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Weekly Market Notes Library

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Weekly Market Notes for June 26, 2014

Hello Market Friends:

With the mix of rain, sun and heat we've had, I can't wait to see the size of Shared Harvest's lettuces. Last time, Kevin told me that the heirloom red iceberg variety they grow might weigh 3 to four pounds apiece by this week. I'm looking forward to breaking the 'don't eat anything larger than your head' rule with one of these beauties.

From Kim Dawn of Everdale: "Finally, the tastiest turnip there is! Thanks to some long-awaited rain, hakurei are bursting up out of our loamy Hillsburgh soil and we're bringing them to you, with love. You can roast them, mash them with your potatoes (best ever topping for your summer lamb shepherd's pie), or even pickle them if you're so inclined. But more likely than not, you'll munch them all totally raw before you have time for any of that. They're sweet, spicy, crunchy, delicate, and generally just rockin!! We'll also still have lots of green and purple kale, rainbow chard, and salad mix!! See you in the park."

Special news this week from Mike and Nick of Beretta Farms: “We will be doing a steak sandwich with Beretta Ribeye steak, sautéed mushrooms, caramelized onions, spicy mustard and horseradish mayo, served on Fred's Breads all natural bread with organic onions, mushrooms, house made horseradish mayo and mustard." Wow.

Sosnickis' contribution: We'll have more Strawberries, Sugar Snap Peas galore, Lettuces, the first trickle of BEETS and bunches of FIELD KALE, some Swiss Chard, Bok Choy and Perogies :)) And I did a quick blog if you want to see some field pics located at https:/sosnickiorganicproduce.blogspot.ca Jess, Ben & Sadie

Plan B will be absent, but they may send a few items in with Shared Harvest.

Knuckle Down Farm will bring garlic scapes.

Wildlife Gardening will be back with more beautiful native species plants.

Jens from Frogpond Farm will be under the VQA wine tent. If you fall in love with particular wines and want to buy larger quantities, we recommend getting in touch with the wineries ahead of time. They'll be happy to bring you as much as you'd like with a little advance notice. http://www.frogpondfarm.ca

In food news, I want to share information with you on several developments related to genetically modified organisms; so much is happening that it is hard to know where to begin. The state of Vermont is fundraising to defend itself because Monsanto is suing the government there for trying to pass a law requiring labelling of GMO foods. Kids at Dewson School have followed the Suzuki Foundation's urging to plant milkweed because huge swaths of GMO 'Roundup-Ready' (i.e. glyphosphate herbicide tolerant) corn and soy planted along migration routes have resulted in catastrophic losses to monarch populations. Now a key study which was suppressed after publication has been re-released, showing that both genetically modified corn and the pesticide residues it comes with could be causing serious health problems. You can read the press release about that here;

http://www.criigen.org/communique/88/display/Republication-of-Professor-Seralinis-study-Time-to-be-responsible

Health Canada has not required studies of the long-term safety of GMO foods, and does not want to conduct tests to see if we're all walking around with Roundup residues in our bodies, but a group of activists has taken that into their own hands. Jennifer White wrote to the market to let us know that volunteers can sign up to be tested and/or contribute to the cost. Their goal is to demonstrate that, contrary to what Monsanto says, glyphosphate does bioaccumulate. You can write to Jenny for more information at <canadajenny@hotmail.com> and/or watch this video to learn about the campaign:

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/nationwide-glyphosate-testing

Genetically modified ingredients are particularly common in processed foods because soy, canola and corn, 'the big three' GMO crops, are so widely used. In addition, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network tests of sweet corn samples in October 2013 found GM sweet corn in grocery stores, road-side stands and farmers' markets across Canada. You won't find it at Dufferin though; organic practices mean zero-tolerance for that. What's emerging in all these campaigns and studies makes it more important than ever to support the efforts of farmers who are growing organically.

See you at the market!

Anne Freeman

P.S. Don't forget: FOOD FIGHTERS is screening at the Bloor Cinema at 6:30 on Thursday night and it's a free event. "You'll see Toronto neighbourhoods in this film and learn about the big potential in tiny farms.”

Here are the vendors we expect:

• Akiwenzies Fish (fresh, frozen and smoked Georgian Bay fish),
• Ali Harris (rotis and fritters, hemp pesto and seeds),
• Bees Universe (honey and bee products),
• Beretta Farms (organic and naturally raised meats),
• Best Baa (cheeses, yogurt, sheep's milk, ice cream),
• Brixton Grill (vegan barbeque and ice cream sandwiches),
• Chocosol (coffee and chocolate, tortillas),
• Country Meadows (eggs, cheese, olives, oil),
• DeFloured (gluten-free baking),
• Dufferin Park Bakers (wood-fired oven breads, soups,and snacks),
• Earth and City (raw foods and smoothies),
• Evelyn's Crackers (crackers, granola & cookies made from organic ON grains),
• Everdale Organic Farm (organic vegetables),
• Field Sparrow Farm (pastured meats),
• Forbes Wild Foods (fresh and dried mushrooms, nuts, syrup, preserves),
• Kind Organics (sprouts, kombucha, kefir, teas, greens, chocolate),
• Knuckle Down Farm (vegetables),
• Pine River Organic Farm (organic vegetables)
• Shared Harvest (organic vegetables, herbs and ferments),
• Sosnickis' Organic Produce (organic vegetables and strawberries),
• Spade & Spoon (jams, pickles, soups, rhubarb, peonies),
• Tapioca Gourmet (gluten-free pancakes with savoury or sweet fillings),
• Ted Thorpe (represented by Ron) (vegetables),
• Urban Harvest (seeds, plants, body care, soil amendments),
• VQA Wineries (a rotating roster of local organic wineries, Frogpond Farms Winery this week),
• Wildlife Gardening (native species plants),
• Waymac Farms (shiitake and oyster mushrooms),
• Ying Ying Soy (tofus and miso).

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