Retail Ground: Dec. 15th
  • Destination Network Distribution Center Drop Ship: Dec. 19th
  • Destination Delivery Unit Drop Ship Dec. 22

FedEx:
  • Dec. 16: Last day to ship FedEx Ground
  • Dec.  14: Last day to ship by FedEx Ground for Alaska & Hawaii
  • Dec. 12: Last day to ship by FedEx Smart Post
  • Dec. 23: Last day to ship by priority overnight  
  • Dec 22: Last day for 2 Day shipping; $16 charge for Saturday delivery

Above is a sample of what we offered during the November Insta Sale.

Cold Weather Shipping 

We will be able to bring back our Cold Weather Shipping special sometime in October. For those who are new to this, every year when it’s cold nation wide we are able to send our frozen berries by ground rather than 2 day air, which saves a lot of money! We can only offer this while it’s cold out, usually fall through the early part of spring. You do need to call us if you would the ground shipping though. Our online store is not set up for it. You can call usMonday through Friday 10 am to 4 pm Pacific.

Holiday Gift Boxes:

The Holidays are coming! It’s weird that it is already that time of the year again, right? We have gift boxes! If you want a gift box, but don’t see anything you like on our site, give us a call, we are more than happy to do custom gift boxes! If your thinking about ordering a bunch of them please keep in mind that if you want us to ship them to multiple address the order does NOT qualify for free shipping if it goes over $225.00. But if we ship it all to one address then it can qualify for free shipping, as long it’s more than $225.00. We are also offering if you buy 10 gift boxes you get one free (excludes shipping). Our gift boxes are great for birthdays, house warming’s, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Years. Basically anytime you need a present or a nice gesture, we’ve got you covered.

Holiday Gift Fair

We will be at the Holiday Gift Fair this year, hosted by Home Grown GardensDecember 3rd and 4th. The fair will be open from 10 am to 5 pm each day. We will have our gift boxes there, and remember if you buy 10 then you get one free! 
Home Grown Gardens is located: 4845 SE 3rd St, Corvallis, OR 97333 
We will have an event added to our Facebook page with all the details. 


Finished Superfood Chocolate Bark



Superfood Chocolate Bark

An indulgent yet healthy Christmas treat of dark chocolate bark topped with goji berries, dried blueberries, dried aronia berries, almonds, pistachios and coconut
INGREDIENTS
  • 200g dark chocolate
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp pistachios (shelled and halved)
  • 2 tbsp goji berries
  • 1 tbsp desiccated coconut
  • 2 tbsp sliced almonds
  • 2 tbsp dried blueberries
  • 2 tbsp dried aronia berries
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Line a dish with baking parchment. I used an 8x8in dish but you can use a smaller or bigger one depending on how thick or thin you want your bark to be.
  2. Sit a heat proof bowl in a pan of boiling water over a medium heat. Break the chocolate into small pieces, add to the bowl and stir continuously until it has all melted. Add the vanilla and mix well.
  3. Pour the melted chocolate into the parchment lined dish. Top with the pistachios, goji berries, dried blueberries, sliced almonds, dried aronia berries and coconut.
  4. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes or until the chocolate has set.
  5. Store in the fridge for up to 1 week.

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Monday, November 14, 2016

November Newsletter

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