In this week’s Twenty Bag—Fuji apples from Lively Orchards, Hendersonville, NC, butternut squash, okra, gourmet potatoes, Fresno chiles, banana peppers, NC heirloom tomatoes, organic grown sweet corn from Watsonia Farms in Monetta, SC.

Our hearts go out to all those whose lives were disrupted by Hurricane Ian. I think I can speak for the entire Twenty Bag family when I say how lucky we are that Harleston Towles, unlike some less fortunate farmers, was spared any significant storm related damage at Rooting Down Farm.

“Happy to report that the farm came out unscathed,” says Towles. “We had most everything planted behind pine tree windbreaks, and hedgerows that have gone unmowed, protecting young plants from damaging gusts.”

And there was a big added benefit to his planting strategy: a healthier ecosystem.

“I was actually looking at the habitat within those hedgerows,” explains Towles, “and the diversity was through the roof: morning glory vines and flowers, goldenrod in bloom, elderberry for tall cover and wind protection, and other seedy grasses for forage and erosion control. The birds and the bees within these hedgerows are loving it. And I know our beneficial insect count —predatory wasps, ladybugs, etc.—is way up.”

I’m thrilled to see the super-sized bucket o’ okra since I found a couple of yummy ways to serve it up. If you haven’t already, check out this super-simple recipe for Spicy Okra and Tomatoes from Bon Appetit Y’all. Hint: substitute the Bag’s heirloom tomatoes for the recipe’s canned ones.

Another approach uses the okra to thicken the TOMATO base for Emeril Lagasse’s New Orleans classic, Shrimp Gumbo. It’s the season—the shrimp are running in our local waters—go for it!

And do search sweetgrass + grits for more recipes I’ve collected with your Twenty Bag needs in mind!

Harleston’s storage tips: Butternut squash on the counter. Potatoes in a dark place on the counter or in the pantry. Light will cause them to turn green if not eaten within a week or so. Okra, peppers, and sweet corn in the fridge. Apples on the counter, or in the fridge.