“ I ’ve seen my pickles used to add together a tangy or perfumed savor to a charcuterie gameboard , chopped up in a creamy pickpocket , chicken salad , Opuntia tuna salad , dill fix pizza or wind in bacon and grill , ” says Trey Gonzalez , who runs theFlat Brim Farmerpickling emporium in Austin , Texas .
Focusing on a range of kettle of fish , peppers and jams , Gonzalez ’s offerings mingle hot beloved habaneros next to amped up jalapeños , all fronted up by pop art - influenced promotion .
Running through creative ways to incorporate pickles into mealtimes , Gonzalez add , “ The brine bring in a nice marinade for volaille flank or to add some zip to a margarita , Mexican martini or my favourite , michelada . ”
Taking a minute out from pickling duties , we spoke to Gonzalez about his kin farming tooth root and the current roster of peppers . We also got the scoop on a little something he calls Mexican candy corns .
A Family Farming Journey
A post share by Flat Brim Farmer ™ ️ ( @theflatbrimfarmer )
Gonzalez ’s path to set up Flat Brim Farmer has thick family unit roots .
He recalls his mom ’s father being a sheriff who ran a local farm market on the side . After retirement , he cart garden truck from South Texas to wholesale marketplace in Houston .
When Gonzalez ’s own father retired , he pursued a dream of work on state he owned , ultimately focalize on hay and produce .
“ This is where the love of growing produce started for me , ” recalls Gonzalez . “ Fast forward 40 years . I ’m right back doing what both grandad did for a living , just on a little musical scale . ”
Preparing for Jalapeños
Similarly , the conclusion to make jalapeños a key part of Flat Brim Farmer come from Gonzalez ’s family roots . Both of Gonzalez ’s grandparents made salsas and his great - grandmother have a go at it to can .
“ As I grew Old and got more into growing my own produce , I opine I ’d do something that would combine both of my phratry ’s interest but not salsa , ” explains Gonzalez .
“ My own vegetable plants were produce so much , particularly cuke . I thought I would experiment with pickling spicy flavored cucumber and jalapeños . ”
Read more : determine out this TV to learn more about growing your own chili peppers .
The Flat Brim Collection
When it comes to Gonzalez ’s pet chili peppers , he holds up a list include jalapeños , serrano , habanero , tabasco and now and again Carolina reaper varieties .
“ I have outgrown my space to grow much of what we utilise , so we also locally beginning , ” he tot up . “ I ’m very particular about who we source from . We develop constituent , and we only corrupt from Fannie Farmer who exercise similar methods . ”
Embracing the Austin Heat
Farming in Austin means Gonzalez deals with two growing season for cucumber vine , plus decent summer and fall seasons for common pepper .
“ They like the heat , ” he says . “ The keys to keeping it successful for me in our geographical zone starts with lineament soil , an constitutional fertilizer broadcast and using companion planting methods . This will help draw in beneficial insects with minimal motive of insect powder and assist with pollenation and create a natural defense force . ”
Gonzalez also adds that with “ a dear organic fertilizer program you assist trim down plant stress from the warmth and serve reduce water consumption . ”
Read more : Bring the heat to your garden with these tops hot peppers !
Spotlight on Mexican Candy Corns
Gonzalez has playfully dub his orange habanero peppers as Mexican candy corns . It turns out , the name came about after a group of neighborhood kids rode by his garden on their wheel . They asked about the centre - popping flame orange crop .
“ I say jestingly , Mexican candy corns , ” he recall . “ It mystify . Still today the kidskin ask if I have any Mexican confect edible corn . Not to interest , I did n’t give them any . And I did educate them on the spicy pepper and its many uses . ”
