Monday, September 30, 2013

Market Preview Wednesday, October 3


This week brings our last Wednesday market and there will be NO market on Saturday due to IUP homecoming festivities.  The Farmers' Market will return the following Saturdays, October 12, 19, and 26, with the 26 being the last day for the market this season.  You will notice during the month of October we will have limited vendors.  Be sure to come to the market these last couple of Saturdays to grab all the freshest produce around before our season comes to a close.  We appreciate all your continuous support!  
The list you see below will remain basically the same throughout this month, so this will probably be one of my last blog updates.  If you have suggestions for our farmers' market please send me an email (indianafarmmarket@gmail.com) or leave me a message on our facebook page. We love to hear from our customers with ideas on how to improve the market experience. We meet in the late fall to discuss how our market year went and how it can be improved for next year, so let me know what you think!

3 Ponds Farm:  beets, herbs, onions, yellow and green zucchini, garlic, white potatoes, butternut squash, new harvest of mixed lettuce
Country Bread Barn:  bread, rolls, cinnamon rolls, canned goods (Saturday only)
Flinn's Treasure Tree Nursery:  will be back sporadically in October with fall greens like lettuce and mustard greens
Home Made Ice Cream Express:  vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, butter pecan, peanut butter swirl, maple walnut (this is their last Wednesday)
Kettle Corn:  original kettle corn, caramel, or chocolate (Saturday only)
Mountain View Acres: broccoli, kohlrabi, potatoes, raw milk cheese, jellies/jams, red and green cabbage, onions, sweet banana peppers, hungarian wax peppers, pork, chicken turkey, eggs, goat's milk soap, eggplant, butternut squash, red and yellow watermelon, sweet potatoes
Natalie's Goodies:  pastries, cookies, cinnamon rolls, jellies/jams
Rebecca & John Spade:  organically grown potatoes (Kenebac, Norland Red, Yukon Gold), garlic, banana peppers, brown eggs (Saturday only)
Sleepy Hollow Orchard:  apples
Yarnicks:  they may be coming sporadically to the market due to their pumpkin festival during the month of October

A re-cap in pictures of our 2013 Indiana County Farmers' Market, thank you!

Springtime Flowers from
3 Ponds Farm
Live Music

Plant Sale Fundraiser
Artists




Desserts!
Jewelry







Customer Appreciation Day

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Market preview 9/25 & 9/28


Thank you loyal customers who braved the ominous looking weather and made it to the market, and thank you Weather for holding off the cold and windy rain that hit us after 11, what luck! If you missed it, our Customer Appreciation Day was a huge success!  Customers seemed to really enjoy the tomato taste testing tent, it seemed like the yellow tomatoes were the biggest hit! (Thanks Mountain View Acres for those yummy yellow heirlooms!)  Children migrated to the YMCA's children tent and enjoyed all the various activities planned just for them!  The local band Coastal Remedy set a nice, casual tone with their acoustic performance, and we gave away over 100 reusable Indiana County Farmers' Market tote bags!  A local woman won the basket giveaway, which ended up being more than just a basket of goods thanks to the two bags full of apples from Sleepy Hollow Orchard, and the beautiful pine tree donated by Chuck Flinn.  This event was a great way to wind down our summer at the market, but don't forget we will have one more week (this Wednesday and Saturday) with our normal vendors, before October arrives and we start having limited vendors at the market.

This week we will have a salsa sampling fundraiser for the Indiana Community Garden.  Garden produce is going to be given to the Cozy Corner Cafe who will make up a couple different varieties of salsas which will be available for sampling. As well as sampling, you'll be able to grab a recipe card of your favorite salsa!!!  Jason Gamble and his band will be performing live Saturday morning as our last live musician of the season.
*Don't forget, Wednesday, October 2 is our last Wednesday market.
My helper eating the leftover tomatoes
*There will be NO market on Saturday, October 5 due to IUP homecoming.
*The rest of the Saturdays in October there will be market but with limited vendors.
Below you will find all your market needs thanks to our lovely vendors...

