Jul 21 2008
Farmers Market+Andrew Jackson =
Here’s what I came home with last night from the Chattanooga Market. I was idle the past two Sundays (thanks, Jim!) and I was amazed at the difference in the vegetable offerings that I found when I went back on duty yesterday. If our area farmers get any more productive, they’ll be meeting shoppers at the entrance, accosting them at gunpoint and making them take a bag of tomatoes and squash if they know whats good for them.
Since my own garden has died of neglect and drought, I decided to make the most of a couple hours of down time and a twenty dollar bill. Here’s the breakdown:
1 French Baguette from Bluff View Bakery
1 2 lb. Loaf of Multi-Grain bread from by buddy, Dante.
1 Pint Sungold Tomatoes (I was glad to find them since I never found seedlings for the garden this year.)
1 Handful of Heirloom plum tomatoes
2 Rather Large bags of basil
1 Yellow Heirloom tomato
1 Red Heirloom tomato that could not be photographed as it was sliced the moment I walked in the door and consumed with my lovely wife’s meatloaf and a squash casserole that will appear on this blog just as soon as she can cook up a batch that stays around long enough to be photographed. It was GOOD!
Here’s a helpful hint to stretch a dollar at your local farmers market; late in the day, most growers are willing to wheel and deal. They’d rather cut their prices a bit if it means they have less to pack up and take home. Dante was kind enough to let me have my loaf of multigrain bread at half price (as opposed to two for the price of one) since I knew I’d never finish two loaves this week. The basil was buy a bag/get a bag and since I had pesto and bruschetta on the menu for tonight, the larger quantity was appreciated.
Best of all, this produce was as good as if it had come from my own garden. Better, in fact, since my garden is dry as a cinder, although I have high hopes for my fall crop of greens. If you’re local, come out next Sunday and I guarantee you’ll leave with an armload of great veggies. If you’re not in this neck of the woods, you are sure to have a farmers market near you. Pay it a visit an make yourself (and your local farmer) happy.
