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Weekly Market Notes Library

< September 11-2014 | Notes Library | September 25-2014 >

Weekly Market Notes for September 18, 2014

Hello Market Friends:

Kevin Hamilton of Shared Harvest and I were exchanging emails about the labour-intensive edamame he's bringing to market, and how it's hard to price.

Kevin wrote, "I do like feedback too, especially negative feedback. To many people don't give feedback if it's not sunshine and rainbows!"

Hyper-courteous Canadians that many of us are, if we're not happy with something, we're more likely to go away quietly and just not buy it again than to have a chat about how it could be better. We count on 'regulars' (such as our newsletter readers) kind of like you'd trust your best pal to tell you if you had spinach stuck in your teeth. Please speak openly if you ever have concerns, and ask lots of questions, too. The market is a team effort, and we want thoroughly satisfied players on both sides of the tables.

By the way, if you haven't tried edamame before, Kevin will be bringing more this week. They're soybeans in the pod, and they are perfect for snacking on. Steam the pods briefly, sprinkle them with a little salt, and pop the tender beans out in your mouth.

Jessie Sosnicki writes: "This week was a celebration of a unique partnership between our farm and Chocosol. Michael and Mathieu came down to check out the certified organic, NO GMO Iroquois grain corn we are growing for their tortillas. A great opportunity to show them our farm, share a feast and watch our kids play together, mostly on Ladybug the horse! We were all able to connect with our Mexican guys (who are an integral part of why we have the good amount of produce we do!!!) who enjoyed learning about what Chocosol does here with crops they are very familiar with! And we were all spoiled with chocolate!

As work chugs along on the farm we can finally announce that weeding is over and mass harvest begins! Squirreling things away for winter! For market tomorrow lots of Sweet Corn, Heirloom Tomatoes, sweet onions, carrots, beets, chard, kale, cabbage, potatoes (chieftains and French Fingerlings), peppers too! Also, Ben will have some cases of Romas picked from our late patch for bulk buying. Enjoy the nice fall weather - we are!!" Jess, Ben & Sadie

If you're interested in the connection between organic farming and nutrition, Tamas Dombi of Kind Organics sent a link to an article about the compelling results of a long-term study. Want the mini summary? Life-rich organic soil is essential to produce foods high in nutrients. http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_30899.cfm

Damon Dewsbury of Culture City will be visiting again with Chick Pea Tempeh, Navy Bean Tempeh, Buckwheat Tempeh, Fermented Mustard and Fermented Indian Lemon Pickle. He's leading a mushroom foray for Slow Food Toronto this Sunday, and there are a few spaces left. Visit http://slowfood.to/ for more information.

Coming up at the market: Next week will be our last day using the summer path setup. Every year, at the start of October, we move onto the skating rink pad so we can use the hockey lights when sunset arrives before our 7:00 closing time. The rink setup has some very nice features, too, and bountiful markets will carry right on, but to celebrate the turning of the season, we've invited the wildly popular western swing band The Double Cuts back to play for us on September 25th. Be sure to mark that on your calendar!

See you at the market!

Anne Freeman

A note from the Canadian Organic Growers

Screening: Symphony of the Soil presented by COG Toronto

Saturday, September 20, 7 pm

Symphony of the Soil is a 104-minute documentary feature film directed by Deborah Koons Garcia, the producer and director of the highly acclaimed film, The Future of Food. The film explores the complexity and mystery of soil. Filmed on four continents and sharing the voices of some of the world’s most esteemed soil scientists, farmers and activists, the film portrays soil as a protagonist of our planetary story.

Location: Beit Zatoun, 612 Markham St. (at Bathurst subway),Toronto Cost: Free (donations welcome to help cover costs)

Vendors this week:

• Ali Harris (Fish Shak) (rotis and fritters, hemp pesto and seeds, beverages),
• Avalon Orchards (organic apples),
• Bees Universe (honey and bee products),
• Beretta Farms (organic and naturally raised meats),
• Best Baa (sheep's milk, cheeses, yogurt),
• Brixton Grill (vegan barbeque and ice cream treats),
• 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 (sweets and savouries from ON organic grains),
• Everdale Farm (organic vegetables),
• Feast of Fields (organic berries and tender fruits),
• Field Sparrow (pastured meats),
• Floralora Flowers (cutflowers),
• Forbes Wild Foods (dried mushrooms, nuts, syrup, preserves)
• Kind Organics (sprouts, kombucha, kefir, teas, chocolate),
• Knuckle Down Farm (organic vegetables),
• Pine River Organic Farm (organic vegetables),
• Plan B (organic produce),
• Shared Harvest (organic vegetables, ferments),
• Sosnicki Organics (organic vegetables)
• Spade & Spoon (jams, pickles, soups),
• Tapioca Gourmet (gluten-free tapioca pancakes with seasonal fillings),
• Ted Thorpe (veggies),
• Urban Harvest (seeds, body care, soil amendments),
• VQA Wines (rotating roster of organic wineries, Tawse this week),
• Waymac Farms (oyster and shiitake mushrooms),
• Ying Ying Soy (tofus and miso).

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