The Apples Are Coming

The Apples are Coming!  Does this sound like a grade B movie?  With the abundance of apples in the city and the struggle of know what to do with them all, it feels like a pretty scary event to all of us at Fruits of Sherbrooke.  We have been making jams and jellies and even some popular sauces with local apples, but we are always overwhelmed with the bounty that is available.

In 2013 we diverted over 8,000 kg of apples to charities, food banks and community kitchens and resources in the month of September and then we just lost count!!   This year we have increased our list of charities, not for profit groups, community projects and even some small businesses that will take all the apples we can direct to them.  We know this will only address a portion of the apples but it is a definite improvement over the past when they ended up in the garbage.

A loaded apple tree
A loaded apple tree

If you can pick them, give us a call and we will direct you where they can go.  Some operations will come and pick them up, while some of the charities and food banks ask that you deliver them directly to them.  This works as you will see who will be using them and have the satisfaction of knowing they will be used for food.  We do ask that you call us first as we operate a clearing house operation to make sure that none of the recipients become overwhelmed and that others do not get forgotten.  We appreciate your efforts in helping us in this initiative.

If you are unable to pick the apples, contact Operation Fruit Rescue and register your tree.  If they have enough volunteers they will come and pick it for you.  If this does not work and you are willing to let others in your yard, we might be able to connect with new Canadians who are willing to pick for themselves.

To assist individuals in knowing what to do with them, we are offering a series of classes on Apples and ideas of how to preserve them for winter use.   In addition, OFRE (Operation Fruit Rescue Edmonton) will also have a series of events where they will bring their apple press and demonstrate the making of apple cider.  Watch their website for details.

For information on our Apples!  Apples!  Apples! Classes click here for details.

Rhubarb Has Arrived

After waiting so long for spring and watching the rhubarb coming up so slowly, they are ready!  Summer is here and we are up to our elbows in Rhubarb.  This past week we received about 150 kg - we picked some and some were dropped off by homeowners.  Wow!!!  It has taken most of 2 days just to wash it, chop it, juice it and tuck it away.

So what will be coming out of the kitchen?  Firstly we made lots of Strawberry Rhubarb Jam followed by Hot Pepper Rhubarb Spread.  This will satisfy both the sweet and savoury side of the market table.  Then Spiced Rhubarb Jam and Blueberry Rhubarb Jam is next on the list, to soon be followed by Mango Orange Rhubarb Jam.  The raspberries will be coming next and we will be happy to start producing Raspberry Rhubarb Jam and Raspberry Pear Rhubarb Jam.  Wow the kitchen smells like summer.

Rhubarb Juice
Rhubarb Juice

These wonderful jars are filled with rhubarb juice.  It is so ruby red in the spring that it almost looks like it should be strawberry juice.  We use this to make Lemon Pepper and Gin condiment and Sweet Chili Tri Sauce so these sauces are soon going to be pouring out and ready for the market tables.

Finally comes the ketchup.  We had just about used up all our reserves, but rest assured, we now have lots of raw material to keep our ketchup fans well supplied.

Keep the rhubarb coming - I don't think we can have too much.  And if we do have more than we can use, we will find people who want to use it.  It will not go to waste.

Our Step into the Entertainment World

On Friday May 23rd we have been invited to be the "info" part of the Hey Ladies entertainment night. Carol has been a Die Nasty fan for over 3 years now. It is an improv soap opera here in Edmonton and 3 of the actors run the Hey Ladies event 3 - 4 times a year. With honour - and a little trepidation, we are going on stage with these amazing actors to tell our local story. Please come out and have an entertaining evening - hopefully not at my expense!! All the required information is on the attached poster. See you there! Hey Ladies Media Release May 23, 2014 (2)

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I DON'T THINK YOU'RE READY FOR THIS JELLY!

Hey Ladies has a jam-packed spring extravaganza to finish off the season!

Hey Ladies is an info-tainment, game, talk, magazine, comedy show to end all info-tainment, game, talk, magazine, comedy shows!

 

Hey Ladies stars Miss Leona Brausen, Miss Davina Stewart, Miss Cathleen Rootsaert & Mr. Noel Taylor. It’s part of the Roxy Performance Series at Theatre Network and each show features local Edmonton celebrities, businesses, bands, booze, baddies and troublemakers.

Did we mention there's booze and prizes?

THERE'S BOOZE AND PRIZES!

This May23rd Hey Ladies! May include:

- What's sticky? With Noel

  • -Jammin' with "Le Fuzz"
  • - Nerds need Booze! The Federation of Beer is beaming in Vulcan Ale and ‎Klingon Warnog
  • - Fun with the "Fruits of Sherbrooke" Jelly from the hood.
  • - "It must be jelly cause jam don't shake like that" Match Game ©
  • - Crafts with the Ladies (we'll be jammin' things in places you'd never think of! *)

*(Last jam joke, we promise)

FUN, PRIZES! COMEDY!

Roxy Theatre (10708 – 124 Street)

Friday, May 23rd at 8:00 P.M.

Tickets are $25.00 call 780-453-2440 or Tix on the Square 780-420-1757.