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Weekly Market Notes Library

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Weekly Market Notes for July 29, 2010

Hello Market Friends:

We're hoping for an absolutely full house this week, and it's BYOB (bib, that is); whether your preference is juicy peaches, delicious ice cream, plump tomatoes, sticky cinnamon buns, well-stuffed rotis and crepes---or all of the above---feel free to get messy! Here's the news:

Greenfields' report:

"Yesterday I was working late back in the fields to complete our fall seeding before the expected thunder storms. Getting thirstier by the minute and not wanting to take the "long" walk back down to the house I spotted a few ripe tomatoes at the other end of the field - juicy, sweet and vine ripened - the first tomatoes of the season are always a major treat and well worth the hard work involved in growing them. Now that I've got everyone thinking tomatoes I must add that we won't be bringing any to market for another week or so. But we hear that Ben and Jessie have lots. We are still harvesting plenty of beets and will have four different varieties for market. A new planting of green leaf Lettuce is ready this week, also just starting with sweet Spanish Onions and our Mediterranean red Tropea Onions, bunches of Kale and Chard, summer Cabbages, Parsley, still lots of Zucchini, bunched Carrots, wonderful Garlic and possibly some Basil and a few Eggplants. We usually don't harvest Celery before late September, but I have seen the field crew snack on it with great reviews. We will bringing a few cases of our very sweet tasting Celery this week, the earliest for that crop ever, what a growing season it has been so far! Looking forward to seeing everyone at market." Lorenz

And sure enough, Sosnickis' contribution is good news for tomato fanciers:

"Tomato city! Lots of the flavour packed 'covered field' heirlooms in all shapes and sizes, the first of the field tomatoes -particularly the sweet, sweet Cherry Tomatoes everyone loves!! The best cucumbers for salad and fresh eating along with pickling (do not look for an abundance, mildew is wreaking havoc on this crop.) Nice big bunches of Sweet Onions, Hot peppers making an appearance, week off for Green Beans while we wait for the fresh new patch to start; fresh dug Potatoes, herbs, still Kale too! Zucchinis & Peas are now 'disked chop suey' out in the field, but we do have fresh zuc plants for later on and the huge squash patch is doing excellent! Picked my first cob of corn - ready for next week!! August is looking incredible! Gotta run, along with harvest we are having our annual organic farm inspection today!" Jess & Ben

Some items of interest beyond the market:

While the government's response thus far is discouraging, the campaign being waged in Kingston to save the prison farms is an inspiring one. Activists of all ages (including my 80 year old Dad, who I'm proud to say just went through civil disobedience training in preparation for a blockade to prevent removal of livestock) have come together in a very positive way. They're not just speaking out about the plans for the prison, but also what they believe about their community, the connections in their local food system, the importance of farmland, and the values learned through farming. Many area farmers have joined in, and major auction houses have now declined to participate in selling the prison farm's dairy herd in a show of solidarity. To learn more or find out how to lend your voice to the campaign, visit:saveourprisonfarms.ca

DAIRY FARMER MARKS COURT APPEARANCE WITH NEW OPERETTA
Not many defendants mark their acquittal by staging a comic operetta. But Michael Schmidt, dairy farmer, food activist, and artistic director of Symphony in the Barn, is far from ordinary.
Adapted from a short comic operetta by Gilbert & Sullivan, Schmidt’s production of Milk Trial by Jury, opens 8pm Friday, July 30th at Symphony in the Barn, on a working farm in Durham, Ontario. This musical retelling of his legal battle with powerful lobby groups and provincial bureaucrats emerged from Schmidt’s January acquittal on charges relating to his dairy operation.
Milk Trial by Jury stars Donna Ellen Trifunovich, Resident Soloist at the Vienna State Opera. Also appearing: A Swell Chaos, high-energy neo-vaudeville starring Second City Alumni Jenny Parsons and Steve Morel.

Milk Trial runs Friday, July 30th to Sunday, August 1st with evening performances on Friday and Saturday and 2pm matinees on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets at the door for $35; $10 for children.
For more information or to reserve your seats, contact Symphony in the Barn at 519-369-6773 or visit www.symphonyinthebarn.com.
info@symphonyinthebarn.com
www.facebook.com/pages/Symphony-In-The-Barn/73186439831

Closer to home, don't forget Clay & Paper Theatre's Circus of Dark and Light, on at 7 pm in the park, with performances continuing through August 16th.

See you at the market!

Anne Freeman

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