Farmers’ booths have as much green in them as they have orange. This cooler weather is perfect for fall greens like collards, kale, Swiss chard, mustard greens, mizuna, water cress, sorrel, arugula, and spinach. Lush lettuces, mostly hydroponically grown, are plentiful.
Fall colors are represented by abundant winter squashes, sweet potatoes, peppers, onions, various specialty radishes, eggplant, beets, turnips, potatoes, pecans, and more. Tomatoes, zucchini, okra, and cucumbers are still producing, as well as herbs, sprouts and wheatgrass. Starter plants like spinach, rainbow chard, 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 meats, wild caught Alaska salmon and Gulf of Mexico seafood continue, as do cow and goats’ milk cheeses. This is a good time of year for 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 last week’s new Ginger Pumpkin Spice cookies with toasted walnuts and pecans. Look for the farmers market version of fast food – small batch prepared dishes. Possibilities might include soups, salad jars, side dishes, entrées, snacks, pimiento cheese, and individual quiches. Also find jellies, jams, dressings, and pickled things, chips and salsa, flavored nuts, spice blends, pasta, whole grains, coffee, tamales, Texas olive oil, vinegar, and spiced nuts. A Dry Garden line of dehydrated veggies are CJ Singleton’s new product, so help him brainstorm how to use dried carrots and beets. More dehydrated vegetables are in the trial stage.
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 now 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.
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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.