Dear market friends,

From market manager Anne Freeman:

"It seems that word has gotten round about the market, and along with emails piling up, the phone rings a lot these days....In the last couple of weeks, as well as calls from people with things to sell, we've had inquiries from a bus tour, a travelling radio show, a camera crew, a lifestyle magazine, and more. It's all interesting, but I'm still most excited about the news of carrots and raspberries coming in from the fields! Too good to miss!

Apart from all the wonderful food, there will be a table set up by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to provide information about the recent greenbelt legislation. Representatives are touring many farmers' markets this summer to discuss this subject, a hot one with some of our farmers."

The park bakers and cooks have to invent various ways to cool down the bread dough -- the heat makes it rise too fast, and bread baked that way gets stale faster. So the bakers are making a lot of use of Ute Zell's big "Stonehenge Farms" fridge, which Ute (thank goodness) stores in our zamboni garage between markets. The bakers put as many dough-rising buckets in there as will fit. Today they had to put some of the dough buckets into sinks of cold water because there was no more room in the fridges. The results worked out well, and the cold-water method reminded us of the dairy houses the early farmers used to build, overtop of cool springs, so there would be a stream of water to cool down the milk buckets.

The market snacks coming from the zamboni kitchen during the market will be mostly cooling gazpacho-type soups and cooling pasta salads with herb pesto.

From Jessie Sosnicki:

"Hot? Yup, but could be worse for us farmers; say 'cold and wet'! Though the temperatures make me miserable in the field, it's nice to hit the grading barn and hose off and wash the big bunches of carrots, beets, cucumbers, zuchinni and broccoli Ben will have available tomorrow. Early morn we'll pick bunching onions, parsley and basil as well as some big bunches of Snapdragons for the dinner table. Available to early shoppers will be some cherry tomatoes. Lettuce has bolted into 'cone heads', and the bugs love the romaine, but our batavian is holding on. Green beens will be ready for next week in abundance. I have to check the peas, we are in between croppings. Potatoes, slicing tomatoes & sweet corn are all growing nicely. Ben will be irrigating again tonight. **Carrot tops can be clipped by Ben and donated back to our farm for the horses. Our awesome Mexican workers are currently helping me train my young mare and are riding her bareback around the fields! She's doing wonderful!. The men just laughed like crazy when I called them all 'Zorro's!. She's a young spirited horse and I was too chicken to do the green saddle bit!! Great bunch of guys."

From Mark of Greenfields:

"Lots of fresh produce coming from Greenfields this week. Starting with the first of our Broccoli (looking very nice), we also have both Green and Purple Beans, Beautifull baby Zucchini and Green Cabbages are here. Beets are back this week, Red, Golden and Chioggia all looking very sexy. This week also brings our Red green Onions, very nice in a salad or even on the grill. Spinach fans will be happy to know we have more freshly picked spinach available. A handful of Ontario items will be making the trip and a nice selection of fresh fruit (Apples, Banana, Grapefruit, Oranges, Pears, Plums, Grapes and lemons) might help to stay cool."

From Deer Valley Farm:

"For customers who have been looking forward to trying fresh venison...Deer Valley Farm will have it available at the market this Thursday, July 14th"

From Mary Lou of Beretta's:

"JULY SPECIALS FROM BERETTA FARMS

• HAMBURGER PATTIES $5.59
• STIR FRY BEEF $7.89
• MINUTE/CUBED STEAK $7.99
• RUMP ROAST $6.99
• BEEF BBQ RIBS $3.99
• GRASS-ONLY EXTRA LEAN GROUND BEEF $ 5.50
• HAMBURGER PATTIES (frozen) 10LBS BOX $49.00
• new BONELESS TURKEY BREASTS $12.99
• new GROUND TURKEY $6.99"

See you at the market!

Market web page:www.dufferinpark.ca/market

Park phone number: 416 392-0913.