3 Ponds Farm:  beets, mint, herbs, onions, yellow and green zucchini, tomatoes, pickle, garlic, white potatoes, summer squash, butternut squash, new harvest of mixed lettuce
Country Bread Barn:  bread, rolls, cinnamon rolls, canned goods (Saturday only)
Eight Maples Farm:  potted plants, red potatoes, peppers, watermelon and cantaloupe, honeydew, lambkins (typically Saturday only)
Flinn's Treasure Tree Nursery:  will be back sporadically in October with fall greens like lettuce and mustard greens
Home Made Ice Cream Express:  vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, butter pecan, peanut butter swirl, maple walnut (Wednesday only)
Kettle Corn:  original kettle corn, caramel, or chocolate (Saturday only)
Mountain View Acres: carrots, broccoli, kohlrabi, potatoes, raw milk cheese, jellies/jams, tomatoes, red and green cabbage, onions, squash, zucchini, sweet banana peppers, hungarian wax peppers, pork, chicken turkey, eggs, goat's milk soap, eggplant, butternut squash, red and yellow watermelon, sweet potatoes
Natalie's Goodies:  pastries, cookies, cinnamon rolls, jellies/jams
Rebecca & John Spade:  organically grown potatoes (Kenebac, Norland Red, Yukon Gold), garlic, banana peppers, brown eggs (Saturday only)
Sleepy Hollow Orchard:  apples
Yarnicks:  tomatoes, peppers, beets, kohlrabi, eggplant, cabbage, carrots, zucchini, kale, lettuce, green onions, herbs, beans, broccoli, candy onions, fresh garlic, sweet corn, cauliflower, cantaloupe, fresh cut flowers, okra, fall squash (after this week they will be coming sporadically to the market due to their pumpkin festival during the month of October)

*If you'd like to be added to our e-newsletter, please send an email to indianafarmmarket@gmail.com. You can also "Like" our page on Facebook, 'Indiana County Farmer's Market'

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup--A savory fall dish perfect for this cool weather!  Market ingredients you'll need:  butternut squash, apples, onions

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Market Preview September 18 & 21--Customer Appreciation Day!!!



It's finally here, our annual Customer Appreciation Day is this Saturday, September 21 from 9-noon!! We will have live music from the local band Coastal Remedy, sure to be a crowd pleaser! The YMCA will have a tent full of children's activities and the Home Made Ice Cream truck will make a special appearance for Saturday's festivities.  There will be a tomato taste testing station where you'll be able to sample some of the finest, freshest, and most interesting tomatoes around from our vendors 3 Ponds Farm, Mountain View Acres, & Yarnicks.  At that tomato booth you'll also be able to grab some special "I Support My Farmers' Market" gear.  We will also be giving away hot-off-the-press Indiana County Farmers' Market reusable totes (until they run out)!  Be sure to sign-up for your chance to win a basket full of goodies from all of our market vendors while you're at the market Saturday. We will call the winning name around 11 AM!  All of those special activities are an added addition to our normal Saturday market vendors.  Be sure to bring the whole family and a group of friends to the market to enjoy a day for YOU our loyal customers!!!!!!
And mark your calendar for next week's market when Indiana Community Garden will be pairing with Cozy Corner Cafe for a surprise salsa fundraiser!
*Note, October 2 is our LAST Wednesday market, and there will be NO market on Saturday, October 5 due to the homecoming parade.  Saturday markets will continue the following weeks (October 12, 19, 26) with limited vendors.  Thank you for your continual support, and see you at our Customer Appreciation Day! (You'll find me chopping tomatoes for our taste testing, stop and say hello!)*

