Week 10 – August 13 & 15, 2026
Archived box guide — Week 10 of the 2026 season. This is a permanent record of what came in the bin and the recipes we recommended that week.
Delivery dates: August 13 & 15, 2026
Halfway point! Week 10 marks the midpoint of our 18-week 2026 CSA season — and the arrival of peak-summer abundance.
What’s in Your Bin
Section titled “What’s in Your Bin”| Crop | |
|---|---|
| | Beets |
| 🧅 | Gold Coin Onions — see crop note below |
| 🥗 | Lettuce Heads — New Red Fire or Magenta |
| 🍅 | Slicer Tomatoes |
| 🍅 | Cherry Tomatoes |
| 🍆 | Eggplant |
| 🌿 | Sage |
| 🍉 | Watermelon — see crop note below |
| 🥕 | Carrots |
| 🫛 | Beans |
Crop note — Onions: Gold Coin onions (cipollini) are the primary crop this week. Depending on harvest quantity, some members may instead receive a Red Torpedo Onion or Scallions. All three can be used similarly in most of this week’s recipes, though the Gold Coin cipollini onions are particularly good roasted whole or caramelized.
Crop note — Lettuce: Members will receive either New Red Fire or Magenta lettuce heads, depending on which heads reached the right size this week. Both are treated the same — same storage and cooking guidance applies.
Crop note — Watermelon replaces Sweet Peppers this week: We decided to leave the sweet peppers on the plants a little longer so they can develop more colour. Our watermelons, on the other hand, are ripe right now — and ripe watermelon has a much narrower harvest window. Rather than risk missing them, we’re putting watermelon in the box this week and giving the peppers more time on the plants.
About this week’s watermelon: These are certified organic, non-GMO watermelons, and they do contain seeds. They may taste or feel a little different from the ultra-uniform seedless melons most of us see in grocery stores — in a good way, they may remind you of the watermelon you ate as a kid. As with any naturally grown crop, every melon won’t be perfectly identical. We’re harvesting them at the best point Mother Nature gives us and hope you enjoy this very short-lived taste of summer.
Watch This Week’s Unboxing
Section titled “Watch This Week’s Unboxing”Featured This Week — Peak Summer Has Arrived
Section titled “Featured This Week — Peak Summer Has Arrived”Week 10 marks the transition into the warm-season abundance members wait for all year: slicer tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, eggplant, beans, and now watermelon all arrive together for the first time this season.
These ingredients naturally work together, making this one of the easiest weeks of the year for meal planning. The core combination to remember:
Tomatoes + Eggplant + Onion
This combination can become ratatouille, pasta sauce, grilled vegetables, a frittata, a pizza topping, or a grain bowl — mix and match depending on how much time you have.
Watermelon is a particularly time-sensitive harvest crop — once ripe, it needs to come off the vine — so it took priority over the sweet peppers this week.
→ Eggplant Guide · → Watermelon Guide · → Tomato Guide
Use These First — Days 1–2
Section titled “Use These First — Days 1–2”These are the most time-sensitive items in the bin — plan to use them within the first couple of days.
| Crop | Why |
|---|---|
| 🥗 Lettuce Heads | Refrigerate promptly — best while crisp. |
| 🫛 Beans | Best while fresh and tender. |
| 🍉 Watermelon | Enjoy promptly. Once harvested, watermelon does not continue to improve the way some other fruit does. Refrigerate after cutting and use cut melon within a few days. |
| 🌿 Sage | Use fresh, or preserve/dry it if it won’t be used soon. |
Mid-Week — Days 3–5
Section titled “Mid-Week — Days 3–5”These hold a few more days but are best used before the end of the week.
| Crop | Notes |
|---|---|
| 🍆 Eggplant | Best used while firm and glossy. |
| 🍅 Slicer Tomatoes | Keep at room temperature. Use as they reach peak ripeness. |
| 🍅 Cherry Tomatoes | Keep at room temperature. Use as they ripen. |
| 🧅 Gold Coin/Torpedo Onions or Scallions | Treat according to whichever fresh onion form you received. |
Save for Later — Days 5+
Section titled “Save for Later — Days 5+”The hardiest items in the bin — can stretch into next week if needed.
| Crop | Notes |
|---|---|
| Beets | Remove greens if attached and refrigerate roots separately. |
| 🥕 Carrots | Remove tops if attached and refrigerate. |
Storage Tips
Section titled “Storage Tips”Item-by-item notes
Section titled “Item-by-item notes”- Beets — remove greens if attached and refrigerate roots separately in the high-humidity crisper.
