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Weekly Market Notes Library

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Weekly Market Notes for February 19, 2009

Hello Market Friends:

Just back from the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention in St. Catharines. (In case anyone is having a moment of confusion, I'm actually neither a fruit nor a vegetable, this is a big growers' event.) Farmers' Markets Ontario holds its AGM there, and between sessions I had the chance to take in the trade show. From the flashiness and number of related displays, there is obviously plenty of money to be made in the business of selling pesticides. Local is tremendously important, but don't think for a moment that "local is the new organic". We are very privileged to be fed by farmers who work to the highest standards, and I'm proud to say that we have customers who really care.

From the Sosnickis: We are spending lots of time sorting and trimming our storage cabbage, cleaning the barn and doing general farm maintenance. A look around clearly shows that Ben will be spending an ample amount of time up on the greenhouses 'fixing glass' once it warms up! Greenhouses are ready to go. We are mapping out our fields in anticipation for our planting schedule. This is all done within our Pro-Cert certification extension application and contract. I was looking back at the old paper work and farm maps and it is neat to see how our rotation is working. A clear benefit of how the organic certification process works well for us! We also fill out the 'Greenhouse Management' section of the application annually. We feel it extremely important for our greenhouses to be fully certified. I have worked and been inside of many, many greenhouses over the years and know how they can be tainted quickly with sprays, synthetic soils and fertilizers. More peace of mind for our customers that our plants and everything we grow will be certified organic, our own and local. I encourage our customers to ask questions and be aware. Ben will come tomorrow with storage crops and frozen foods. I will continue to send in farm news and stories until we are back full force with our farm's bounty for 2009! Jessie

A fantastic selection of produce to be found at Greenfields' table this week!! Local goodies available are: Red and Golden Beets, Rainbow, Purple and Orange Carrots,White Button Mushrooms, Potato (Yukon Gold), Rutabaga and Greenfields-grown Sunchokes and Celeriac. Nice greens this week: Red Chard, Collards, Black and Green Kale, Romaine, Red Leaf lettuce, Spring Mix, Spinach and Parsley. Also coming to market are Globe Artichokes, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Celery, Garlic, Ginger, Red Pepper, Butternut Squash, Tomato & Yams. The Fruit consists of Ambrosia & Pink Lady Apples, Avocado, Grapefruit, Kiwi, Lemons, Navel Oranges, Bosc Pear and Pommelos (tangy sour with a kick of sweetness, nice!!). See you there, Mark

From Beretta Farms: "I'll be bringing LIVER to the market, at the special price of $5.00/lb. Liver = vitamins and minerals, so let's eat some!" Lindsey

Some special things Forbes Wild Foods will be bringing:

Wild Blueberry Compote (250mL for $7.00): Blueberries are without a doubt Canada’s best known and most popular wild fruit. Our wild blueberries are hand-picked in the far north of Ontario and Quebec and are full of flavour. They are ideal on toast, with a good cheese, or right out of the jar.

Black Trumpet Mushrooms (50g on special for $12.00): It is always a treat to come across fresh black trumpet mushrooms, often growing in mid-summer amongst beech, oak and pine trees. They are like flowers reaching out of the ground. Black trumpet mushrooms have a robust smell and a complex, rich, meaty flavour, almost like a blend of mushrooms. They are particularly quick to reconstitute and use as if fresh. They are often used in venison stew or lamb shank meals that are slow simmered. They serve as an excellent meat substitute in casseroles and pasta dishes. They are also used by chocolate makers as a substitute, if you like, for truffles. Meghan

Last week several of the vendors I mentioned ended up facing difficulties getting to market, so I'll say no more, but hope for a full house of vendors--and customers, too!

See you at the market!

Anne

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