August Abundance

August Abundance

Our growers are bringing bunches, bags or baskets of pretty much everything that grows in this province, and our cooks are preparing sensational summer food. Sink your teeth into all the flavours of August, it’s delicious. Here’s a little news:

From Jenny at Knuckle Down Farm: “We have lots and lots of carrots this week, bunched and loose as well as more of those giant beet bunches. There will also be lots of arugula and some spicy salad mix; remember to bring your own bag and help us make bulk greens a market staple! The tomatoes are finally starting to ripen in the field so you may see the first of them coming to market too. Hurrah for August, or as I like to call it, Greek Salad Season!”

A note also came in from Debbie Wiecha of Niagara Lavender Farm: “We have a great load of tree ripened, sweet RedHaven peaches….A great taste of summer.”

IMG_20170805_134945Everdale will have a rainbow of produce, including but not limited to:
Roots: carrots, beets, onions, radishes, salad turnips
Herbs: basil, cilantro, lemon balm, dill, mint, parsley
Greens: chard, kale, lettuce, spinach, salad mix
Fruits of the Vine: summer squash, zucchini, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, green grapes
and fresh organic flowers too!

That’s Mercury the big dog showing off their very healthy looking bed of salsify and parsley root (coming soon!). Also coming right up: Everdale’s annual Carrot Fest! happening on Sunday, August 27th from 11am-4pm. This is a free event with u-pick carrots and beets, tractor and wagon rides, CarrotMan, animal visits, a farm tour, a tour of Home Alive, local organic farm lunch courtesy of neighbour Chef Pam Fanjoy, children’s games, face painting, scavenger hunt, crafts, giant carrot cake and more!

The Sosnicki Organic Produce contribution: “Well, not a tomato year for us this year. Late blight is taking a toll on all the field tomatoes due to the weather this year. We will be harvesting all we can in the weeks to come but definitely no bulk Roma tomatoes from us for sauce.  The Roma variety is holding it’s own the best but it’s just a matter of time. So enjoy the next few weeks with our tomatoes and then we’ll probably just have the heirlooms from the greenhouse if we’re lucky going into the fall. A lot of the crops we grow are risky, but we are Polish and Ukrainian – we will never stop our attempts at growing tomatoes or cucumbers!! Speaking of cucs we have a late planting of cucumbers that may indeed produce for September. We have a young crop of Zucchini starting now. Our Watermelons are doing pretty fine! Joe will bring on lots of melons tomorrow, Garlic, Carrots, Beets, Onions, Green Peppers, Eggplant, Jalapenos, Cabbage, Kale, Broccoli, Basil, Potatoes too!” Jess, Ben, Joe & Crew

Heritage garlic grower Lesley Brock is coming for a visit from Meaford, with 4 freshly harvested varieties: Persian Star, Music, Italian Red and Fish Lake.

Turns out Oatkey had to make a switch, so this is the week to try Jackie Nguyen‘s tasty oat and nut milks, featuring organic Ontario oats.

2017-08-03 22.20.45StoryTent volunteers will be welcoming young readers, Not Far from the Tree will be paying us a visit to share information about their urban fruit harvest program, and Nikki and the Boomerang Bags crew will be stitching up fun reusable bags to get people thinking about changing habits. This reminds me to remind you to bring along your Market Kit: shopping and produce bags, containers to return or fill, a cup and anything else you need. Please help us head toward a zero-waste market.

Back in April, when I got a note from Kira Knight asking if she could volunteer at the market this summer, I didn’t know just how lucky we were. All summer we’ve benefitted from Kira’s lovely, lively energy, and her willingness to take on tasks big or small without a heartbeat’s hesitation. Now it’s time for Kira to head west in preparation for her second year of university, and I wish we didn’t have to say goodbye. Thank you Kira! You will be missed.

Have a look at the vendor list below to help you plan Thursday dinner and the week’s menus. The Turnups are turning up again, so we’ll have lots of fun tunes to go with all the great food. 2017-06-14 10.10.04

See you at the market!
Anne Freeman

Vendors This Week:
Ali Harris: rotis, sandwiches, salads, cold drinks
All Sorts Acre: lamb, wool, sheep milk ice cream
Bees Universe: honey, eggs, bee products
Chocosol: chocolate, coffee, tamales, drinks
Country Meadows: cheese, eggs, olives, oil
Culture City: fermented foods, condiments
DeFloured: gluten free baking
Dufferin Park Bakers: wood-fired oven breads & pizzas, salads, snacks
Earth & City: pestos, smoothies, salads, wraps
Everdale: fresh organic produce
Forbes Wild Foods: blueberries, mushrooms & other wild foods
Fressy Bessie: organic ice pops
Kind Organics: sprouts, salad mixes, teas
Knuckle Down Farm: fresh organic veggies
Lesley Brock (visiting vendor): garlic
Marvellous Edibles: pastured poultry, meats, organic vegetables
Mnandi Pies (3rd week of each month): Zimbabwean style hand pies
Monforte Dairy: cheeses of many kinds
Niagara Lavender Farm: peaches!
Oatkey (visiting vendor): oat and nut milks
Pine River: fresh organic vegetables
Plan B: fresh organic produce
Shared Harvest: fresh organic vegetables, herbs
Sosnicki Organic Produce: fresh organic vegetables
Spade & Spoon: pickles, jams, maple syrup
Stas: french fries, grilled meats
Tapioca Toronto: Brazilian style crepes
Ted Thorpe: fresh produce
Urban Harvest: body care, seeds
Waymac: oyster & shiitake mushrooms