First Market This Friday!
Come down and get your groceries for the holiday weekend!
North End Action Team is happy to announce the opening of the North End Farmers' Market in front of It's Only Natural Market (575 Main St.) The market features local vendors selling delicious fruits, vegetables, cheeses, baked goods, and more! Also look for live music, recipe samples, and food from local restaurants. We accept SNAP/EBT, Senior and WIC coupons. So come out to the market on Fridays between 10 and 2 to enjoy the summer weather, great food, and fun times!
The Featured restaurant of the week of July 2nd, 2010 is Iguanas y Ranas Taqueria. There lunch be a market special delicios fish tostadas for $2.00!
Our vendors include:
Beckett Farms
The Beckett family started farming in Glastonbury in 1973, when Chip's father bought the Old Cider Mill to keep it from being developed into condominiums after the original condo sale fell thru. Chip worked during off times in college and vet school until 1982, and returned to Glastonbury in 1983 to start his own practice and help out with the farm. In 1985, he bought the farm next door to build the veterinary clinic, Beckett and Associates, and adds the acreage to the Cider Mill property. Originally, we sold most things to the Cider Mill, along with wholesalers in Hartford. We have gradually sold to more stands and added farmer's markets two years ago, when his daughter, Leah, was old enough to drive to the markets. The CSA is the next evolution for our farm, to let people see and share what we do with our productive land and good weather.
Ceccarelli Farm
Ceccarelli Farm is run by Nelson Ceccarelli. The farm runs Farmer's Markets, Farm Stands, and 
Community Supported Agriculture. They sell to restaurants, grocery stores, school, cafeterias, inns, and personal chefs. Some of the vegetables they have are lettuce, cabbage, corn, eggplant, green beans, corn, summer squash, and tomatoes. They also have a list of recipes located on their website.
Chaplin Farms
Chaplin Farms is a family farm owned and operated by the Rose Family. The owner Stephen Rose is a fourth generation farmer and has been farming for over 20 years. At the farm they grow both traditional and heirloom vegetables. We will have strawberries, blueberries, plums, peaches, nectarines, pears and over 15 varieties of apples including Honey crisp, Macoun and Mutsu.
George Hall Farms
At George Hall Farm, they pride themselves on providing their local community with the 
freshest, high quality organic and conventionally grown produce. Currently, they have more than 60 acres in production with the majority of the land Certified Organic. Since 1966, they have been using sustainable techniques that are environmentally safe. Almost all of their produce is organic and their other conventional produce is grown with minimal or no pesticides. There produce comes to there members and customers at the height of freshness and nutritional value. They are Certified Organic through the Bay State Organic Certifiers of Massachusetts. They offer Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares, a farm stand on the property, produce at many local Farmer's Markets, eggs and honey, and farming internships.
Gotta's Farm
They are the proud grower's of quality plants, fruits, and vegetables, and fun ornamentals since 1898. Gotta's Farm and Cider Mill is a 4th generation farm established in 1898. T
hey now have two seasonal retail locations -- Gotta's Farm on Rte 17 and the QP Market on Rte 66, both in Portland, CT. They are the proud growers of quality plants, fruits, vegetables and full ornamentals, and they offer strawberries, peaches, apples and pears that you can pick yourself when they are in season. Gotta's Farm maintains a farmstand bakery with fabulous pies, breads, and cookies, and they participate in three regional Farmers' Markets. Gotta's Farm is now open for our 112th Season. All our annual flowering and vegetable plants are grown here from the best hybrid seed available. Come by and pick some of their delicious, fresh strawberries! There fields are located on Main St. in Portland, Connecticut
Picking hours are from 8am-8 pm
Rose's Berry Farm
There farm is now open on weekends and limited days during the week. Due to all the warm weather they had in May, the strawberries came early and are now at the end of the season. They now will have raspberry picking and hopefully blueberry picking within the next week and a half! They have made a few changes to their website as they aim to expand their online shopping as well as provide more up-to-date information regarding the farm. Many new products have been added to our online store, so check them out now! Rose's Berry Farm is about more than just berries. They have put together a variety of activities that appeal to people both young and old. You are invited to the farm each and every season to see for yourselves just how much fun the country has to offer! They also have recipes located on their website made with all the delicious fruits.
Click here to see a video of Rose's Berry Farm
Guest Vendors:
Beltane Farm
Starlight Farms
Urban Oaks
Whey Better Farm
Using your EBT card at the market
Find the table with the sign, "Use your EBT here!" Here, you can use your card to purchase $1.00 wooden coins, which will act as cash in the market.
