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Weekly Market Notes Library

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Weekly Market Notes for April 29, 2010

Hello Market Friends:

Much talk of the weather, and I'm watching the progress of the maple blossoms, as their fall is the 'official' sign that outdoor market season is upon us. Maybe one more week....It's confusing, though, while the first lilacs begin to show their purple outrageously early in Toronto, Bob Felhazi of Pine River Organic Farm tells me they're working in snowmobile suits at his place because the wind coming down from Georgian Bay is so cold. This means that his helper, Helga, won't be coming in with asparagus just yet. But then, from the sunny south, comes another message:

Sosnickis report: "Ben and I will be heading to the city with fresh, local, certified organic ASPARAGUS! Charles Welsh began cutting last week. His farm is 10 minutes from our own and we'll go there directly before market to pick up. Our own farm grown includes: overwintered SPINACH & bunches of LEEKS; some amazingly hot 'n spicy 'Ostergruss' long rose RADISHES (replacing the round, mild ones). These radishes make a killer addition to potato salad using our chieftain RED POTATOES (some whites as well). Some GREEN GARLIC we have from the greenhouses (I add this to the potato salad too!) and we'll also check a patch of 'volunteer garlic' that popped up back in the old garlic patch by the fence row. Also COMPOST & PLANTS (email jb@sosnickiorganics with quantities on the compost please!) and I spent yesterday at the hall doing one last big batch of PEROGIES available for one more month or so! SAUERKRAUT too will be available. Ben and I were able to get a bevy of crops in before the rain came over the weekend. Heads of lettuce sizing up nicely in the greenhouses too. What a spring!!" Jessie & Ben.

We'll also have some asparagus from Greenfields in (semi-tropical) Campbellville:

"Planting broccoli, chard, kale, Japanese turnips, cabbage, collards, kohlrabi, lettuce and lots more in the fields this week. The hardest part being getting a protective row cover over the plants with the wind being quite strong today. Most importantly we are harvesting Kale, Radicchio, Dandelion (chicory) and the first of the Asparagus. Freshly dug sunchokes will come to an end soon, anyone who can't do without them should stock up now. Also from Ontario: English Cucumbers, Rainbow Carrots, Green Onions, Bok Choy, Watercress, Apples!, Shiitake Mushrooms and of course our own Beets. Looking forward to seeing everyone at Dufferin soon. Adrian, Ryan and Momichi will be at market this time with myself left behind on the tractor for one more week." Lorenz

Colette of Urban Harvest writes: "We will be bringing more plants this week, so here's hoping the weather warms up again. We will continue to bring seeds too. Everything is growing very well in our new greenhouse and it is filling up rapidly with all the lovely babies."

A quick note from Linda of Country Meadows:

"Looks like this cool weather is about to give way to more seasonable temperatures, the temperatures that make us all want to get into the garden. Angelos will have a nice selection of plants again. This is a short update because I have turkeys hatching today so I gotta go and see what is happening at the turkey house."

With wild leeks from Forbes, lovely greens from Kind Organics, and a great selection of meats, cheeses, breads and other good things, I can't help feeling sorry for folks who have to wait for their markets to start up again in May or June. We've got the spot for happy spring eating.

See you at the market!

Anne Freeman

p.s. Don't forget Jane Jacobs Walk May 1 at Dufferin Grove, 11-1 and 4-6, with lots to see (and eat!). It will be a great chance to chat with some senior Parks and Recreation staff, who plan to come by. More details here on the website.

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