3 Ponds Farm:  beets, mint, herbs, rhubarb, onions, beans, yellow and green zucchini, tomatoes, pickle, garlic, white potatoes *new this week* summer squash, butternut squash, new harvest of mixed lettuce
Brianne's Apple Dumplings & More:  pastry pockets, fruit filled rolls, piekins, gobs, cookies (Saturday only)
Country Bread Barn:  bread, rolls, cinnamon rolls, canned goods (Saturday only)
Eight Maples Farm:  potted plants, red potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, watermelon and cantaloupe, honeydew, lambkins (will be absent this Saturday)
Flinn's Treasure Tree Nursery:  broccoli, cauliflower, cilantro, kale, beets, turnips, italian flat beans, green beans, eggplant, tomatoes, bartlett pears, *new this week* brussel sprouts 
Home Made Ice Cream Express:  vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, butter pecan, pumpkin, sugar cookie (Wednesday and Saturday this week)
Kettle Corn:  original kettle corn, caramel, or chocolate (will be absent this week)
Laney's Produce:  tomatoes, peppers, green beans, corn, zucchini, cucumbers, cantaloupe, sweet banana peppers, green peppers, onions, green onions (Saturday only)
Mountain View Acres: carrots, broccoli, kohlrabi, potatoes, raw milk cheese, jellies/jams, tomatoes, red and green cabbage, onions, squash, zucchini, sweet banana peppers, hungarian wax peppers, pork, chicken turkey, eggs, goat's milk soap, *new this week* eggplant, butternut squash, red and yellow watermelon, sweet potatoes
Natalie's Goodies:  pastries, cookies, cinnamon rolls, jellies/jams
Rebecca & John Spade:  organically grown potatoes (Kenebac, Norland Red, Yukon Gold), garlic, banana peppers, brown eggs (Saturday only)
Sleepy Hollow Orchard:  apples, peaches, plums
Stoke Hole Pottery:  Pottery (temporary hiatus)
Triple B Farms: tomatoes, white & red potatoes, beets, cucumbers, pickles, green beans, squash, zucchini, red cayenne peppers, cantaloupe & watermelon (Will be coming sporadically due to Fair commitments)
Yarnicks:  tomatoes, peppers, beets, kohlrabi, eggplant, cabbage, carrots, zucchini, kale, lettuce, green onions, herbs, beans, broccoli, candy onions, fresh garlic, sweet corn, cauliflower, cantaloupe, fresh cut flowers *new this week* okra, fall squash

Featured recipes:
Stuffed Acorn Squash--Perfect meal for a cool autumn day. Market goods you'll need are: acorn squash, onions, kale
Beet and Goat Cheese Crostini--A delicious appetizer I had the pleasure to enjoy at the Indiana Community Garden's "Dinner at the Garden" presented by Nap's Cucina Mia chefs.  Market goods you'll need are:  beets, arugula, bread
Okra and Tomatoes -- for those of you who picked up some okra from Yarnicks, I've never cooked with it before but found this yummy looking recipe that uses other market produce favorites!  Market goods you'll need are:  okra, tomatoes, jalapenos, onion, garlic

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Market Preview September 11 and 14

I've heard some wonderful things about the Northern Appalachian Folk Festival that took place last weekend, and hopefully the crowd they drew also migrated over to the farmers' market!  While I was away I had some time to catch up on some Mother Earth News reading.  Did you know that most food in the United States travels between 1500 to 2000 miles before being eaten? Supporting our local farmers' market is more important than ever!  I will be sharing the article "How to Find the Best Food" from Mother Earth News Magazine via the Indiana County Farmers' Market e-newsletter. If you want to sign-up to receive the newsletter please send us an email to indianafarmmarket@gmail.com.
This weekend we will have another visit from artisans Debbie and Karen, and live music by TBD. We should have live music every Saturday morning from now until the end of the season! There will also be voter registration in the community booth this Saturday. Don't forget, in just TWO weekends we will have our Customer Appreciation Day, September 21.  This will be a fun event for the whole family, with a special kids activity tent and taste testing table with a variety of tomatoes.  There will also be market goody giveaways and a market basket giveaway, come early and stay awhile!
*With the market season nearing its end I'd like to share an idea to help you over the winter months. Did you know that potatoes, garlic, onions, cabbage, and carrots are great storage crops. You can store them in a cool, dry place (basement) for months before you'll need to use them. I know of a couple vendors selling that produce, so buy in bulk now and enjoy all winter long!*

