August 2024: Happy National Farmers Market Week!
News from the Farm 🥒 Signs of the Season 🫑 Recipe Share 🍅 Farm to Table Dinner
It’s National Farmers Market Week!
Across the country farms and farmers markets are celebrating National Farmers Market Week. This week, proclaimed by the USDA highlights the vital role farmers markets play in our nation’s food system. With fun events, programs, contests, activities, and more, the week helps to boost market attendance and visibility as well as showcase the value markets bring to their communities.
I don’t recall the exact first time I went to a farmers market, but I went with my grandfather to the City Market in Niagara Falls. I loved walking down the covered strand, seeing and smelling all the vegetables and fruit. I remember always getting peaches to eat and tomato plants for his city garden. I think he would be mildly surprised to see that I’m now growing food full time.
When I was in college, I participated in a study abroad course that brought me all over Italy. Almost 20 years later, I can still see the morning markets in Rome and Bologna. They were vibrant, with the fresh colorful vegetables and fruits on the vendor tables. It was loud and the din of hundreds of conversations between customer and farmer filled the air. And you could smell - the ripening fruits, the fresh baked breads, and the freshly caught fish that wafted down the street to my hotel room. The markets were so full of life - and fresh foods - and I wrote in my journal, wondering why this wasn’t a part of my every day life anymore in America. It was such a connected experience with food and people that was woven into their routine. Why did we settle for the disconnected experience at the grocery store?
This Saturday at the Lewiston Artisan Farmers Market many of the vendors, including Schul Farmstead, will have some specials going on to celebrate.
You can also stop by the market’s info booth for major discounts on market tee shirts and to grab a free bumper sticker! Check out the specials happening at this Saturday’s Lewiston Artisan Farmers Market, 9am-1pm in Academy Park. The market is in a new location this year, on the south side of the park, across from the car wash and Syros restaurant.
Signs of the Season
With it being National Farmers Market Week, I thought it was important to reshare my Farmers Market BINGO card. Part Bingo, part scavenger hunt, the aim is really to help you connect and think about your interactions with the food on your plate.
I’ll have a few of these cards at the market this weekend if you and your kiddos would like to play along.
Recipe Share - Summer Cassola
Every summer I make this hearty dish using the veggies and herbs that can be found in August - a Summer Cassola. It uses flexible and simple ingredients. It’s very simple to make. And tastes incredible with a hunk of fresh, artisan bread.
This recipe is flexible. Only have 1 pepper, that’s ok! Have 5 tomatoes and 2 zucchini - no problem!
Some veggies to consider including:
🌶 Peppers (hot or sweet, any shape or size)
🍆 Eggplant
🥬Fennel
🍅 Tomatoes (cherry, paste, slicing, whichever!)
🥒 Zucchini (or summer squash)
🧅 Onion (or shallots, scallions, leeks, etc)
🧄Garlic (or garlic scapes)
Herbs to consider including:
🌱Thyme
🌱 Basil (fresh to top after cooking)
🌱 Parsley
🌱Oregano
Chop your veggies, add your herbs, toss in a copious amount of olive oil and bake in the oven at 400F for 30-40 minutes in a roasting pan.
Eat on its own with bread, top pasta, or add to rice.
Farm to Table Dinner
Join us and our friends at the Lewiston Artisan Farmers Market for the 2nd annual farm to table dinner to benefit the market.
Last year there was a huge demand for more tickets, so Wandering Gypsy has graciously agreed to offer 2 dates this year — Tuesday, August 20 and Wednesday, August 21 at 6pm.
There are only a handful of tickets left for each date, so don’t dally! The event is less than 2 weeks away!
Your ticket gives you the chance to:
savor the peak flavors of local veggies, herbs, and fruits in a 5 course meal (not tapas, a meal)
relax with a locally brewed beer (thanks to Bob & Jen at Wandering Gypsy)
meet folks who enjoy good food and supporting farms as much as you do
learn about the non-food small businesses that make the Lewiston Artisan Farmers Market with a fun swag bag filled with local crafts and wares
