Market News - July 1, 2008
FROM THE MARKET MANAGER
The commissioner of Agriculture was Very impressed with our market last week. He kept saying, “Look at this market and it’s a Tuesday afternoon.” He is visiting 14 of the over 100 markets in the commonwealth this summer. One of the reasons he is traveling throughout the state is to publicize the new agricultural license plate. (There are brochures on my table.) If they sell at least 1500 of them they will be made. A good chunk of the money will go toward agricultural purposes in the state.
We are working toward having a wireless transfer machine at our market so that we can take ebt, debit and credit cards here. It is a lengthy process that proceeds at a snail’s pace, but we are making progress. We will, of course, announce it when everything is in place. The market will absorb the costs of implementing the system, and we will charge a small fee for those of you who want to use your debit or credit cards to help defray the ongoing expenses.
Welcome to Nou and Song Yang our newest vendors. They grow leafy Asian vegetables. I remember when the Khmer Growers were at our market, if anyone asked how to prepare what they grew, they usually answered soup or stir-fry since that is the most common way that these vegetables are cooked. If you don’t have Asian cookbooks at home, go to the library and find one. There are lots of them available and you will learn how to use the vegetables that may be unfamiliar to you.
A few weeks ago, one of our new customers emailed me and told me that she had just had the best cup of coffee she’d ever had in her life because it was made with Blue Moon coffee and Trinity Farm half and half. I agree with her opinion.
Strawberry season ends soon, so don’t put off picking some.
Faye from Hickory Dell Farm is carrying Appalachian Naturals products while Shelly is busy having her baby (this week) and all that goes with that. A.N. has dips, marinades, and salad dressings that use many local ingredients. They make nice gifts.
You could put together a lovely gift basket with market items. Cheese, soap and/or lotion, honey, maple syrup, barbecue sauce and/or spices, plants, and olive oil and/or vinegar.
Hickory Dell Farm in Northampton, Outlook Farm in Westhampton, Trinity Farm in Enfield, and Red Fire Farm in Granby each have a store at their farm, so if you’re interested in driving there, either ask the vendor how to get there, or better yet, look them up on the internet.
If you didn’t get a copy of last week’s recipe for the quesadillas with caramelized onions and smoked gouda, here it is—EASY.
Flour tortillas
Onions, butter, smoked Gouda, prosciutto (optional), vinegar, brown sugar, salt and pepper.
Sauté onions gently in butter with a tiny bit of vinegar and add a little brown sugar until they are soft and brownish. Take one flour tortilla, put some shredded Gouda on half of it and add some onions and prosciutto if using. Fold over and place a little more butter in a frying pan and place the tortilla in the pan. Cook until it is spotted brown on one side and turn over and cook the same way on the second side. Don’t walk away from these, as they will burn quickly. Cut into triangles and serve warm.
GIFT CERTIFICATES
We have them at the market table. Why not pick up a few to keep on hand to give as a hostess gift when you’re invited to dinner at a friend’s. You choose the vendor you’d like your certificate for.
WHAT’S FRESH?
Cucumbers, summer squash, chard, lettuce, snow peas, sweet peas, broccoli, greenhouse tomatoes, cherries, beets, white turnips, radicchio, radishes, scallions, green garlic, strawberries, frisee, carrots, kale, collards, cherry tomatoes and probably more. Every week is different.
SHOP FOR A CAUSE
Macy’s has given us the opportunity to earn $500 for the market. How? By selling 100 shopping passes for $5 each. They do this all over the country. It is for a one-day shopping event on September 20th. The pass entitles the bearer to special savings on select merchandise throughout the store in addition to regular and sale merchandise specials. All day. We keep all of the money from the sale of the passes, so if you’d like one, come to the market table and buy one.
THIS ‘N’ THAT
Take down tag sale signs when the sale is over. Pick up litter. If you have a dehumidifier, use the water for your plants; it doesn’t have any chemicals in it.
TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY
The Jewish Community Center offers a bus trip to NYC most months of the year. July’s trip is scheduled for the 9th and they have plenty of openings, so if you want to go, stop in at the JCC (1160 dickinson St.) and sign up. I think it’s $40. It leaves at 6:45 AM and is home about 9:30. If they don’t have enough people, they’ll cancel.
COMMUNITY POLICE MEETING
The monthly Forest Park/East Forest Park meeting will be held this Wednesday, July 2nd, 7PM at the Jewish Community Center. It will also be held there in August. When you go into the JCC (either the front or back) ask at the desk where the meeting will be held.
HAVE A SAFE INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY!
