Author: Frog Song Farms Social Media

  • Northern Florida-grown Pear Varieties

    We planted the first of our organic pear trees on our farm in Alachua County, FL over 15 years ago. Today, we have developed our orchard to bring you the best of summer pears right here in Florida.

    We’d like to introduce you to Hood, Carnes, Baldwin, and Pineapple! The first three varieties are hybrids between Asian and European pears. The final variety, our pineapple pear, is a true Asian heirloom that may be thousands of years old!

    Pears will store well for a few weeks to a month. As they ripen, they make great juice and are also perfect for our Pear Cider Vinegar!

    Hood pears have the best skin of our varieties. This one is special because it’s an early summer pear, and the tree doesn’t produce as much as the others. If you get to try them, consider yourself one of the lucky ones!

    Carnes are the 2nd variety to ripen. They make great juice with their refreshing flavor. You can let them ripen until the skin is yellow, but peeling the skin is also recommended!

    Baldwins are a perfect hybrid between the crispy Asian pears and the silky European pears. If you let them ripen on your counter they will develop more flavor and a pleasant, silky texture.

    Pineapple pears (a.k.a Sand pears) are a well-known cannery fruit for preserves and compotes. They were brought to North Florida hundreds of years ago, originating from China. Because they hang on the tree the longest, they’re one of our most flavorful pears. Try them on a salad fresh or cooked into a galette!

    Syntropic Agriculture & Pear Trees

    Pears produce tannin (which gives that dry feeling in your mouth!) in their skin that deters pests. It’s best to wait for the tannins to ripen into sugars – when the skin becomes more yellow or bronze. Thanks to the natural tannins and vigorous growth habit, along with spiders and birds that help, we never have to spray or apply any synthetic pest control onto our trees. On our regenerative farm, you’ll see a syntropic agriculture system around our pear orchard. This year they’re growing right next to Seminole pumpkins, native mint, and some cover crops.

    Recipes

    Pears are so versatile. Have them crispy, wait till they’re ripe, pickle them, chop them up for a salad, bake them, juice them, puree them, and so much more!

    Pears and cheese go beautifully together. Here’s a Pear and Cheese Cacio e Pepe Ravioli recipe that will impress.

    Here’s an easy Cinnamon Baked Pears with Walnuts recipe for a luxurious tasting dessert that feels indulgent, but isn’t at all. Pears become ultra rich when heated, it breaks down their complex cell walls and concentrate their natural sugars into a caramelization and reduction. You’ll see when you try it – the flavors transform from their mild sweetness to a rich, buttery, and aromatic experience.

    Chinese medicinal recipes include holistic ingredients that support the body. Here is a Chinese Pear Dessert Soup that aids in respiratory health.

    Check out our video on our pear trees here!

    Let us know if you enjoy our Florida-grown organic pears on our social media! Tell us what you think, we’d love to hear your feedback. Tag us in your stories if you’d like and we can highlight your creation.

    Instagram @frogsongcsa

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  • Japanese Eggplant

    The Japanese/Asian eggplant is here! When we harvest the Japanese eggplants every three to four days, we see the benefits of alternating the planted rows of eggplants and peppers. They come from the same solanaceous family which also includes tomatoes and potatoes as flowering crops. On our fields in our organic farm in Alachua County, FL, the peppers get shade, and the eggplants have space to grow abundantly.

    We recommend stir-frying, roasting, grilling, and even making our Japanese eggplants into a baba ganoush. They cook easily and soak up a lot of flavor! Our favorite is a Cantonese recipe called Thai Basil Eggplant that is rich in basil flavor with a teriyaki sauce.

    These thin skin varieties are great to stir fry, bake, grill, or process. They contain very few seeds and are never bitter! What more can you ask for.

    These eggplants do well when they are stored in the warmer part of your fridge, typically the top shelf, unwashed and uncut. This is where they can get ample airflow and not get brown spots or develop bitterness when in colder temperatures below 50 F.

