Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: July 31st Market Report


Good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying of all foods;

and good bread with fresh butter, the greatest of feasts. 
- James Beard

It's the last day of July and we should see a beautiful summer afternoon  in Uptown Westerville. It's Market Wednesday!

Home-grown. Home-made. All Ohio. The Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market opens for business from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. @ N. State and E. Home Streets.

We are keeping an eye on the sky (and weather reports) between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. today for an ever so slight chance of rain.

The fresh produce is plentiful and full-of-flavor: peaches, tomatoes, sweet corn, peppers, potatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, onions, summer squash varieties, garlic, eggplant, and okra.

Artisan foods include salsas, tortilla chips, cheese, daily bread, butter, jams, cookies, milk, specialty breads, sauces, maple syrup, packaged ice cream, scones, maple-coated spelt, rubs, and marinades.

Market protein vendors are Fox Hollow Farm (fresh eggs, beef, lamb, chicken, pork) and Flying J Farm (grass-fed beef).

This week's line-up:  Malabar Peach and Apple Orchard, Annabelle's Blooms, Sugar B Bakery, Chuck Evans' Montezuma Brand Salsas and Sauces, Sweet Thing Gourmet, Blue Jacket Dairy, Pleiades Maple Products, Northridge Organic Farm, Branstool Orchards, Fox Hollow Farm, Bird's Haven Farms, Flying J Farm, Ohio Farm Direct, Doran's Family Farm, Hartzler Family Dairy, Bridgman Farm, Dana Lee's Bakery. 

Market Tip: Lots of Market Wednesday merchandise is sold frozen and refrigerated or keeps best when cooled, if you plan on browsing, tasting, and shopping - pack a cooler.


 Work with Anna Brown to create a bouquet at Annabelle's Blooms.


Sweet and great for grilling - Jimmy Nardello peppers at Northridge Organic Farm.


Fresh garlic from Bird's Haven Farms.


Ashland County peaches from Malabar Peach and Apple Orchard.

 

Tomatoes from Bird's Haven Farms. 

  
Eggplant from Bird's Haven Farms.


 Cucumbers from Flying J Farm.


Awesome cherry tomatoes from Bridgman Farm.


Sweet corn from Doran's Family Farm.


 Onions from Northridge Organic Farm.
 
  

Peaches from Branstool Orchards 


  Petite Fairytale Eggplant from Bridgman Farm.

 

Potatoes from Flying J Farm.


Sunflowers from Annabelle's Blooms.

  

Tomatillos at Flying J Farm.


Shopping at Dana Lee's.


Maple syrup from Plieades Maple Products.


Shopping at Fox Hollow Farm.


Organic, heirloom tomatoes from Northridge Organic Farm.


Chuck Evans' Montezuma Brand Sauces and Salsas.


Fresh-baked biscotti from Sweet Thing Gourmet.


Shopping at Northridge Organic Farm.

See you at the market!

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Uptown Westeville Farmers' Market: Neighborhood Power

Tuesday, August 6th is the 30th annual National Night Out!

Westerville Police Division explains: Westerville's National Night Out event is unique because the venues are hosted by individual neighborhoods. Participating neighborhoods host block parties with activities including: potlucks, karaoke, face painting, raffles, police car rides, and appearances by  W.P.D. officers & "Safety Friends" (including PC: The Patrol Car and McGruff the Crime Dog).

To learn more, click here (scroll down) or contact the Westerville Police Division at 614.901.6860 

Update: Click here for the Westerville National Night Out locations.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: July 24th Market Report

Heirloom tomatoes from Northridge Organic Farm

Boy howdy, we like this week's weather forecast much better! A forecast high of 74° with low humidity, an occasional gentle breeze, and partly sunny skies - that sounds like great farm-fresh weather!

Home-grown. Home-made. All Ohio. Market Wednesday is open for business from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. @ N. State and E. Home in Uptown Westerville.

Produce is plentiful, fresh, tasty, and awesome!

This week's vendor line-up: Malabar Peach and Apple Orchard, Annabelle's Blooms, Sugar B Bakery, Chuck Evans' Montezuma Brand Salsas and Sauces, Sweet Thing Gourmet, Blue Jacket Dairy, Pleiades Maple Products, Northridge Organic Farm, Branstool Orchards, Fox Hollow Farm, Bird's Haven Farms, Flying J Farm, Ohio Farm Direct, Honey Health Farms, Doran's Family Farm, Hartzler Family Dairy, Bridgman Farm.

Update: Just before noon, we heard from Branstool Orchards. Try as they might, the storms over the past week have taken their toll and there just aren't enough ripe peaches to bring to market this week.  As we say at the market, 'Life happens. Nature happens. Farming happens.' and while disappointed for this week, we'll look for Branstool Orchards next week.

(We are waiting to hear from our limited engagement vendors that let us know mid-morning if they are coming - we'll keep updating.)

This week's community partner is Westerville Public Library - our favorite resource (It's free! You just need a library card) for cookbooks, recipes, and the 411 on great food and nutrition.

What can you buy at the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market?

