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Weekly Market Notes Library

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Weekly Market Notes for August 23, 2013

Hello Market Friends:

Not only are the tables piled high these days, but our selection includes a lot of unusual items. Kevin Hamilton is just one example of a grower who loves trying varieties you'd rarely find elsewhere. One of my favourite market mental images: watching him casually holding up a gigantic, red, heirloom iceberg lettuce that weighed over 5 pounds and gave the lie to the old "don't eat anything larger than your head" warning. It was like a magnet; people had to get over to his table and find out what that thing was.

Head to Shared Harvest for outstanding choices, including cipollini onions so tasty that I can't print my husband's remarks about them, delicate long and loopy summer squash, lemongrass, multiple kinds of basil and many other herbs both fresh and dried. Kevin and Sandra come to market with their 'helper', one year old Grover, a busy guy who can be found sorting the cherry tomatoes, testing market raspberries, and charming all of us. Sandra tells me he doesn't know what a stroller is. The farm they're part of has a great website where you can learn about their educational programs and see pictures that make you want to get right out there: http://www.sharedharvestdunnville.com

While you're cooking up your lovely market veggies, get the most out of them by collecting items to make stock. Peels and trimmings from scrubbed vegetables, herb and mushroom stems, celery leaves and corn cobs (no kidding, they are terrific) can go into a bag in the fridge or freezer until you've got a big potful to simmer gently into broth for soups or sauces. Planning a spicy soup? When I was getting ready to grill a few of Sosnickis' hot yellow peppers stuffed with cheese (oh yum!), I added the seeds and membranes to my stockpot, and the resulting broth had a nice little kick to it.

Sosnickis' contribution: "Busy harvest time on the farm! All the weeding and care is paying off and the fields are full! We'll have lots of Sweet Corn, Cantaloupes, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Sweet Onions, Summer Cabbages, Lots of Cherry Tomatoes, baskets of Romas, Basil, Potatoes, Kale, Swiss Chard, Green and Hot Peppers too!! Doesn't get much better than this folks! Enjoy the harvest. Oh - if you need bulk Romas for sauce you can order for next week and the weeks after. The crop is slow due to the stretch of cool nights. All info here to order:

 http://sosnickiorganicproduce.blogspot.ca/2013/08/time-to-order-organic-roma-sauce.html?m=0

Keele and Nick at Beretta Organic Farms have lots of specials:

• Organic Rib Eye and Striploin steaks – buy 3 get one free
• Grass Fed Stir Fry beef reg 13.40/lb sale 5.60/lb
• Grass Fed Stewing Beef reg 13.40 /lb sale 5.90/lb
• Organic Tenderloin steak reg 37.10/lb sale 24.04/lb

"This week Brixton Grill is using a tonne of delicious local produce! One of our specials will be a Shredded Black Pepper Seitan sandwich, which comes loaded with organic Ontario apple sauce and sage and onion stuffing! We'll also be bringing back last week's popular Tofu Marinara sandwich and we will have another salad with beets, cauliflower, broccoli and tomatoes/cucumbers from our own garden at Garrison Creek." Jacob Saphra

From Niagara Lavender Farm: "We will have Peaches, Raspberries and Blackberries. The blackberries are beautiful this year, full of flavour and a great colour. Also we have the last of the elderberries that the birds missed...ha ha." Debbie Wiecha

With a great selection from Feast of Fields as well, fruit is abundant at the market right now, so be sure to plan for future happiness by freezing or canning some of the harvest. It's a short, sweet season....

See you at the market!

Anne Freeman

P.S. In the park this week:

"Just wanted to invite everyone to join us Scottish Country Dancers Thurs Aug 22 around 6:30, near the field house, for summer dancing. No partner needed, just a willingness to have fun and try something new! We will be dancing in sets of 8 to reels, jigs and maybe even a Strathspey. Audience participation is the order of the day, so do your marketing at the Farmers' Market and then treat yourself to the joy of the dance! All ages welcome. Hope to see you there", Liz Martin, Havelock St.

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