Welcome to Week 39

And the countdown continues: 8 weeks to go (including this one). Final pickup is March 7th (8th for Thursday pickups).

This means we've aleady begun talking about Season 5, which begins April 11-12. Due to the excruciating process of getting new members into the database, shifting people here and there to fill up each pickup group, and setting up all the recurring payments, we have a plan to make it easier on ourselves and avoid starting Season 5 with spaces left to fill because of people deciding not to join at the last minute.

If you have let us know your intentions for next season, your info should be completed on the list at your check-in spot. If not, please help us get this info so we know who is in and who is out for next season. Everyone has until March 1st to make your first payment. If you know you're in, you can set up your automated check payments now, according to the payment plans listed on the Membership page of the website, or let us know if you want to set up credit card payments and Lindy will arrange it. After March 1st, we will offer up any unpaid shares to those on the wait list. Check the list at your pickup site to make sure we have all your info as you want it. The earlier we know, the earlier we can work on adding new members; we plan to take a vacation during our break this year, not work harder than usual, as in the past breaks!

Packaging Returns
Thanks to everyone who returns the Fair Shares jars. We are also happy to take jars that didn't come from Fair Shares ONLY IF THEY ARE THE SAME VARIETIES AND SIZES AS WHAT YOU GET FROM US. We've been getting a number of 24 oz. jars that we have to just keep recycling. Please bring only the jars you've gotten from us if you are unsure of the sizes. We do not take back plastic bean/broth containers. We do take back the blue cardboard pint and quart containers. We take back dozen egg containers.

Payments Due

End of quarter invoices. Thanks to everyone who paid their bill the last two weeks. We appreciate your prompt attention to paying your overages right away since we pay our vendors upon delivery. If you haven't made your payment yet, please do so this week.

Note on Ordering

When we offer a choice in the shares, you may tell the person picking up for you your choice, but we are unable to take orders for preferences, and can't guarantee the selection. Sorry, there's just too much to get done to have time to personalize the shares.

Extras Available

Place your orders and trades by noon the day of your pickup to orders@fairshares.org. Don't forget to include your pickup group and name! Check the price list on the website for pricing on all the normally available items. Note that we have some new prices on a few items. If you are trying to make an even swap, be sure to include back up choices in case we run out of your selected item.

Salume Beddu Mostarda: $7.50. A fabulous condiment with dried fruit and spicy mustard seed that is delicious served with meat, cheese or crackers. Limited availability.

We're out of Greenwood bacon, but we do have Salume Beddu Berkshire bacon ($9.10), and Geisert Jowl and Bacon ends ($5.00). Karlios Hinkebein is working on bacon (both regular and nitrate free!), and we hope to get it next week.

We have some pork spare ribs ($4.25/lb, ave. 4.5+lb. slabs) which cook up wonderfully in the crock pot--look it up on Google, there are lots of recipes.
We also have a few Hinkebein pork roasts, a couple amazing smoked hams, and a smoked loin as well as a smoked pork butt.

Pork Snack Sticks: $4/5-pack
Bison Snack Sticks: $4.75/4-pack
PRICE CHANGE: Geisert Pork Sausages have gone up in price. Both Hinkebein and Geisert sausage varieties are $6.50 each.

Chicken bones (aka stock bags): $2 each, wow, great deal!

Apples--Fujis: 5/$4.45 Wowza, those are expensive (~ $2.50/lb.), but they're super crunchy and dee-lish!
Frozen Peaches: $6.50/2lb. bag. In my opinion, these are begging for a blender and little rum, but suit yourself.
Frozen Edamame: $3.50/lb. We still have a bunch of edamame frozen, so do yourself a favor and make yourself a healthy snack

Carrots: $3/.75lb. bunch
Chestnuts: $2.50/.5 lb.
Kale: $6.50/lb. This is beautiful, clean and super sweet kale

Radishes: $2.50
Beets: $2.50
Turnips: $2.50/lb.
Butternut, delicata or spaghetti squash: $1.50/lb.

Garlic: $1.60/four heads
Onions: $2/lb. Order red or yellow, or some of each!
Cippolini Onions: $2.50/lb. These are the wonderful flat Italian onions that are dreamy roasted.

Eggs: $4. Onion and Spinach Fritatta anyone? Don't forget the cheese.
Cheese Spread: $5/tub. Herb and Spice, Cheddar Blue, Jalapeño Cheddar or Mild Cheddar. Fresh from the freezer! Great on bagels or crackers, or as a veggie dip.

Delicious Alaskan Salmon
Fished and processed by Carbondale, IL fisherman Tony Wood. $12.50/lb. sockeye (richest, strongest flavor and highest fat), coho (medium) and keta (mildest flavor, lowest fat, doesn't need to cook as long or it will dry out). Various sized fillets available. We ordered more sockeye and coho in some larger fillets. Order by the pound and we'll try to match it.