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The belief that the winter months are a time of culinary asceticism has certainly been debunked by the early markets of 2019. An abundance of produce has lined the booths, including assorted lettuces and salad greens; darker greens like Chinese broccoli, spinach, kale, collards, and bok choy; jewel-toned radishes and sweet potatoes; buckets of apples; and more. With such a wealth of options, there is opportunity to branch out and try a few meal-time variations.
After a stretch of unseasonably warm days, wintry temperatures have returned. Meanwhile, New Year’s resolutions may have you vowing to eat your leafy greens. All of this points clearly to one recourse: make soup.
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The winter season is fully upon us and most year-round farmers tailgate markets have moved indoors. You’ll find an abundance of storage crops, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, turnips, winter squash, cabbage, and apples. Farms with greenhouses and tunnels will have salad mixes and other lettuces, radishes, and dark leafy greens. And you’ll find meats, eggs, bread, cheese, baked goods, artisan crafts, and more!
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The final holiday farmers markets of 2018 are upon us. The last Saturday markets of the year fall this weekend (December 15), and this coming Tuesday and Wednesday (December 18 and 19) are the last weekday markets. This is your chance to grab any last-minute holiday gifts from local farmers and artisans and to fill your pantries with local food items to get you through until January. To find holiday markets throughout other regions, visit the Farmers Market Closings and Holiday Dates. Read the rest of this entry »
Sure, holiday farmers markets are focused on gifts right now, but market shoppers still want to get groceries each week. What produce and gifts can you expect to find at area farmers tailgate markets now? Read the rest of this entry »
With the past week of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, it’s nearly impossible not to think about holiday shopping. Area farmers markets host holiday markets across the region to give you the opportunity to find the perfect gift, all while buying fresh, locally grown groceries. Read the rest of this entry »
Ask a group of friends, family, or coworkers what are their favorite Thanksgiving side dishes and watch as energetic debate (or emphatic agreement) ensue. Sure, turkey gets a lot of attention, but for many, side dishes are what make us the most excited for the holiday meal. Below are just a few ideas of side dishes to make using in-season produce from area farmers tailgate markets. Read the rest of this entry »
The themes of food and family are strong for many as we enter the last months of the year and holiday celebrations. In November we normally highlight our Thanksgiving for Farmers lesson plan. It is one of our favorites as it is a great reminder to give thanks to those who grow our food. Read the rest of this entry »
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and local turkeys are on the minds of head chefs of the home kitchen. Unfortunately, there is a very limited availability of local turkeys this year. Due to the closing of the nearest poultry processor last year, many farmers opted out of raising turkeys. What will anchor your Thanksgiving meal if you don’t cook a turkey? Read the rest of this entry »
If autumn happens without pumpkin flavor, is it even autumn? Though pumpkin flavored specials permeate our nation’s idea of the holiday season, many farmers and bakers will tell you that of all the winter squash varieties, pumpkins are among the least flavorful. So, are pumpkins really responsible for the symbolic autumnal flavor? Read the rest of this entry »
