Outlying freezes affected farmers differently depending on location and if any crops were covered, and which cool weather crops were planted. Fall greens like collards, beet, turnip, kale, Swiss chard, mustard greens, mizuna, water cress, sorrel, arugula, and spinach and lush, hydroponically grown lettuces, should be plentiful.
Fall colors continue with abundant winter squashes. Root vegetables as sweet potatoes, red potatoes, perhaps onions, various specialty radishes, beets, and turnips should be fine. While some varieties of pecans didn’t produce this year, one that usually doesn’t is dropping large quantities, again pointing to the need for crop diversity. Persimmons were seen recently. Fall tomatoes had appeared recently so we hope some survived the freezes, while zucchini, okra, peppers, and cucumbers may be gone. Sprouts and wheatgrass should be available, but herbs will be hit or miss. Starter plants like spinach, rainbow chard, borage, Russian kale, and herbs will feed you and decorate your yard during the cooler months. Look for flats of pansies and violas for fall splashy yard color and even fig trees. Plants sold at the market are winter hardy for planting now in our area.
Pastured beef, chicken and pork, wild caught Alaska salmon and possibly Gulf of Mexico seafood continue, as do cow and goats’ milk cheeses and nutrient rich eggs from pastured hens.
Artisan products bind the market together with offerings like honey, breads and pastries, (some gluten free), pies, cookies, scones, macarons, and weekly surprises like this month’s pumpkin seed granola. Find small batch prepared dishes like soups, side dishes, entrées, snacks, pimiento cheese, and individual quiches. Also find jellies, jams, dressings, and pickled things, chips and salsa, spice blends, pasta, whole grains, coffee, tamales, Texas olive oil, vinegar, dehydrated vegetables and fruits (turnip and ground turnips, oranges, and cranberries are new), and spiced nuts.
Always find crafted soaps, room sprays, lotions, candles, and lip balm. Lastly, look for doggie biscuits made with human ingredients.
Our farmers use various growing methods. To clarify, our website notes their growing methods on each farmer’s description page. Look for Certified Organic, Sustainably Grown, or Conventional growing methods noted at the end of their descriptions.
We are a local, seasonal farmers market, meaning that our farmers bring only what is ripening in
their fields this week and some produce is short lived due to a short growing season.
Eating with the seasons takes education, awareness and patience!
For a chart of produce that is in season now, click here.