3 Ponds Farm:  beets, mint, herbs, rhubarb, onions, beans, yellow and green zucchini, tomatoes, pickle, garlic, white potatoes *new this week* summer squash, butternut squash, new harvest of mixed lettuce
Brianne's Apple Dumplings & More:  pastry pockets, fruit filled rolls, piekins, gobs, cookies (Saturday only)
Country Bread Barn:  bread, rolls, cinnamon rolls, canned goods (Saturday only)
Eight Maples Farm:  potted plants, red potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, watermelon and cantaloupe, honeydew, lambkins (typically Saturday only)
Flinn's Treasure Tree Nursery:  broccoli, cauliflower, cilantro, kale, beets, turnips, italian flat beans, green beans, eggplant, tomatoes, bartlett pears, *new this week* brussel sprouts (Saturday only this week)
Home Made Ice Cream Express:  vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, butter pecan, apple dumpling, cake batter (Wednesday only)
Kettle Corn:  original kettle corn, caramel, or chocolate
Laney's Produce:  tomatoes, peppers, green beans, corn, zucchini, cucumbers, cantaloupe, sweet banana peppers, green peppers, onions, green onions (Saturday only)
Mountain View Acres: carrots, broccoli, kohlrabi, potatoes, raw milk cheese, jellies/jams, tomatoes, red and green cabbage, onions, squash, zucchini, sweet banana peppers, hungarian wax peppers, pork, chicken turkey, eggs, goat's milk soap, *new this week* eggplant, butternut squash, red and yellow watermelon, sweet potatoes
Natalie's Goodies:  pastries, cookies, cinnamon rolls, jellies/jams
Rebecca & John Spade:  organically grown potatoes (Kenebac, Norland Red, Yukon Gold), garlic, banana peppers, brown eggs (Saturday only)
Sleepy Hollow Orchard:  apples, peaches (due to the weather we've had this summer the peaches are slow to come in, that is why Sleepy Hollow hasn't been at the market recently)
Stoke Hole Pottery:  Pottery (temporary hiatus)
Triple B Farms: tomatoes, white & red potatoes, beets, cucumbers, pickles, green beans, squash, zucchini, red cayenne peppers, cantaloupe & watermelon (Will be coming sporadically due to Fair commitments)
Yarnicks:  tomatoes, peppers, beets, kohlrabi, eggplant, cabbage, carrots, zucchini, kale, lettuce, green onions, herbs, beans, broccoli, candy onions, fresh garlic, sweet corn, cauliflower, cantaloupe, fresh cut flowers *new this week* okra, fall squash

Center for Community Growth Artisan:
Debbie and Karen selling homemade jewelry

Musician:
TBD
butternut   5 Favourite Butternut Squash Recipes
Recipes to take home and try:
Creamed Corn -- With corn still being in full swing and the weather getting a bit chillier, this recipe should be great to enjoy on those early fall days!  Ingredients you'll need from the market: Corn, white onion, basil, parsley
Recipes for Persevering Tomatoes -- These recipes are perfect to use up the extra tomatoes you have and then pop them out of the freezer on a cold winter day to enjoy local market produce all year long!
Butternut Squash Recipes -- Perfect for a fall day, try one of these delicious recipes with the next butternut squash you pick up! 

Monday, September 2, 2013

Market preview September 4 & 7

Last Saturday brought some smiling faces with the sight of Sleepy Hollow Orchard's truck full of peaches, and it also brought a farewell to Peterson's Produce who's last day at the market was Saturday (until next spring!).  This weekend there will be no artisan or musician at the market due to the Northern Appalachian Folk Festival, which starts Friday and continues at 10AM Saturday morning with arts, crafts, music, food, workshops, and more! This will be an event that you won't want to miss, so be sure to stop at the market on your way to the festival.
The beginning of September brings a lot of exciting events at the farmers' market. Next Saturday, the 14, The League of Women Voters will have a table for voter registration. On September 21 we will have our Customer Appreciation Day with live music, kids activities, tomato-taste testing (just found out the names of some of the varieties you will be sampling), and more! September 28 we will have Indiana Community Garden and The Cozy Corner Cafe with free salsa taste tests.  After this weekend, you can look forward to live music every Saturday until the end of the season, which is fast approaching!  Janet Huber of Three Ponds Farm shared a lovely article written in the recent Horse Trader under the section titled "The Way I See It: Bring Back Family Farms." It is a very interesting and relevant read, I will have a copy of it at the market if you're interested in reading it! Be sure to check out the story below that the Peterson's shared with me, especially if you're interested in raising chickens!


