Farmers Market News of the Week

The North End Farmers Market on Main St. had its first market of the year this past Friday.

There were hundreds of people shopping, eating, chatting with friends and listening to the old-timey sounds of the blugrass jam. The line for fish tostadas was 10 deep for about an hour, and the chefs had to keep running back to the restaurant to restock. The bike rack was full and so were the bellies.

There was amazing fresh produce from six CT farms, incredible fresh baked goods (scone, anyone?) from O'Rourkes Diner and beautiful soaps from our guest vendor, Whey Better Farms.

Click here to see pictures of the Market

This market will come again this Friday from 10-2 in front of It's Only Natural Market. We'll have the same great lineup of farms and breads but this week's guest vendor will be selling handmade hoola hoops. If you've never wiggled with a really good hoop around your waist, come down and try one out. It's really fun.

This week's guest restaurant will be Patty Palace with drinks by Javapalooza.

Guest Vendor July 9:

Crystal Pistritto's Handmade Hoola Hoops

Nutrition Tip of the Week!
Calcium is in more than dairy! Broccoli, kale, turnip greens, and collards are all calcium-rich and thus promote strong bones, teeth, and muscles!

This week's featured restaurant is Patty Palace

Patty Palace will be selling fresh Jamaican Beef Patties and other specialties...to be announced!

What's in season in Connecticut?

Find the full-sized calendar here:USDA Connecticut Grown Crop Availability Calendar

Recipe of the Week Cucumber Soup Great for a hot summer day! Ingredients 2 1/4 cucumbers, peeled and cut into chunks 3 garlic cloves, peeled 1/2 cup plain yogurt, preferably a thicker variety like Brown Cow or any Greek yogurt 1 1/2 teaspoons white wine vinegar 1 teaspoon salt Cracked black pepper 1/2 cup mint 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil Procedure Place cucumbers and garlic in food processor or blender. Process until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl. Add yogurt, vinegar, salt and a few cracks of black pepper and combine. Chop the mint and add. Stir in the olive oil. Chill for at least a half hour. Serves four as a starter. Have a great recipe idea? Send it to Emma at mendele@chc1 to be included in an upcoming newsletter!

This Week's 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. They 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

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.

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.

What's in season in Connecticut?

Find the full-sized calendar here:USDA Connecticut Grown Crop Availability Calendar