• 🥕What We're Up To
• 🌈Taste the Rainbow
• 🍅Shakshuka
• 💡DIY Grow Lights
• 👨‍🌾 Ask a farmer: Why do you use bees?
• 🥔Ruben's Spuds: Kid Section
• 🐝Exclusive: Ruben's Bees in Action

We’re almost fully OPEN for the season! 🎉 You can now visit our locations in Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, South Calgary, Cochrane, and Okotoks. Our Red Deer and Airdrie store will be opening this Friday, April 11th—we can’t wait to welcome you! 🛒💚

Here’s what’s fresh and available right now:

🥒 Mini cucumbers
🫑 Peppers
🍅 Tomatoes
🥬 Living lettuce
🥚 Farm-fresh eggs

Coming soon (late next week):
🌿 More lettuce, mixed lettuce, kale & Swiss chard

On the way (mid to late April):
🌱 Fresh herbs of all kinds

Looking ahead:
🥕 Our spring carrots are thriving in the cozy greenhouse and should be ready just in time for May Long Weekend!

💧✨ Also arriving later this month:
Our hand-made Goat Milk Soap is coming back—featuring new scents and beautiful new packaging! Don’t miss this fresh release. 🧼🌸

At Ruben’s, we’re always planting, growing, and harvesting! 🌿
Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes:

✅ Mini cucumbers are short-term crops—we grow four a year! Our first crop has wrapped, and the second is already being planted. Expect even fresher cucumbers soon!

✅ Tomatoes and peppers are long-term crops (just one per year), and they’re coming along nicely.

🧑‍🌾 In the fields:
We’re prepping the soil and planning out the outdoor garden.
✨ Fava (Lima) beans go in the ground next week—these protein-packed, fibre-rich super crops are getting a major boost in volume this year!
🥔 Potatoes are scheduled for planting by the end of April.

🎉 It’s shaping up to be an inspiring month and we’re so excited to bring the freshest local produce right to your table!

When it comes to eating healthy, variety isn’t just the spice of life—it’s the secret to nourishing your body from head to toe. Different colours in vegetables reflect different nutrients and health benefits, so by “eating the rainbow,” you're giving your body a well-rounded dose of vitamins, antioxidants, and plant power. 💪

Here’s what those vibrant colours are doing for you:

❤️ Red – Heart & Skin Health

Found in: Tomatoes, Red Peppers
These veggies are rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that supports heart health and helps protect skin from sun damage.

💚 Green – Immunity, Detox & Energy

Found in: Living Lettuce, Kale, Swiss Chard
Green veggies are loaded with chlorophyll, folate, and magnesium, which help fight inflammation, detoxify the body, and support steady energy levels.

🧡 Orange/Yellow – Eye & Immune Health

Found in: Carrots, Yellow & Orange Peppers
These contain beta-carotene (a form of vitamin A), vital for eye health and a strong immune system—plus they’re naturally sweet and kid-friendly!

💜 Purple – Brain Power & Aging Support

Found in: Purple Lettuce, Beets (coming soon!)
Purple veggies are full of anthocyanins, powerful compounds that support memory, brain function, and healthy aging.

Looking for a cozy, flavour-packed meal to showcase your Ruben’s Veggies haul?
This hearty Shakshuka is a rustic Middle Eastern dish made with fresh tomatoes, peppers, and farm eggs—all simmered together in one pan. It's comforting, simple, and perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dinner!

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 small onion, diced

• 1 bell pepper (any color), chopped

• 3–4 medium fresh tomatoes (or 1 can diced tomatoes)

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tsp paprika

• 1/2 tsp ground cumin

• Salt & pepper to taste

• 4–6 Ruben’s farm-fresh eggs

• Optional toppings: chopped parsley, crumbled feta, chili flakes

Instructions:

1. Sauté the base:
   Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and bell pepper. Cook for 5–7 minutes, until softened.

2. Add garlic & spices:
   Stir in the garlic, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.

3. Add tomatoes:
   Add chopped fresh tomatoes (or canned). Simmer for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes break down and the sauce thickens.

4. Make egg wells:
   Use a spoon to make small wells in the sauce. Crack an egg into each well.

5. Cover and cook:
   Cover the pan with a lid and cook for 5–7 minutes, until the egg whites are set but the yolks are still runny (or longer if you prefer firmer yolks).

6. Garnish and serve:
   Sprinkle with fresh herbs, crumbled feta, or chili flakes if desired. Serve hot with warm crusty bread or pita for dipping.

💡 DIY Grow Light Setup for Seedlings

Grow strong, healthy seedlings at home—no fancy gear needed!

Starting your own plants from seed is super satisfying, but most indoor spaces don’t get enough light for seedlings to thrive. Without good light, they can become leggy (tall and weak), which makes them hard to transplant. Here's how to build a simple and affordable setup at home:

🧰 What You’ll Need:

• Shop light fixture (available at hardware stores—T5 or T8 fluorescent tubes work great, or LED grow lights if you want to upgrade)

• Daylight bulbs (look for 5000K–6500K color temperature)

• Chains or adjustable hooks (for raising/lowering your lights)

• Power timer (optional, but great for consistency)

• Table, shelf, or wire rack (any sturdy surface will do)

• Seedling trays or containers with a waterproof tray underneath

🔧 Assembly Steps:

1. Hang your light fixture just above your seed trays (about 2–4 inches above the seedlings). Use chains, rope, or adjustable hooks so you can raise the lights as your seedlings grow.