    Recipes

    We have an Eggplant Parmigiana we enjoy you can also use with other eggplant varieties. Of course, Japanese eggplants tastes wonderful in Asian recipes such as a Grilled Eggplant w/ Ponzu and to pair with dishes such as Sticky Ribs w/ Daikon & Bok Choy Slaw.

    Check out our video on Japanese Eggplant!

    Let us know if you enjoy our Japanese eggplant on our social media! Tell us what you think, we’d love to hear your feedback. Tag us in your stories if you’d like and we can highlight your creation.

    Instagram @frogsongcsa

    Crop Calendar
    Our Online Store

  • Frog Song Food Safety

    We’ve had a few inquiries from customers about food safety related to the Cyclospora outbreak, so we wanted to share this information with you about our farm and our practices to reassure our customers. We believe that the shorter the supply chain between you and your food, the less risk you have of being exposed to a large food recall or illness outbreak. 

    To Date: We have not been notified of any food safety concerns involving our farm’s fresh produce, and we are not aware of any connection between Frog Song Organics and the current Cyclospora outbreak.

    At Frog Song Organics…

    We use only well water for irrigation, which is tested quarterly to meet drinking water safety standards. We drink out of the same well that we use for irrigation, and do not use any surface water (such as ponds or ditches) for irrigation. All staff members are trained in basic food safety: washing your hands after using the restroom, and staying home from work if you exhibit certain symptoms of illness. We provide paid sick leave to our production team to be able to take the time off if needed to maintain our food safety program.

    For our cut greens, we use a non-chlorine water treatment called Sanidate. This helps to reduce microbes that may be naturally occurring due to our practices of growing our food directly in the soil and out in the natural environment where contact with wildlife and microbes can happen. 

    We also source directly from partner growers who are all located in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. The sources are always labeled transparently with the grower identified at our farmers markets and in our online store so you know exactly where it is coming from. We do not source any produce from Mexico, California or Arizona. 

    Cleaning Practices at Home

    We recommend thoroughly washing all vegetables and fruits before consuming.

    Wash all leafy greens in 2-3 water changes to remove sand, debris, insects or microbes that may be present due to natural growing methods. Make sure to wash produce that requires cutting into with soap and water before you cut into them to remove bacteria that comes directly from the soil.

    Cyclospora Prevention

    To avoid the Cyclospora parasite, it is suggested to peel the skin off of fruits and vegetables, and to cook your ingredients when possible to an internal temperature of 158 F or higher.

  • Florida’s Fresh Access Bucks Program is being temporarily paused.

    To our Fresh Access Bucks customers:

    Fresh Access Bucks will pause beginning Monday, August 17, 2026.

    Here are the most important things to know:

    • The last day to receive FAB tokens, coupons, gift cards or loyalty points is Friday, July 31, 2026.
    • You can spend your Fresh Access Bucks until Sunday, August 16, 2026.
    • SNAP benefits will continue to run as normal at our location.
    • Fresh Access Bucks incentives will not be available while the program is paused.

    The Fresh Access Bucks 50% matching grant program (50% off your order of Florida-grown fruits and vegetables) will no longer be in effect until the program resumes.

    The FAB Promo Box’s last day will be July 18th, 2026.

    We know this is difficult news, and we understand how important Fresh Access Bucks is for Florida’s families, farmers and small businesses.

    While we’re sad to see the program pause, we’re grateful for every customer, farmer and vendor who has supported our market/store through Fresh Access Bucks. We look forward to hearing good news when the program returns and welcoming you back.

    Thank you for continuing to support local farmers and businesses.

    Fresh Access Bucks Customer FAQ

    What is happening with FAB?

    Fresh Access Bucks will temporarily pause beginning Monday August 17, 2026 at which point FAB cannot be accepted for fresh fruit and vegetable purchases at FAB locations.
    You can spend your Fresh Access Bucks as normal until August 16, 2026.


    When is the last day I can get new Fresh Access Bucks?

    The last day that FAB locations will issue tokens, coupons, gift cards or loyalty points is Friday, July 31, 2026.


    When is the last day I can spend my Fresh Access Bucks?

