Staying Ahead of Jack Frost

For October 15th, 2015. Don’t forget, we’re on the RINK!

Hello Market Friends:
We’re hearing reports from here and there of light frosts, but so far most of the farmers aren’t reporting heavy damage, so for us, the selection is superb. Long-range forecasts look chillier, though, and everyone on the farms is working hard to complete the big fall tasks, as interns and seasonal workers start to head home.

Grading potatoes at Sosnickis’ Organic Farm, just one of the many jobs in getting ready for market.

No visits from Jack at all yet at  Shared Harvest, so fresh from the field crops are still plentiful: ‘Dill, cilantro, lettuce heads, ground cherries, edamame, napa cabbage, daikon, cayenne, habanero and jalapeno peppers abound; also bringing celeriac, pac choi, arugula, hakurei turnips, yellow turnips, black radish and sweet peppers. Cross fingers for more mild weather and rain!’ Kevin

This week, I found myself with a wonderful abundance of Shared Harvest’s cilantro, so I turned some of it into this pesto. (Coriander-haters are gonna hate, but it was delicious!)

1 and a half cups cilantro, loosely packed (remove the largest stems first)
1 cup fresh carrot tops (wash well, pick out the nicest, and trim off the stems)
1 clove garlic
1/4 cup pecans or walnuts
1/4 cup olive oil
pinch of salt

Blend until smooth and use right away. If you have extra, pack it into small jars or ice cube trays and pour a little olive oil over the top, then freeze it for a blast of green-season flavour on pasta or sandwiches in the winter.

With his son getting married this weekend, and a major move of Ying Ying Soy Food‘s processing plant underway, it’s not surprising that Ming has to miss this market. We send best wishes!

The Akiwenzies will be absent as well. Choppy waves are keeping Andrew on land.

Those autumn breezes have been causing problems for Rafael of Tapioca Gourmet, too, so he’s changing up his menu for the next while. He’s making Harvest Soup, and serving that with Grilled Tomato and Kale Panini, very tasty on an October afternoon.

Jason of Island Oysters will be bringing fabulous fall oysters for the next few weeks, due to popular demand.

Hopefully your appetite has fully recovered from last weekend’s feasting, because there is too much else to list!

Tickets are still available from Ted Thorpe for the big Fall Harvest Celebration at his farm coming right up on Sunday October 18th. Don’t miss out! $10 in advance, $15 at the door, kids free.

P.S. Our friends and neighbours are celebrating:

It is 30 years since Toronto City Council voted to form FoodShare Toronto to address growing problems of food insecurity. Since then FoodShare has grown to be an important organization, helping thousands improve their access, knowledge and consumption of vegetables and fruits through community led projects.

FoodShare is planning 30 days of celebrations starting with October 22, 2015 and continuing untilNovember 19, 2015.The City will be proclaiming October 22, 2015 FoodShare Toronto Day, and  between 8:30 and 10:00 am on that day there will be a celebratory breakfast  and site tours at 90 Croatia. All are welcome!

See: www.foodshare.net/events/foodshare-toronto-day/ for more information.