Summertime is finally here, and more and more fruits and veggies are arriving at the Market . There’ll be something for everyone this week…and a glorious day to boot!
We’ll have plenty of Raspberries, Blackberries, Blueberries and a few early Sylvans…Marions next week. Leone’s Farm will have pie Cherries, Gooseberries and the elusive Red Currants, check out what you can do with them here http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/top-10-ways-to-enjoy-red-currants They are full of Vit. C..and like Blueberries pack a huge nutritional punch. Cherries will be in abundance! Along with Apricots and Peaches, Maryhill Orchards are sending Bings, Rainiers and Lapins…3 varieties to choose from! Profarm will have the first of a NEW variety called ” Berry”….. these cherries LOOK like a Rainier but TASTE like a strawberry…gotta try one!
We’ll have all the greens, zucchini, cukes, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, beans, beets, carrots, radishes, onions, including walla walla sweets. Peppers are making their way into the Market, Green Acres will have a few as will Rick Steffens Farm, including the first white, green and purple and the sort-after Padrons…these are the small green peppers that you toss in olive oil and throw on the grill….then salt and eat whole, one in 10 knocks your socks off, but delicious!
Leones Farm have the first hot-house Sun-Gold tomatoes, Rick Steffens Farm will have baskets of mixed tomatoes , so will Green Acres Farm. Get to market early if tomatoes are what you want , they are still in short supply until we get further on into summer. Family Table Farm will have the Mexican grey squash again this week, Larry assures us it is the best tasting of the summer squash!
As BBQ time has arrived, don’t forget we have delicious local pastured meats form 2 farms at the Market. The difference between ‘ordinary’ super-market meat and local farm meat is huge, you get a much tastier cut ( and more nutritious) when the animal has lead a healthy, happy life …down on the real farm..and not in a meat factory. Stop by the Info. Booth and glance at the big CAFO book , the definitive book on Confined Animal Feeding Operations…..the “farms” that most of supermarket meat come from! Hansen Family Farm and Sweet Home Farms both have excellent pastured meats. Hansens have pork , chicken and beef and Sweet Home have pork, beef, chicken and goat. This week Sweet Home are featuring their pork cuts for the BBQ, including loin roasts, shoulder and leg steaks and cured ham steaks. They will also have 5lb bags of chicken giblets.
Wild Oregon will have fresh ocean fish for the BBQ …including the first landing of Albacore TUNA this season! Plus Chinook Salmon, Razor Clams ( the last until October) and the delicious Marinated Anchovies (SO good with salad with crusty bread) and Crab Spread.
Alsea Acre knows the truth of that old saying “Make hay while the sun shines”. After a long, cool, wet spring, haying has begun in the Alsea Valley. Cheesemaker and marketeer, Nancy, will stay on the farm this weekend to supervise 25 tons of freshly baled hay being loaded into the hay lofts but the cheese will still be available at the market this week, Nancy’s smiling daughter, Angela, will have all your favorites, Feta, Chevre and Party In A Jar. And when you attend another market and find cheese, ask them, “Do you actually raise the goats? Do you bale hay? Do you bottle feed babies?” That’s the difference between FARMSTEAD CHEESE like Alsea Acre’s and artisan cheese like all the rest! Try some of Nancy’s soft Chevre with Diana’s Delight’s Jalepeno Jam this Saturday at the Market!
Back this season for the first time is Pam’s Pickled Products…Sweetly Pickled Asparagus, and Old Fashioned Zucchini Relish–complete with samples. Spicy Bloody Mary Beans and Snack & Salad Beans will be available in about two weeks! Market Pasta is back after a 2 week break, with their wonderful artisan pasta in many flavors including gluten-free…..so stock up! Back too this week is Gram’s Caramels who will offer tastings of their special flavor of the week, Chocolate Mint Caramel. This is new flavor mix and is amazing in its texture and flavor. Another great one to add to that iced coffee! Several other flavors are available as well as the Jarbucks varieties in Black Hawaiian Salted, Original and Licorice.
Victoria’s Lavender will have bunches of fresh ”Hidcote” this Saturday….one of the English Angustifoliasa , beautiful deep blue/purple. It is one of THE best for making nice dried bouquets . It’s a short window of time so pick some up this weekend or next. Mt. Meadow Honey are out for the season, but if you need honey ….Victoria’s Lavander has organic, lavender-infused honey.
Which brings us to baked goods….La Provence (Lake Oswego) will have crusty breads (including rosemary and garlic, and blue cheese and mushroom) and pastries, Big Foot Bread will have local (Oregon City) breads…and Terrapin Bakery (PDX) have gluten-free pastries , breads and delicious tarts, both savory and sweet!
For the Garden…the Master Gardeners will have a workshop on Fruit-Tree Pruning this week between 10am and 10.30am…and will be demonstrating pruning techniques too. Three Brothers Nursery will have a special, gallon Dahlias and Cork Screw Rushes for only $5 each! Sir Sharp-A-Lot wants to remind you bring your garden tools and kitchen knives to be sharpened…and Sunset Woodworking have bird feeders and bird houses, cedar planter boxes and of course their easy to assemble garden beds (fall gardening is a great way to still get fresh salads, greens and winter root veggies…did you know that veggie seeds planted in July can give you a harvest in October and on into the winter!) swing by their booth and they can tell you all about it. Also, they are still taking custom orders for chicken coops. Karla’s Green Glass is bringing 6 new silverware wind chimes, to this Saturdays market. These are made with recycled, vintage silverware, & glass…one even has vintage cookie cutters! They are all decorated with glass, crystal beads, and sound lovely in the summer breeze……:) The Underground Worm is back this week, the worm castings and juice work wonders in the garden and in pots too, and He Sells These Shells has landscaping shells to spruce up your beds and for a natural slug control.
Delicious hot food from the Tamale House and Savory et Sweet’s crepes…using fresh market produce and fruit ! King’s Raven will have wine by the glass as well as bottles of the local Oregon City wines. The Fresh Start Cart will have fresh fruit smoothies and coffee…and perfect for a warm day, Our Little Sweet Cart will have ORGANIC ice cream, yum!!
This weeks POP Club Fun will be provided by the International Leadership Academy (French Immersion School)…check out their web site at www.ilapdx.org. The kids will be matching the foods of the world!
Live music by Nick Petersen… everything from Bob Dylan to Van Morrison, Lyle Lovettt and Ry Cooder….quite a one-man show!
