https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/food/2013-04-19/farmers-market-report-april-20-21-2013/

Farmers Market Report: April 20-21

By Kate Thornberry, April 19, 2013, 11:55am, On the Range

I could get used to this alternating hot and cold weather! Especially when it involves rain. The weather is going to be gorgeous again this weekend, in the seventies with cool breezes: perfect market weather.

As you can see by my photo of the Rainbow Swiss chard, greens are still looking fantastic, and this latest blast of rain and cool temperatures is going to give all the greens. including lettuce, a few extra weeks. The lettuce in my garden has bolted already, but the Farmers Market lettuces are still looking wonderful. Once the hot weather hits greens will get bitter and buggy, so be sure to enjoy them now.

Dewberry Hills Chicken will be back this weekend, but at the Sunset Valley Market only. They are bringing a very limited number of birds and an even more limited number of breast packs, so get there early. They hope to be at both markets again soon.

Confituras is declaring this weekend "Strawberrypalooza!" Stephanie McClenny will be selling Strawberry Vanilla Bean Jam, Strawberry Meyer Lemon Marmalade, Strawberry Balsamic Black Pepper Preserves, Pickled Strawberries, and more. Stephanie is at both SFC Farmers' Markets: Sunset Valley and Downtown, and at Mueller on Sunday.

IO Ranch Lamb has added Lamb Sausage to their line. Jeff tells me that he sold out of his first run last Saturday in about half an hour. It is a wonderfully economical way to enjoy local Dorper Lamb meat; it grills up quickly and it is wonderfully garlicky, crisp and juicy.

Fruitful Hill Farm (Barton Creek and Sunset Valley) will have squash blossoms again this week, as well as tiny little squashes with the blossoms still attached! They will also be bringing eggs, strawberries, beets, garlic, broccoli, carrots, collards, fennel, Romaine, red and Bibb lettuce, bulb onions, chard, shallots, turnips, kohlrabi, radishes, arugula and kale.

Celtic Seafare will be at Barton Creek this Saturday with cold-smoked salmon from British Columbia. They will have regular cold-smoked and cold-smoked cured with Tito’s Vodka and beetroot. They will also have Smoked Salmon Mousse; Hot smoked Salmon with Lemon Pepper, Poblano and Wildflower Honey; Crusted Hot Smoked Salmon with Jack Daniels/Roasted Pecan Pesto; Smoked Salmon Egg Soufflé with Feta Cheese and Dill; and their outstanding sandwiches made on the spot at the market. Dad’s Premium Granola (“Get Your Own!”) hasn’t had a change in their product line in a while (why mess with perfection?). Customer demand, however, has brought about a new variety: Gluten-Free Seeds Only. Dad’s regular flavors (Almond, Agave Almond, Pecan, Agave Pecan, and Austin Manna) all contain cashews and coconut in addition to almonds and pecans, making all the flavors off-limits for folks with a nut allergy. The new flavor, Seeds Only, has no nuts at all, just crunchy seeds instead, including sunflower and pumpkin.

Braune Farm and Fruitful Hill Farm will have snow peas this Saturday, and Fruitful Hill will also have tender young pea shoots.

The HOPE Market will have Peeler Farms (chicken and duck) this Sunday, as well as RRR Farms (pork, eggs, some goose eggs and spring onions) and Windy Hill Farms (goat and sheep). The Austin Honey Company will be selling a limited amount of their special dark honey at the Hope Market this Sunday as well.

Dai Due News: This weekend Jesse will be cooking Pon Haus with a fried egg and molasses; Chicken Burger with chicken bacon, kimchi, liver mousse and mayonnaise on a brioche bun; Hairston Creek Asparagus with a fried egg, Hollandaise and brioche toast; Kasekrainer Sausage with sauerkraut, onion and F4M on an onion seed roll; and Bacon, Egg and Chorizo Taco with cortido and salsa ojo rojo.

The Dai Due Butcher Shop will be selling Fresh Kielbasa ($12), Kasekraner Sausage ($12), Sauerkraut ($9), and Cordito (Spicy Salvadoran Pickles, $8), among other items. Broccoli and cauliflower (grown in counties north of ours) are still going strong, and are available at most markets. I photographed these beauties at Sunset Valley last Saturday.

Monday is Earth Day! The Markets will be honoring Earth Day over the weekend with special events and presentations. At the Barton Creek Market, noted authority Dick Peterson will be giving a talk on rainwater harvesting, and Microbial Earth will be giving tips on the soil benefits of composting. Chef Leena Dillingham will be giving a demonstration of cooking with Spring greens and lettuces, and the Tiny Tails Petting Zoo will be on hand for the tots.

The HOPE Market will be presenting an interactive discussion featuring Jimmy, Ada, Drew, and Lila Johnson, the children of Brenton Johnson of Johnson’s Backyard Garden. The topic will be, “What is it like to Grow Up on a Farm?”

See you at the markets!