    You can spend Fresh Access Bucks until Sunday, August 16, 2026. This includes the last day to receive the FAB discount at discount outlets.

    Can I still use my SNAP benefits/EBT Card at FAB locations?

    Yes. SNAP/EBT is not impacted, and you can still use your SNAP benefits as usual.

    Will Fresh Access Bucks come back?

    We plan to bring Fresh Access Bucks back as soon as funding is available. We will
    share updates as soon as we have more information.

    When FAB returns, will I be able to use any unspent tokens or loyalty points?

    This will be dependent on our funding sources. We will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available.


    Can I get my money back for unused Fresh Access Bucks tokens, coupons and
    loyalty points?

    No. Fresh Access Bucks tokens and coupons are program incentives. They cannot be refunded or exchanged for cash or SNAP.

    Who can I contact with questions or to share how FAB has impacted me?

    You can contact the FAB team with questions or to share how FAB has impacted
    you.


    Where can I get food or other help?

    Fresh Access Bucks is a program of Feeding Florida, the food bank network. Our 9 food banks provide food support in all 67 counties. For immediate food assistance, find your food bank through Feeding Florida Food Banks, each food bank has options to find food pantries closest to you.

    If you need other food or support, these organizations may be able to help:
    ● Florida Department of Elder Affairs Food Assistance Programs – For seniors
    ● Florida Department of Children and Families SNAP – For SNAP benefits
    ● HopeFlorida – Additional resources and assistance
    ● FindHelp – Search for local resources and assistance

    Important Dates
    ● Friday, July 31, 2026 – Last day to receive Fresh Access Bucks tokens, coupons
    and gift cards and loyalty points at participating farmers markets and grocery
    stores.
    ● Sunday, August 16, 2026 – Last day to spend Fresh Access Bucks at
    participating FAB locations.
    ● Monday, August 17, 2026 – Fresh Access Bucks program pauses.

  • Green Baby Cabbage

    Green baby cabbage is from the cruciferous family, the same as brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and collards. Technically these greens are exaggerated parts bred from the same species of plant, the Brassica oleracea. It may not seem like it but like the rest of the cruciferous family, the green cabbage is abundant in vitamins and especially vitamin C.

    Growing Cabbage in Florida

    Florida’s mild fall and winter makes great climate for green cabbage to thrive as a crop for pretty much half of the year.

    On our organic farm in Alachua County, we plant our cabbage in the fall with our spring crop in mind. While other farms may go for the large heads, we plant closer together to ensure an abundance of sweet, baby sized heads.

    These baby sized heads are not only easy for our customers to portion our their recipes and meal-planning, the leaves are also super tender and irresistible when you see them at the market!

    Recipes

    The tenderness of the leaves make them easy to cook or to enjoy raw in a salad with some Pear Cider Vinegar, julienned carrots, chopped Cubanelle peppers, garlic, cane syrup, and sea salt!

    Our sweet baby cabbages do great with BBQ and meats! Cut them in half, brine them for about 30 minutes, then throw them on the top rack (with our bi-color okra) and let them grill until nice and tender. Their sweetness really shines with this method, and they go great with some of our yellow or red onions too!

    Have you heard of the Chinese recipe – cabbage and bacon stir-fry? It’s a classic dish that families with children especially enjoy. If you’ve tried our bacon, you know trying this recipe out with our green cabbage is going to be a hit.

    Chinese Cabbage Bacon Stir-Fry Recipe by Oh My Food.

    If you delight in some oregano and vinegar, try the Salvadoran cabbage slaw – Curtido! It’s a lovely recipe with delicate handling of green and red cabbage that stay fresh for a few days as an amazing side. This recipe happens to not include red cabbage, but we suggest you include it to make a wonderful rainbow!

    Quick Curtido (Salvadoran Cabbage Slaw) by Sandra Valvassori

    Let us know if you try these recipes or your own recipes with baby green cabbage on our social media! Tell us what you think, we’d love to hear your feedback. Tag us in your stories if you’d like and we can highlight your creation.

    Instagram @frogsongcsa

    Crop Calendar
    Our Online Store