Why Is My Broccoli Purple?
Broccoli is a weekly favorite in my family; we easily consume 1-3 lbs. per week, and there are only 2 of us! I roast it, stir-fry it, and quickly steam it for an easy side dish. We offer it almost every week in our Talley Farms Boxes.
Bread Bike: A Community Supported Bakery
Hello Talley Farms community! This is Matt here, owner of Bread Bike Bakery. I’m the lucky one that gets to tell y’all who we are and what we do over here in sunny San Luis Obispo.
3,000 Avocado Growers in California?
That’s right, in California, there are around 3,000 avocado growers. The California avocado industry is small- scale, with the average acreage of avocados per farmer in California being only 17 acres. Here at Talley Farms we grow 80 acres of Hass avocados.
What’s in Season: June
Summer is officially ramping up, and so are the farms! Most vegetables favor our cool and consistent Mediterranean climate here in Arroyo Grande, which is why we can consistently offer crisp lettuce, sweet carrots, fresh broccoli, radishes, and beets almost year-round.
Meet the Farmer: Featuring Charles Okui
May is National Strawberry Month so we want to end the month by giving a shoutout to a strawberry grower near and dear to our hearts – Charles Okui
Meet the Maker: Featuring Christiana in the Kitchen
Christiana is near and dear to our hearts here at Talley Farms. She makes a variety of seasonal jams for us that you can add on to your Talley box, like our Blackberry Preserves and Apple Butter. Christiana grew up in Whittier, California, where she learned to make jam from boysenberries with her mom. Her […]
Lyon Artichokes: What Makes Them So Special?
As with all fruits and vegetables, there are many varieties of artichokes. But none are as meaty as our Lyon Artichokes (pronounced Lee-OWN). Talley Farms has 5 acres of these special “chokes,” which came to us from a special person. Steve Jordan from Lompoc traveled to Italy and Spain to find the best choke. Around […]
Grocery Store Analysis: April 2025
To ensure we stay competitive with our pricing and quality, I’ll often do a grocery store comparison of the items in the Original Sized box and what the cost would look like if I bought the same exact items at my local, middle of the ground grocery store. Keep in mind, most of the produce […]
Do We Have Enough Labor?
On every tour, people ask about our employee and labor situation. Do you have enough and are our people here legally? We have around 215 full-time employees year-round; some live here on the farm in their own houses, and their children attend local schools and universities around the country. But during our busy summer season, […]
What’s in Season: May
With every passing month that brings longer days and warmer weather, new fruits and vegetables are popping up for us to enjoy. There’s one fruit in particular that waits all year for its seasonal debut in May and then is gone in a flash until next year’s harvest. We’re anticipating cherries to be in the […]
Springtime Is Asparagus Time in California
So, why is most of the asparagus currently in the grocery stores from Mexico? Asparagus (or “grass” as we produce people call it) is a semi-permanent crop: it stays in the ground year-round, but the plants don’t last as long as, say, avocados or citrus. Even though it takes 3 years for an asparagus plant […]
More Peas Please!
If there’s one green vegetable I can always get my kids to eat, it’s peas! Those sweet, plump little pearls burst with flavor and always add vibrant color to our plates. Throughout the year we rely on frozen peas, but it is truly a delight to enjoy freshly harvested peas in the spring when they […]
Farm Tours Are Here!
In Spring and Summer, until August, when we start our busy bell pepper season, we offer farm tours to our Talley Farms Box Members and the public, including schools and other organizations. The most important idea we discuss is diversification. Farms today need to be diversified if they are going to stay in business, and […]
What’s in Season: April
One of the best parts of receiving a Talley Farms Box is the excitement of opening your box to find something new every week. Between our farm and partner growers through California, we are able to feature a variety of fresh, new fruits and vegetables year-around. During the month of April we’re very excited to […]
50 Years with Talley Farms
This month, we held a company bbq to commemorate an incredible milestone for one of our employees. Beatriz Ramirez, who oversees Human Resources at Talley Farms, celebrated her 50th work anniversary. Yes, you heard that right, 50 years! She began working here in 1975, picking brussels sprouts out in the field. Throughout the years, she […]
Gut Reset
The human gut, home to more than 100 trillion microorganisms, is considered the most densely populated microbial habitat known on earth. Each person’s gut microbiome is as unique to them as their finger print and it is constantly changing. Every breath you take, every food you eat, and every person or place you encounter has an impact on your microbiome.