- Gold Coin / Cipollini Onions — because these are fresh onions rather than fully cured storage onions, refrigerate if necessary and use relatively soon.
- Torpedo Onion (alternative) — treat as a fresh onion and refrigerate.
- Scallions (alternative) — refrigerate in a produce bag or container, or store upright with the roots in a small amount of water.
- Lettuce Heads — refrigerate in the high-humidity crisper in a bag or container. A dry paper towel helps manage excess moisture.
- Slicer Tomatoes — store at room temperature out of direct sunlight. Do not refrigerate unless extremely ripe and you need to hold them briefly.
- Cherry Tomatoes — store at room temperature out of direct sunlight. Do not refrigerate unless extremely ripe and you need to hold them briefly.
- Eggplant — store cool and use reasonably quickly. If refrigerated, protect it from very cold temperatures and use within several days.
- Fresh Sage — refrigerate lightly wrapped in a damp paper towel inside a bag or container. Sage can also be dried or frozen for longer storage.
- Watermelon — keep whole in a cool place and enjoy soon. Once cut, wrap or store in a sealed container in the refrigerator and use within a few days.
- Carrots — remove tops if attached and refrigerate in a produce bag or container in the high-humidity crisper.
- Beans — refrigerate dry in a produce bag or container and use while crisp.
Crisper note
Section titled “Crisper note”Leafy greens prefer the high-humidity setting. Keep lettuce bagged or contained so it doesn’t dry out. Tomatoes are the exception to nearly every rule here — keep them on the counter, never in the fridge.
Recipe Ideas
Section titled “Recipe Ideas”Main Meals
Section titled “Main Meals”Summer Ratatouille — Eggplant, slicer tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, onion, garlic (if available), and herbs, simmered together. Zucchini or leftover salad turnips from a previous week also work well in it. 40 min
Brown Butter & Sage Pasta — Gently brown butter, add fresh sage until slightly crisp, then toss with pasta and parmesan. Try adding roasted cherry tomatoes. 20 min
Use-the-Box Frittata — Onion, tomatoes, beans, eggs, and cheese. Works well for using small quantities of several vegetables at once. 25 min
Quick Wins
Section titled “Quick Wins”Tomato Toast Night — Toast good bread and top with slicer tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced onion, olive oil, salt, and optional cheese. 10 min
Peak Summer Salad — Lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, thinly sliced onion, and your favourite vinaigrette. Add cubes of watermelon for a sweet/savoury summer salad. 10 min
Watermelon & Tomato Summer Salad — Cubed watermelon, slicer or cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced onion, fresh herbs if desired, and feta if desired, tossed with olive oil, a splash of vinegar or lemon, and salt. 10 min
Grilled Summer Vegetables — Grill eggplant and onion. Serve with beans, tomatoes on the side, and a lettuce salad. 25 min
Roasted Veggie Tray — Roast beets, carrots, and Gold Coin/cipollini onions. Add several sage leaves toward the end. 35 min
Air-Fryer Eggplant — Eggplant works particularly well in the air fryer: cube or slice, lightly coat with oil, season, and air-fry until browned outside and tender inside. 15 min
Make Ahead
Section titled “Make Ahead”Roasted Tomatoes — Roast cherry tomatoes or chopped slicer tomatoes with olive oil and herbs for use later with pasta, toast, eggs, or grain bowls. 90 min
Sage Butter — Soften butter and mix with finely chopped fresh sage. Use with pasta, potatoes, roasted carrots, squash, or chicken. Freeze extra portions if desired. 10 min