Update for Saturday July 14th
Hello everyone. I have been on the road this week and did not have a chance to connect with the farmers this week. I would expect the offerings to be similar as last week. I have included last weeks update below for your information.
We are in the heart of the growing season, so there are lots of locally grown fruits and vegetables available.
I do want to let everyone know about a relatively new vendor at the market- BANDY Woodsorks.
BANDY Woodworks is a local business that makes children's toys, custom furniture, and other great items for the home. They make them out of local reclaimed and salvaged wood and using non-toxic finishes. They have been setting up at the market at the first booth on the right when you walk in the front door.
They also have shop is located at the corner of Dallas and Susquehanna in Homewood (right next to the original East End Brewing Company location) in a space which is cooperatively shared with several other talented local woodworkers. Christopher Bandy, the maker, lives in Point Breeze with his wife and two daughters, whom you will often see at the market. Preview the available items at www.bandywoodworks.etsy.com.
See you at the market.
David Lagnese
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I hope everyone had a great Fourth of July holiday. Too bad it was a short one this year. I went out to Berks county to visit some relatives, and took a quick trip to Lancaster to visit some cheese makers. Please see the PA Made Cheese update below for some details.
I expect the market to have a great selection of locall grown items this Saturday, so please stop by the market to get some of the local fruit, produce and meat. The corn is really starting to come in. Check todays article in the PG on local corn and some great recipes.
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/life/food/a-salute-to-the-kernels-and-the-cobs-643351/
Also, Miriam Rubin is at it again with her "Miriam's Garden" series. This week she is talking about growing onions- and has 2 great recipes.
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/life/food/miriams-garden-enough-to-make-you-cry-an-ode-to-onions-643381/
I must say that I have had some excellent locally grown onions so far this season. At first we were getting the small ones, but the past few weeks we have been getting the larger PA Simply Sweets. I have been cutting them in half, drizzling with lots of olive oil, salt and pepper and roasting them in the oven. I served them with steaks from Kennedy's. Yum.
Please see below for an update on items at the market.
David Lagnese
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The Update
Greenawalt Farm
J.L. KENNEDY MEAT STAND
Special items for this week include:
** Pork spare ribs
** Pork baby back ribs
** Any steaks cut to order
** Chipped sirloin
Phone hours are mon- thurs 9-9 and 9-6 pm on friday. The number at the farm is 724-898-2316
J.L. Kennedy Meat Stand
Kistaco Farm... Local items for this week include:
California Olive Oil Connection
This is the time of year that I really love olive oil because it goes so well with all these locally grown veggies. I like to use ths spicier oils raw poured on slads and blanched vegetables. I also like to roast all sorts of veggies (including onions and garlic) drizzled with lots of olive oil. We have six varieties of California grown, certified extra virgnin olive oil available. This is the real thing, not the fake, adulterated stuff.
The Greek Gourmet- will have homemade spinach and meat pies to the market each week- in addition to 20+ flavors of hummus. Stop by and talk to Jack at the booth.
PA Made Cheese- Many of you have grown to love the Blue Cheese and the Mushroom Leek Cheese made by Common Folk Organics in Lancaster County. I went to visit them on July 4th. I met with Ivan Lapp, an Amish farmer in Ronks. He spent about an hour with me- showing me around the farm and talking to me about what he does. Ivan has 6 children, and they help manage a herd of about 35 cows. He is part of a cooperative called Common Folk Organics. Most of the milk goes into the cooperative and is consumed as drinking milk. Making cheese is a project to make a higher value product from the milk. He partnered with local cheese maker Amos Miller. Amos lives a few miles away in Leola. Ivan's family has been farming the same land for nearly 100 years. The farm and the facilities are very neat, clean and organized.
Amos Miller has a small goat herd and cheese making facility. He makes a variety of aged goat cheeses, but also does contract cheese making for Ivan and others. While I was there, he had a vat full of cows milk and was in the process of making a tome cheese. I tasted a lot of cheeses and had some great conversation with Amos. He has 11 children! I picked up a few wheels of his aged aged goat cheeses in addition to the Blue and the Mushroom Leek.
I must say I was really impressed by what I saw Lancaster County. The area visited was nearly all Amish farms, as far as the eye could see. Horse and buggies definitely out number autos. The beauty of landscape is incredible. Its lush and green with rolling hills. I met two really impressive people that are committed to making great food. I can't wait to go back. Please come and support their farms by buying their cheese.
Kew Park Coffee Bar- Fresh locally roasted Kew Park Coffee- we have Dark and Medium roast beans available. To help beat the heat, we will have fresh squezed lemon aid available.
Summary of Produce Available
Veggies
Fruit
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Please visit the market's website for information on the market and all the vendors. You can sign up for a weekly email update.
http://www.farmersmarketcooperativeofeastliberty.com/
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The Farmers' Market Cooperative of East Liberty is located at 344 North Sheridan Ave., adjacent to the Home Depot parking lot. The market operates year round- and is open from 5 AM until 12 noon every Saturday of the year.