Spring Time Recipes
Step into spring with an appetizer for any occasion – a charcuterie board! As someone who loves to host, this is one of my go-to snacks to assemble for any sized group of people. When our office is yearning for a pick-me-up, I’ll assemble one for everyone to snack on.
What’s in Season: March
Spring is just around the corner and we have some new fruits and vegetables that just can’t wait! As soil temperatures begin to warm up, there are a wider variety of seeds that can safely sprout without the risk of dying to frost. Locally grown strawberries are available as early as the end of March, […]
Best Produce Storing Practices
I love to store my produce in plastic bags and I think everyone should! Are you surprised to hear this from me, an ecologically motivated person? We are big produce-eaters and quality is important to us. The produce in the Talley Farms Boxes is super fresh and, if stored correctly, will last weeks in your […]
Ryan Talley Testifies Before Congress
Last week, our Vice President and Co-owner, Ryan Talley, testified before congress on behalf of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance. This alliance is a national collation of more than 200 organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants, and other products. The alliance was established to enhance the competitiveness of […]
What Are the Blue Zones?
A National Geographic Explorer, Dan Buettner, started to study communities worldwide back in 1999, where the inhabitants had the common denominator of living past 100 years. Not only did they live long, but they also lived better lives, with health, meaning, and love. In other words, dying young as old as possible. Five communities in […]
Whole vs Precut Produce
We all want to save time in the kitchen, but at what point is there a chance that we will sacrifice food safety for convenience? Outbreaks in produce (in which two or more people are affected) account for about half of all food recalls. How can we prepare produce quickly while ensuring it’s safe to […]
At Home with Talley: Beloved Beans
“Beans, beans, the magical fruit…” As one of the best sources of fiber, plant protein, and a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals, beans really are a magical addition to any diet. Some cultures, such as Blue Zones, rely on beans as their main source of protein and are rewarded with thriving health and longevity that […]
Supporting California Farmers
We want to support our California and USA Farmers, but how do we know what’s grown domestically and what’s imported? Those of us working in the produce industry know that California Valencia Oranges grow in the summer heat and Navel Oranges grow in the cold of winter. So, if you eat a navel orange in […]
Featured Farmer: Mighty Cap Mushroom
If you customize your box every week, you’ve probably noticed fresh shiitake mushrooms on our availability list from week to week. These mushrooms are sourced from Mighty Cap Mushroom, located in Paso Robles, California. We had a chance to meet the owner, Chris Batlle, and tour his growing facility back in October of 2023. Since […]
What’s in Season: February
Although winter is in full swing, we still have an abundance of fruits and vegetables to enjoy during these colder months. An exciting addition to our February harvest will be plump, juicy blueberries, which are such a treat this time of year. The anti-inflammatory, cancer-fighting, immune-boosting anthocyanins found in blueberries are also present in purple […]
January Harvest
We are in the midst of winter on the Central Coast, but thanks to our steady climate there’s no shortage of beautiful fruits and veggies to enjoy! The farm is soaking up every ray of sunshine it can get, brimming with hearty squashes, leafy greens, and sweet roots and tubers. We will have plenty of […]
Leek Love
If you’re intimidated by the look of leeks and not sure how to use them, we will give you a reason to LOVE leeks! Leeks are apart of the allium family, just like garlic, onions, chives, and shallots. Did you know that they take can take over 6 months to grow, depending on the variety? […]
Grocery Store Analysis: January 2025
To ensure we stay competitive with our pricing and quality, I often like to do a grocery store comparison of the items in the Original Sized box and what the cost would look like if you bought the same exact items at a local grocery store. I like to do this comparison with a middle […]
New Year, Fresh Start
As the holiday commotion starts to wane and the new year settles in, there’s always a sense of urgency to make positive changes that benefit our health and well being. New Year’s Resolutions have the best intentions, but too often fail without a proper foundation. Whether your goals revolve around diet, exercise, time management, or […]
Ode to Oliver’s: Honoring Oliver Talley
In 1948, Oliver Talley planted various vegetables in the Arroyo Grande Valley. His crops included broccoli, beans, cauliflower, peppers, and tomatoes. He focused on quality in all aspects of his business, including relationships with his suppliers, employees, and the shippers who handled his produce. Oliver built his business from the ground up. In 1966, he […]