The Merry Month of May!

Hello Market Friends,
Often we complain in Toronto that spring jumps to hot summer overnight, but this year spring is emerging quite gradually, giving us the chance to savour each bit of advancing green and warmth. I hope you are finding time to get out and enjoy this wonderful time of year. To quote Margaret Atwood, ‘In spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.’

At the market we are in transition, with more vendors ready to return or begin each week. We will be largely indoors this time, but spilling out, with tents along the pavement on the west and south sides of the building.

Andrew McIlmoyle from Waymac has a great crop of oyster mushrooms to bring in. Oh so good! I just came across this recipe for Tsukemono (quick pickled mushrooms) which I really want to try. (Can anybody tell me where to get the spice powder?)

half a pound of oyster mushrooms
a teaspoon of sea salt
150 ml tamari
25 ml rice wine vinegar
70 ml mirin (Japanese cooking wine)
50g fresh ginger,cut into matchsticks
a pinch of Sichimi togarashi(Japanese spice powder)

Put the mushrooms in a bowl and gently rub the salt into them. Cover with a plate, weigh it down, and leave for a few hours to release liquid. Rinse in cold water and squeeze to dry. Mix the rest of the ingredients in a 500ml jar, add the mushrooms and marinate overnight. (Use promptly, they don’t keep a long time.)

Island Oysters is coming again with wickedly delicious fresh-shucked Canadian oysters!

Huber’s Wildwood Farm plans to come weekly now, with a wide assortment of pastured, organically raised pork, including bacon, ham, chops, roasts, and leaf lard.

Heidrun‘s Dufferin Park Bakers List for May 2nd:

Sourdoughs: caraway-multigrain, potato-rosemary, olive-onion
Artisans: baguette, multigrain, pumpkin-sesame-seed, kamut
Italians: rosemary, multigrain, whole wheat, raisin,
and Rice-flour bread

Urban Harvest is bringing a wide range of seeds, as well as lovely hardy herb and flower seedlings–more each week! (see the photo up top).

There will be a large display at this week’s market about the proposed renovations to the northwest corner of the park, including the rinkhouse and skating rinks. This is a good chance to learn about the project, ask questions and give your feedback.

See you at the market!
Anne Freeman

This Week’s Vendors:

Ali Harris (rotis, fish sandwiches, fritters, drinks, pesto)
Bees Universe (honey, eggs, knife sharpening)
ChocoSol (chocolate and coffee)
Country Meadows (olives, oil, cheeses, eggs)
DeFloured (sweet and savoury gluten-free baking)
Dufferin Park Bakers (wood-fired oven breads, soups & snacks)
Forbes Wild Foods (mushrooms, nuts, syrup and more)
Green Florin (nuts, oils and dried fruits)
Huber’s Wildwood Farm (organic pork)
Island Oysters (fresh-shucked Canadian oysters)
Kind Organics (sprouts and salad mixes)
Marvellous Edibles (organic produce, preserves, poultry)
Monforte Dairy (local cheeses from a variety of milks)
Plan B (local and imported organic produce, ferments)
Spade & Spoon (jams, pickles, maple syrup)
Thor Farms (transitional beef)
Urban Harvest (seeds and soil amendments)
Waymac (oyster mushrooms)