2. Insert daylight bulbs (5000K–6500K). These mimic natural sunlight and are perfect for photosynthesis.

3. Set your timer (or remember to switch on/off manually):

   • Keep lights on for 12–16 hours per day

   • Turn them off at night to give plants a rest

4. Keep lights close:
   Position lights just above the seedlings—raise them gradually as plants grow taller. If the lights are too far, seedlings will stretch and weaken.

5. Add a small fan nearby to improve airflow. This encourages stronger stems and reduces mold risk.

🪴 Bonus Tips:

• Keep the setup in a warm room (or use a heat mat for bottom warmth)

• Rotate trays every few days to keep growth even

• Wipe off dust from bulbs weekly to maintain brightness

🌱 DIY doesn’t mean low quality!
With just a few supplies and a bit of creativity, you’ll be growing healthy, vibrant seedlings—ready to thrive in your garden come May.

How bees help bring your veggies to life—one flower at a time

At Ruben’s, we rely on more than just sunshine, water, and hard work to grow beautiful, high-quality produce—we also depend on bees.

While most people know bees are important for the environment, not everyone realizes just how crucial they are in commercial food production, especially in greenhouses. Here’s a closer look at why bees are a vital part of our operation—and how their natural behaviour is perfectly suited to helping our crops thrive.

🌼 The Basics: What Is Pollination?

Pollination is the process where pollen is transferred from the male part of the flower (the anther) to the female part (the stigma). This fertilizes the flower and allows it to develop fruit—whether that’s a tomato, zucchini, or pepper.

Some crops can pollinate themselves, but many require the help of pollinators, like bees, to move that pollen around. Without that transfer, the plants will flower but won’t produce any harvestable produce.

🐝 Bumble Bees & Greenhouses: Why We Use Them

In our greenhouses, we work with bumble bee hives as part of our Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. Bumble bees are not only gentle and efficient—they’re uniquely equipped for a very special kind of pollination: buzz pollination.

🎵 Buzz Pollination: Nature’s Vibration Trick

Some crops—especially tomatoes—have flowers that don’t easily release pollen. Instead of having loose, accessible pollen, these flowers keep it tucked inside small, tube-like structures called anthers.

To get the pollen out, something has to shake the flower with just the right frequency.

Enter the bumble bee.
Bumble bees grab onto the flower and rapidly vibrate their flight muscles, creating a distinct buzzing sound and shaking the pollen loose—a process called buzz pollination. This is something honey bees can’t do, which is why bumble bees are the gold standard for greenhouse pollination.

Fun fact: Before bees were used, growers had to use electric toothbrushes to mimic this buzzing effect—one flower at a time! It worked, but it was extremely inefficient and labor-intensive.

While some crops don’t require pollination at all, others handle it on their own. In our cucumber crops, we grow gynoecious varieties, which produce only female flowers. These develop fruit through a process called parthenocarpy—meaning fertilization doesn’t occur at all. That’s why our cucumbers are completely seedless.
Peppers, on the other hand, are self-pollinating. Their pollen moves easily from the anthers to the stigma within the same flower, allowing them to fertilize themselves with no outside help.

🐝 Honey Bees & Field Crops

Out in the field, we also work with honey bees, especially for crops like zucchini, which have open, pollinator-friendly flowers. Honey bees don’t buzz pollinate, but they’re excellent at visiting many flowers quickly, spreading pollen efficiently and improving yields.

🌸 How Bees “See” Flowers

Bees don’t see flowers the way we do—they actually see ultraviolet (UV) light, which reveals unique patterns on petals that are invisible to humans. These patterns act like landing strips, guiding bees straight to the nectar and pollen.

Flowers essentially say:
“Hey, bee! This way!” ✨

Bees are especially attracted to blue, violet, and yellow tones. That's why many high-yielding flower varieties grown in agriculture are bred with bees in mind.

🍅 From Pollination to Your Plate

When a bee visits a flower and transfers pollen, that flower is now able to develop fruit. That means every tomato, pepper, or zucchini you enjoy from our farm likely started with a bee doing its job—quietly and efficiently—in the background.

So next time you shop with us, remember:
No bees = no tomatoes!

We’re proud to work with these incredible pollinators as part of a sustainable, natural growing system that respects the rhythms of nature while producing food you can feel good about. Checkout this video to see our bees in action at our tomato greenhouse!

Want to know more about what happens behind the scenes at Ruben’s Veggies?
Send us your questions and we might feature them in the next "Ask a Farmer!"

Further information:

 🦋Butterflies under electron microscopes 

🌻Sustainable Floriculture

Common Customer Questions

Why do you stagger store openings?

We totally get it—it can be a little frustrating to see produce available in another city before it reaches yours! The reason comes down to how we grow and deliver.

Since almost all produce we sell is grown by us, we rely on our plants being in full production before we can stock every store. To make this work smoothly, we stagger our store openings, starting with locations closest to the farm, where delivery is easiest and the produce gets to you at peak freshness.

Ruben's Spuds:
Kid's Sections
🥔

🐝 Q: What do you call a bee that can’t make up its mind?
A: A maybee! 😄

Want to let us know how you liked this month's issue?

You can send us your feedback by email (i[email protected]) or TEXT ((403) 977-7574).
We'd be happy to hear from you!

See you next month! 👋

Author: CHLOE VEURINK(Co-Owner with family of Ruben's Veggies and Greenhouse Grower), BSc in Biology

Digital Creator: KATRINA CARSON