Farmers' Market Report: March 15-16, 2014
Asparagus, green garlic, dandelion greens, and milkweed for Monarchs
By Kate Thornberry, 10:45AM, Fri. Mar. 14, 2014
The above photo says it all: autumn apples (in this case Pink Ladies from the JBG stand) right next to spring beets, beet greens, and young cabbages, with a crate of sweet potatoes in the distance.
But what is the hottest news off the presses today? I can’t believe I am telling you this, because it means that I probably won’t get any: Farmer Willie McKemie from will be bringing the first young shoots of asparagus rom his farm near Dale to the Mueller Market this Sunday. Fresh, locally-grown asparagus is a completely different vegetable than the imported variety; it has a fresh, fiddlehead-fern-like flavor, and you really do wait for it all year. Farmer McKemie will also be bringing kale, bunching onions, and dried tomatoes.
Gary Rowland from Hairston Creek Farm will be bringing green garlic to both the Sunset Valley Farmers Market and the Cedar Park Market. Green garlic can be used the same ways as dried, it just has a milder flavor, and the greens can be used, as well.
Before I forget to mention it: Dewberry Hills Farm will not be attending any markets this weekend, having sold out of their fabulous chicken entirely. Perhaps next weekend.
I don’t know how much longer this will be true, but as of last weekend JBG still had organic Rio Grande Valley grapefruit for sale. As far as I am concerned, grapefruit season is never long enough, and it is about to end, so get them while you can!
New World Gelato (Cedar Park and Mueller) will be featuring limited quantities of a special St. Patrick’s Day flavor: Guinness Gelato. They will also have a dozen other flavors including Sea Salt Caramel Gelato and Blood Orange Sorbetto.
The Mueller Market’s newest vendor, Yegua Creek Farms from Elgin, have a 1,500 pecan tree orchard. They will be bringing fresh pecans, spicy pecans, champagne pecans, caramel pecan popcorn, two different kinds of trail mix, a variety of cookies and breads, and Blackberry Cobbler to the Mueller Market Sunday.
Windy Acres will have fresh pasture raised chicken, duck eggs, and goose eggs at the Cedar Park Farmers’ Market.
Speaking of British bakeries, Curious Confections at the HOPE Market will be making Hot Cross Buns all the way unti Easter, as they proved to be very popular at last Sunday’s Market. In addition to the Hot Cross Buns, Pain au Chocolate, and butter croissants, Gemma will be making Lemon Curd Breakfast Tarts, Rock Buns, Chai Scones, Chocolate Marshmallows, Candied Pistachios, Scottish shortbread, Ore-Ohs, and Ginger Brownies.
Ah, shortbread. Sunniejane’s at the Cedar Park Market will be making Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate shortbread cups, Pecan Pie shortbread bars, Plain, Chocolate Chip, Pecan, and Chocolate-Dipped shortbreads this week.
Last week I went into some detail about the various pastured meat suppliers at the different markets, but neglected to mention the Cedar Park and Lone Star Farmers markets. I also forgot to mention a few folks, and I've discovered some new information, as well.
I also forgot to mention Thunderheart Bison, the very first bison supplier in Austin. Oops! Thunderheart Bison sells at the Downtown Farmers Market; in addition to bison meat they also sell bison leather goods.
The Lone Star Farmers Market in Bee Cave also boasts many of the vendors who sell in Austin on Saturdays. But if you live in Bee Cave or Lakeway, it is much more convenient to wait until Sunday! IO Ranch Lamb is an anchor of the Lone Star Market, selling lamb from the African Dorper Sheep; High Country Bison is also a Lone Star vendor, as is Richardson Farms, selling grassfed beef, pastured pork, pastured chicken, and eggs.
The purpose of the festival is to raise money to set up an emergency medical fund for area farmers. One of the dirty little secrets about our American healthcare system is that small farmers and ranchers are pretty much on their own, especially as they get older. If they own their farm or ranch, they own too much property to qualify for Medicaid. However, ff they are a small operation, they don’t earn enough to buy individual health insurance. When medical emergencies arise, such as when Jane from Dewberry Hills broke her arm, or when the Ottmer’s son was in a car wreck, healthcare costs are devastating. (Just breaking a bone when you are in your Fifties will set you back about $10,000.)
The Grower’s Alliance of Central Texas (GrowACT) seeks to set up, at the very least, an emergency fund that local farmers can access. The Farmgrass Fest 14 will be the first step in that direction. I will fill you in on more details in the coming weeks, and you can bet I'll be haranguing you to attend!
Breakfast & Lunch at the Market
Chicken Tinga Taco with cotija, cilantro, and cortido;
Achiote Goat Torta with guacamole, refried cream peas, crema, cortido, and cotija;
Chicken Menudo with chicken tripe, ash hominy, cabbage, and radish;
Sprouted Wheat Pancake with strawberries, honey, candied lemon, and cultured butter;
Fried Oyster Po'boy with horseradish mayonnaise, pickled egg, romaine, celery leaves, and spring onion;
and Cafe a la Olla.
See you at the Markets!
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Kate Thornberry, April 18, 2014
Kate Thornberry, April 11, 2014
Farmers Market Report, Johnson’s Backyard Garden, McKemie Farm, Mueller Farmers Market, Engel Farms, Cedar Park Farmers Market, Downtown SFC Farmers Market, Hairston Creek Farm, Sunset Valley Farmers Market, Dewberry Hills Farm, Lone Star Nursery, New World Gelato, Yegua Creek Farms, Brazos Valley Cheese, Windy Acres, Laleigh's Patisserie, Bodacious Cupcakes, Curious Confections, Sunniejane's, Kiskadee Chocolates