3 Ponds Farm:  beets, mint, herbs, lettuce, rhubarb, onions, yellow and green zucchini, tomatoes, pickle, garlic, white potatoes 
Brianne's Apple Dumplings & More:  pastry pockets, fruit filled rolls, piekins, gobs, cookies (Saturday only)
Country Bread Barn:  bread, rolls, cinammon rolls, canned goods (Saturday only)
Eight Maples Farm:  potted plants, green beans, yellow beans, red potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, watermelon and cantaloupe (typically Saturday only)
Flinn's Treasure Tree Nursery:  broccoli, cauliflower, cilantro, kale, beets, turnips, italian flat beans, green beans, eggplant, tomatoes, bartlett pears
Home Made Ice Cream Express:  vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, TBD (Wednesday only)
Kettle Corn:  original kettle corn, caramel, or chocolate (Absent this Saturday)
Laney's Produce:  tomatoes, peppers, green beans, corn, zucchini, cucumbers, cantaloupe, sweet banana peppers, green peppers, onions, green onions (Saturday only)
Mountain View Acres: blueberries, carrots, potatoes, pickles, raw milk cheese, jellies/jams, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, onions, squash, zucchini, beans, dill, sweet banana peppers, hungarian wax peppers, pork, chicken turkey, eggs, goat's milk soap
Natalie's Goodies:  pastries, cookies, cinnamon rolls, jellies/jams
Petersons Produce:  their last day at the market was last Saturday since Larry has returned to his classroom with the start of the new school year, we will surely miss them until the Spring!
Rebecca & John Spade:  organically grown potatoes (Kenebac, Norland Red, Yukon Gold), garlic, banana peppers, brown eggs (Saturday only)
Sleepy Hollow Orchard:  apples, peaches (due to the weather we've had this summer the peaches are slow to come in, that is why Sleepy Hollow hasn't been at the market recently)
Stoke Hole Pottery:  Pottery (temporary hiatus)
Triple B Farms: tomatoes, white & red potatoes, beets, cucumbers, pickles, green beans, squash, zucchini, red cayenne peppers, cantaloupe & watermelon (Will be coming sporadically due to Fair commitments)
Yarnicks:  tomatoes, peppers, radishes, 1/2 bushel beets, kohlrabi, eggplant, cabbage, carrots, zucchini, kale, lettuce, green onions, herbs, sugar snap peas, broccoli, strawberries, candy onions, fresh garlic, sweet corn, cantaloupe, fresh cut flowers

Recipes to take home and try:
Zucchini Crust Pizza (From farmers' market patron Donald Lancaster)
3 c. grated zucchini, 3 eggs, slightly beaten, 1/3 c flour. After zucchini is grated, lightly salt it and let sit for half an hour to drain water.  Preheat oven 375, mix eggs, flour, and zucchini. Using 2 cookie sheets lined with parchment paper, spread mixture over bottom of pan, spreading it thin. Bake until starts to brown, around 15 minutes.  Spread with toppings of choice (garlic, oregano, basil, tomatoes, cheese.)
Ingredients you'll need from the market:  zucchini, eggs, optional garlic, oregano, basil, tomatoes

I've been wanting to make applesauce from Sleepy Hollow Orchard's apples, and this recipe turned out delicious and simple!
Ingredients you'll need from the market:  apples

*Story from Peterson's Produce*
A couple of weekends ago at the market, a family with young children asked Larry Peterson if he'd like two chickens. Larry was confused and asked why. The family (whom had brought the chickens with them to the market) lived in the Borough and raised chickens; unfortunately, raising chickens in the borough is not allowed. The family had to get rid of their chickens. Their young children were very upset, but the chickens were able to find a nice new home with Larry Peterson.  He and his wife happily took the two birds and introduced them to their flock at home. I saw pictures of the new chickens just this week and they seem to be thriving.  I think that individuals who wish to raise chickens responsibly should be able to do so anywhere they live, including in the Borough. If you have sufficient space and knowledge on the ins and outs of chicken raising, it shouldn't be an issue.  I know of individuals who reside in the Borough and have been actively pursuing this issue with the Borough Council.