Your farmers had a late night last night, pollinating the night-blooming dragonfruit. It is feeling like summer already on St. Croix: it’s hot, the Saharan dust is blowing,  and the school year is ending. Take a little time to stock the fridge with organically grown fruits and crisp cool salads!

Speaking of crisp cool ARTfarm salads and graduation celebrations, here’s a cool fact for you: Café Christine is open all summer! Yes, this little hideout lunch spot behind Apothecary Hall (opposite balter) in Christiansted used to be closed for six months of the year when the former owner Christine would go back to France. Chef Lisa Coates purchased the business about three years ago and has extended the café season to November through August, 11:30-2:30 Monday through Friday. Lisa faithfully replicates many of Christine’s famed recipes (hello, French tarts!) but also adds her own farm to table twist. She has also continued the tradition of hanging local artists’ work on the walls of the café. Inside and outside seating available, reservations recommended. She posts her daily menu on the Café Christine Facebook page. Chef Lisa is also an amazing caterer who has graced many a fine large or small local event with her French-farm-fresh cuisine! (340) 713-1500 cafechristinestx@gmail.com

This afternoon’s farmstand offerings: Sweet salad mix, loads of sweet potato, loads of papaya, pineapple, pumpkins, all of our peppers, Italian basil, garlic chives, parsley, recao, onions, turmeric, a few passionfruit, dragonfruit, and zinnia flowers. We’ve got goat cheese from Fiddlewood Farm. Looking forward to seeing you!