Harvesting Thai Chili Peppers

July 3rd, 2025

Have you had a chance to try our Thai chilis yet? This is a new chili variety for the farm this year that packs a spicy punch in a very small package. You don’t need a lot of these beautiful red peppers to spice up a recipe! If you love hot sauce, we recommend using these Thai chilis to make a batch of your own. You can also pickle them or use them to make homemade Thai sweet chili sauce. They also pair really well with our summer produce in stir-fries and curries. If you’re curious and want to try some, you can find them at the Farm Stand on Saturday.

Each item we harvest has an optimal storage method that preserves freshness and flavor. Here’s the best way to store our most popular summer varieties: 

• Basil – trim the very bottom ends off the stems then place them upright in a jar or vase of water on your counter. Change the water every couple of days to extend its shelf life up to 10-14 days. Basil does not like the cold and will turn brown in the fridge. 

• Long Beans – these store best in a plastic bag or airtight container in the crisper drawer of the fridge in order to keep them from drying out. They will keep up to 5-7 days.

• Eggplant – the pickiest of the summer veggies, eggplant prefers to be kept in a cool spot in your kitchen like the pantry for up to 3-4 days. Keep it away from ethylene producing fruits like bananas and tomatoes because it can cause further ripening and spoilage. If you move it to the fridge, we recommend placing it in the crisper drawer and wrapping it loosely in butcher paper or a clean kitchen towel to allow for air circulation.

• Peppers –  pat peppers dry to remove any moisture then place them in a paper bag or plastic bag and keep them in the crisper drawer of the fridge for up to a week. This works for both hot and sweet peppers. 

• Summer Squashes (Zucchini, Yellow, Tromboncino) – pat squashes dry then place them in the crisper drawer of the fridge for up to a week. Keep in mind that summer squashes have thin skin that can be punctured easily so be mindful when placing them near other produce in the drawer. 

• Okra – pat okra dry then place it in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer of your fridge. It will keep for up to 7 days.

Upcoming Farm Events: 

• Next Farmers Market: Saturday, July 5th from 9am-12pm (open to the public)

Currently in Season: Arava Melon, Tomatoes (limited), Peppers (Thai, banana, shishito, jalapeno, poblano, and bell), Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Tromboncino Squash, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Okra, Basil, Fresh Loofah, Long Beans, Malabar Spinach, Bitter Melon, and Butternut Squash