Protein/Dairy:

Hartzler Family Dairy (non-homogenized, pasteurized milk, roll butter, and packaged ice cream)

Blue Jacket Dairy (cow, sheep's, and goat's-milk cheeses including cheddar curds and Gretna Grillin')

Ohio Farm Direct (organic, grass-fed Meadow Milk cheeses, drinkable yogurt, summer sausage)

Fox Hollow Farm (naturally-raised beef, pork, chicken, lamb, and fresh eggs)

Flying J Farm (grass-fed beef)

Fresh Vegetables and Fruits:

Bird's Haven Farms (produce)

Northridge Organic Farm (certified organic produce)

Branstool Orchards (peaches)

Doran's Family Farm (produce)

Flying J Farm (produce)

Bridgman Farm (produce)

Malabar Peach and Apple Orchard (peaches)

Fresh-picked and coming to market: Tomatoes, sweet corn, tomatillos, okra, onions, summer squash varieties, cabbage, potatoes, garlic, transparent apples, kale, lettuce, eggplant, peaches.
Bees and Trees:

Pleiades Maple Products

Honey Health Farms

Artisan Delicious:

Chuck Evans' Montezuma Brand Salsas and Sauces (Salsas (fruit-based, tomato-based, mild to three alarm sizzling hot, hot sauce, marinades and cooking sauces, including barbeque, tortilla chips)

Sugar B Bakery (Fresh-baked bread, specialty breads, bagels, cookies, scones, muffins)

Sweet Thing Gourmet: Jams and biscotti

Field-fresh Beauty:

Annabelle's Bloom (cut sunflowers and bouquet flowers)

A lot of our vendors feature tasting samples, although we think you'll want to once you've tried these amazing foods, there is no pressure to buy - so stop by and meet our artisan vendors, taste, and enjoy.

We heard from Z Blueberry this morning and they have finished their season. Much like our strawberries, between U-pick and the weather - this year, our berry seasons have been short and sweet.

If you have time, we encourage you to walk a few steps south of the market to Meza, 48 N. State. Tatjana Brown features a speciall-priced Market Wednesday tasting (usually it's a nice sangria, with recipe) and will happily help you with wine pairing ideas for your market fare.


Peaches from Branstool Orchards


Cheddar curds from Blue Jacket Dairy


Shopping for sweet corn at Doran's Family Farm


Raw honey from Honey Health Farms


Peaches from Malabar Peach and Apple Orchard


Transparent apples from Doran's Family Farm


Marinades and sauces from Chuck Evans' Montezuma Brand Salsas and Sauces


Okra and peppers from Bird's Haven Farms


Shopping at Sweet Thing Gourmet


Zucchini at Doran's Family Farm


Sweet Thing Gourmet


Cucumbers from Doran's Family Farm


Tomatoes from Bird's Haven Farms

Fresh cut flowers from Annabelle's Blooms


Fresh-baked from Angela Bowman's Sugar B Bakery


Tomatoes and garlic from Flying J Farm


Bill of fare at Annabelle's Blooms


Sweet corn at Doran's Family Farm


Maple syrup from Pleiades Maple Products


Sunflowers at Annabelle's Blooms


Sweet as candy! Cherry tomatoes from Bridgman Farm


Just want a few peaches? Go with Branstool Orchards' 1/4 peck.

Enjoy this great day! See you at the market!

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Pioneer Spirit

Congratulations are due to Market Wednesday Alum Mockingbird Meadows' Dawn and Carson Combs.

Each year, the Mother Earth News presents its Homesteaders Award to six farms that focus on self-reliance and community, opening their homes and farms to teach and reach.

Mockingbird Meadows is a 2013 recipient of the Mother Earth News Homesteaders Award.

To read more @ Mother Earth News, click here.

To visit Mockingbird Meadows online, click here.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: July 17th Market Report

Flying J Farm.

No way around it, it's hot! Still, it's Market Wednesday in Uptown Westerville and a great day to browse, visit, taste, and shop. Home-grown. Home-made. All Ohio. 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. @ N. State and E. Home.

This week's line-up includes: Fox Hollow Farm, Bird's Haven Farms, Flying J Farm, Ohio Farm Direct, Honey Health Farms, Doran's Family Farm, Hartzler Family Dairy, Annabelle's Blooms, Sugar B Bakery, Chuck Evans' Montezuma Brand Sauces and Salsas, Sweet Thing Gourmet, Blue Jacket Dairy, Northridge Organic Farm, Branstool Orchards.

Update: We just heard from Shannon Fisher and Bridgman Farm is coming to this week's market!

This week's community partner is Westerville Electric Division.

Market fare includes sweet corn, peaches, sunflowers, salsas, tortilla chips, cheeses, marinades, sauces, jams, biscotti, raw honey, meats, fresh-baked breads, fresh eggs, cucumbers, summer squash varieties, cabbage, potatoes, kale, lettuce, greens, green apples, and tomatoes.

We do have a few vendors out this week - Z Blueberry - they don't have enough ripe berries to bring this week, but Taffy Douglas thinks we'll see them next week.  Pleiades Maple Products don't mix well with temperatures over 90 degrees, so we won't see Eddie Lou Meimer this week, and Dana Lee's Bakery is out this week. 

Vendors who accept major debit and credit cards: Branstool Orchards, Bird's Haven Farms, Hartzler Family Dairy, Honey Health Farms, Chuck Evans' Montezuma Brand Sauces & Salsas, Northridge Organic Farm, Sugar B Bakery, Sweet Thing Gourmet.

(While they aren't here this week, Dana Lee's and Pleiades Maple Products both accept major credit cards.)


Fresh peaches from Branstool Orchards.


Bagels at Sugar B Bakery.


Fresh-cut sunflowers from Annabelle's Blooms.


Sweet corn from Doran's Family Farm.


Northridge Organic Farm market fare.


Hartzler Dairy Products.


Apples from Doran's Family Farm.


Flying J Farm bill of fare.


Cut flowers from Annabelle's Blooms.

Reminders... The market opens at 3 p.m.; there are no early sales. When you park - and we say this with luv - park like a grown-up.

Cool off and check out Meza at 48 N. State. Meza Wine Shop features a specially-priced Market Wednesday tasting!

See you at the market!