​Zucchini and summer squash that are ready to harvest are 6-8 inches long and are firm and dark green or yellow. Harvesting zucchini and summer squash, you can use a knife, scissors, or pruners. With the tool you cut  about 1" to 2" from the body of the fruit. If you don’t have a knife or scissors you can use your hands. Grab the zucchini or summer squash fruit and twist it. Pulling the zucchini or summer squash may cause damage to the zucchini or summer squash and the plant.

​The world’s largest zucchini on record was 69 1/2 inches long, and weighed 65 lbs. Bernard Lavery of Plymouth Devon, UK, was a farmer who grew the vegetable.

​Green beans are a good source of vitamins A, C, K, B6, and folic acid. In terms of minerals, green beans are a good source of calcium, silicon, iron, manganese, potassium, and copper. Other benefits of eating green beans are reduced heart disease, and detoxifying harmful metabolites.

Green beans are ready to harvest when the bean is 4 inches to 7 inches long and a width a little bit larger than a pencil. Harvesting green beans, grasp the bean where the bean and vine meet and just pull. ​

In the city of Blairsville, Georgia they have a festival called Green Bean Festival. On every last Sunday in July the city honors the vegetable, celebrating with cooking contests, beauty pageants, and other fun activities. ​

​Before taking a shower, rub a cucumber slice on the mirror and it won’t fog up.

Harvest time for tomatoes generally is late summer. Depending on preference you can harvest your tomatoes when they are a mature green or a mature red. Harvesting the tomato, firmly but gently grip the tomato then grab the stem. After you have the stem and fruit in hand pull the fruit gently breaking the vine off of the tomato. ​

A small Spanish town in Buñol has a yearly festival called La Tomatina. During this festival, thousands of people gather around the town and have a huge tomato food fight.  ​

​Carrots are a good source of beta carotene, fiber, vitamin K1, potassium, and antioxidants. The antioxidants can help reduce the risks of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Some health benefits of carrots is reduced risk of cancer, lower blood cholesterol, weight loss, and eye health.

​According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the world’s longest carrot measured 20 feet, 5.86 inches.

​When harvested, the entire plant is edible, from the tips of its leaves, down to its long pointed root.

By Kelly Zimmerhanzel, FoodCorps Service Member

It has been such a pleasure serving in Chicopee these past two years! Unfortunately, because the term limit for FoodCorps Service Members is 2 years, I will be moving on to something new after my service term ends this Friday. I had never been to Chicopee before I started serving here, but everyone in my two schools, Bowe and Lambert-Lavoie, and across the district welcomed me with open arms and made me feel right at home. Leaving is certainly bittersweet for me, because even though I am excited to move on to something new, I am already beginning to miss my students and all the staff that made my time here so special. Thank you to everyone who helped me during my service, I couldn't have done it without you! Chicopee will always hold a special place in my heart.