Farmer's Market Report: August 10, 2012

You may be noticing as you read this that I am changing my approach to the Farmers Market Report!

I am now writing it the day before the market, because that is more useful to the reader. Of course, this won’t be a report on the market as I experienced it the day that I go (Saturday), but will instead be more along the lines of a prediction based on last week’s market and hot news tips.

Even though this is the nadir of the Central Texas Growing Season (August, when it’s so hot and dry everything dies), there is still plenty of food at the Market. If a visitor came from somewhere else, they wouldn’t even notice that we are at the nadir. Here are the things you can count on being able to get tomorrow: tomatoes, summer squashes, basil, eggplant, cantaloupe, watermelon, cucumbers, okra, figs, potatoes and onions, sweet potato greens, gnarly-looking carrots, sweet peppers and hot peppers. In fact, sweet pepper season in just starting! (By that I mean not only Italian sweet peppers, but any pepper that wouldn’t be called a hot pepper) Peppers ought to be in abundance through September.

Items that were available last week, but may be petering out soon: peaches and late plums. Items that will probably be there but I am not promising: lettuce, young arugula, amaranth greens.

Of course, all the non-produce items will be there as always: bread, meats, cheeses, eggs, milk, jams, olive oil, honey, and prepared foods.

Special Items to Watch For: Bat Creek Farm has apples! Local apples! and they will also be bringing cider to the market this week. They usually only sell at the downtown market, so that is where you need to go.

I continue to be excited about Fresh lettuce! Available from Flint Rock Hill Farms at Sunset Valley and Lily Pad Farm at Barton Creek.

Breaking Sunset Valley News: The fruit and vegetable farmers at the Saturday Sunset Valley Market will be participating in the SFC Double Dollar Incentive Program. Here is how the DDI Program works: if your family is on food assistance like SNAP or WIC, you can go to the information booth and get tokens equal to double your assistance money, and you can spend them like cash at the market. This program allows people with limited means to purchase top-quality organic and local by cutting the price in half! It’s a great program.

Salt and Time will be back at the markets this Saturday only! They have been missing from the markets much of the summer as they get their brick and mortar shop up and running on East Seventh. Salt and Time sells at the Barton Creek Farmers Market and the HOPE Market (which is on Sunday)

See you at the Market!