You can then use your tokens to buy approved food items.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I buy with my tokens?
Fruits, vegetables, breads, meats, dairy, maple and honey products, seeds and plants that produce food, baked goods, jams, and sauces are all okay. You cannot buy nonfood items, foods meant to be eaten on site, and vitamins.
Since the tokens are issued in dollar increments, what happens if I purchase something that is $2.50?
The vendors may choose to add product to your purchase to bring the value to an even dollar amount, or you can pay the $0.50 with your own change. Unfortunately, vendors cannot give cash change for any tokens.
Does it cost anything to purchase tokens?
Tokens are purchased with your EBT card, so there is no cost to you.
Do tokens ever expire?
You can use your tokens until the market ends in October. Any unused tokens can be returned and the value transferred to your benefits account.
What's in season in Connecticut?
Find the full-sized calendar here:USDA Connecticut Grown Crop Availability Calendar
Nutrition Tip of the Week!
In addition to livening your plate, including fruits and vegetables of different colors in your meal provides you with the widest range of nutrients!
For more information, visit www.neatmiddletown.org or call at (860) 346-4845
Do you work or live downtown? We will deliver to your home or office so you can go back handsfree, and don't have to worry about struggling with bags back to the office. We will deliver to Main St. or anywhere in the North End.
This week's featured restaurant is IGUANAS RANAS TAQUERIA
Iguanas Ranas is a local favorite serving affordable, fresh, ![fish tacos]](http://img-ak.verticalresponse.com/media/a/5/3/a53931b781/fe5bd5fc37/3a7d4e8e25/library/fish%20tacos%5D.jpg?__nocache__=1 "fish tacos]")
authentic Mexican cuisine. They will be here this Friday with delicious lunch options to enjoy as you browse the market. Special market deal: Fish tacos for $2
Visit Iguanas Ranas online:
http://www.iguanasranastaqueria.com/
Recipe of the Week
Quinoa Summer Salad
Quinoa is a grain-like crop from the Andes of South America. With 11 grams of protein per cup, quinoa is extremely nutritious, and surprisingly tasty! This simple recipe can easily be adjusted to incorporate any of the vegetables you find at the market.
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 1/2 cups raw whole grain quinoa
- 1 cucumber, sliced
- 1 red or yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup lightly steamed broccoli florets
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- dash salt and pepper, to taste (sea salt tastes best)
Cook quinoa in vegetable broth until it fluffs up, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. While quinoa is cooking, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, garlic cloves and salt and pepper.
When quinoa is finished cooking, allow to cool slightly, then toss with vegetables and lemon juice mix, stirring to combine well. Add more salt and pepper to taste, and chill before serving.
Makes 6 servings of quinoa salad
http://vegetarian.about.com/od/soupssalads/r/quinoasalad.htm
Have a great recipe idea? Send it to Emma at mendele@chc1 to be included in an upcoming newsletter!
What's in season in Connecticut?
The North End Farmers Market runs Today and every Friday from 10 am - 2 pm in front of It's Only Natural Market, 575 Main St.
Community Supported Agriculture. They sell to restaurants, grocery stores, school, cafeterias, inns, and personal chefs. Some of the vegetables they have are lettuce, cabbage, corn, eggplant, green beans, corn, summer squash, and tomatoes. They also have a list of recipes located on their website. 
nectarines, pears and over 15 varieties of apples including Honey crisp, Macoun and Mutsu.
freshest, high quality organic and conventionally grown produce. Currently, they have more than 60 acres in production with the majority of the land Certified Organic. Since 1966, they have been using sustainable techniques that are environmentally safe. Almost all of their produce is organic and their other conventional produce is grown with minimal or no pesticides. There produce comes to there members and customers at the height of freshness and nutritional value. They are Certified Organic through the Bay State Organic Certifiers of Massachusetts. They offer Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares, a farm stand on the property, produce at many local Farmer's Markets, eggs and honey, and farming internships.
hey now have two seasonal retail locations -- Gotta's Farm on Rte 17 and the QP Market on Rte 66, both in Portland, CT. They are the proud growers of quality plants, fruits, vegetables and full ornamentals, and they offer strawberries, peaches, apples and pears that you can pick yourself when they are in season. Gotta's Farm maintains a farmstand bakery with fabulous pies, breads, and cookies, and they participate in three regional Farmers' Markets. Gotta's Farm is now open for our 112th Season. All our annual flowering and vegetable plants are grown here from the best hybrid seed available. Come by and pick some of their delicious, fresh strawberries! There fields are located on Main St. in Portland, Connecticut
