Westminster Farmers' Market

Westminster Farmers’ Market Report from Maple Heights Farm

Cast your vote for your favorite farmers’ market at Local Harvest!  Next week I’d like to report to our Ag Commission that we are in the top 100!  So help me out and vote today!

Orders are closing for Massachusetts Local Food on Monday – so don’t forget to get your order in.  Delivery day is next Friday at the farmers’ market.

Last week we had 20 vendors again!  And I actually set aside time to walk through the market.  I spent over 2 hours doing this and enjoyed every minute!  I really had to rush at the end and my only regret is that I didn’t have more time!  Our market produce variety now surpasses what you are finding in the grocery store.  I haven’t been to the produce aisle in more than a month but I don’t remember seeing purple beans there, or yellow carrots!  At our market I found these along with Easter egg radish, purple carrots, tomatoes, CORN, shallot braids, broccoli, chard, new potatoes, squash, garlic, onions, cucumbers, peaches, and fabulous looking berries!  And that is just the vegetables and fruit.  We also had the usual variety of Beef, Pork, Cheese, Eggs, Bread, Maple Syrup, cut herbs.  I didn’t need cheese this week, but next week I’m going to try Westfield farm’s “Classic Appetizer” which is goat cheese with sundried tomato, basil, garlic and olive oil.  It will be pretty easy for me to turn that into a local meal!  I did get a chance to try Patty Hurd’s meat rub (on our London broil steak).  It was delicious and very easy.  Well worth a try!

Westminster Farmers’ Market Report from Maple Heights Farm

 Again!  Another busy week at the market.  I’ll try to take some pictures for next week for those of you who cannot make it.  We have incredible variety and about 20 vendors.  There is so much food available now that your only difficulty will be deciding what you want to buy for dinner!  Come, spend some time, browse, sit down and enjoy a donut and ginger iced tea while chatting with a friend!

  The cornucopia of food is overflowing with Beef, Pork, Cheese, Eggs, Bread, Maple Syrup and an incredible variety of vegetables and berries with everything ranging from broccoli to zucchini, blueberries to raspberries!  Really!  You have to come and browse and take it all in!  In addition to vegetables, there are still plenty of herbs including basil, mint (mint lemonade recipe) and rosemary for your recipes and vegetable plants for your garden – have you planted eggplant and cucumbers yet?  It’s not too late!  And these are further along the plants I have in my own garden!  I purchased the nicest rosemary plant that I have ever owned and it will be very useful when I have fresh chicken to eat in September!

 If you are not buying your lettuce at the market, you may want to read this about the latest recall!  The most interesting news that is reported in this article is that this lettuce has a shelf life of 14 to 16 days!  Who Knew!  That is really old!  Another reason to buy fresh at our market!

Westminster Farmers’ Market Report from Maple Heights Farm

 Did you attend the farmers’ market last week?  What a sight!  There must have been about 20 vendors!  AND CORN IS IN!  What a busy day!  I must confess that I was busy with the Mass Local Food Co-op and did not even get a chance to wander through the market so, for this week, I can only tell you what I have been told.  All the usual items were there.  In addition, we had corn and loads of different vegetables.  And, finally, maple syrup!  All the products that you come to expect including meat, eggs, cheese, breads (including gluten free), jam, relish…

Westminster Farmers’ Market Report from Maple Heights Farm

 Have a LOCAL Fourth of July!

 I’m planning on great weather this afternoon and, for the first time this year (as of 12:00), there is not a cloud on Doppler! Live Dopler Weather for Westminster!  Check it out for yourself!

 You are all planning for your Fourth of July celebrations and we can help you with that.  We have lots of hamburg and sausage (no hot dogs for your cookout, but after you try the sausage you may never eat a mystery hot dog again).  We are running low on steaks, so if you want these, you may have to get to the market early.  If you are interested in chili for your celebration, we have several nice roasts that would suit your needs perfectly (and you can probably convince Meghan to share her award winning chili recipe!).

 The market will be stocked with vegetables including tomatoes, Swiss chard, lettuce, spinach, baby greens, Asian greens, shallots, and parsley.  In addition to these vegetables, we will also have eggs, Capri goat cheese and Smith’s Country cheese, a large variety of breads – including gluten free, relish, jam... 

Westminster Farmers’ Market Report from Maple Heights Farm

 I KNOW they are predicting showers for Friday, but that has been the prediction every Friday for the past 6 weeks – and we have not had rain during the farmers’ market yet!  So don’t be put off by the forecast!

 Music this week by the talented Heidi-Jo Hanson!  So don’t forget to lend an ear to our boom-box and listen to this local talent! 

 DON”T FORGET Father’s Day!  He will love a gift package of beef and pork for summer grilling!  For dinner, get a delicious steak and some sausage and try the meringue recipe below for dessert!  Add some cut flowers too – this is the time of year you should have a nice fresh arrangement on your nightstand or in your bathroom.  Peonies (which are far more beautiful and longer lasting than roses) are .25 per stem and you can put together a beautiful bouquet by visiting several vendors that also have cut flowers.

Westminster Farmers’ Market Report from Maple Heights Farm

 Massachusetts Local Food Update (www.MassFoodCoop.org): Delivery day worked out well last Friday.  Producers are working on updating products now and we are hoping to have a few new producers for next month, especially eggs and milk.  Orders open again on June 23^rd for the next delivery day which will be July 10^th.

 Last week we had about 11 vendors at the market with loads of products including our June staples of asparagus and rhubarb and vegetable plants and perennials.  This week, although the weather is threatening AGAIN, the day should clear and we are hoping to have good attendance so our existing producers still want to set up. 

 This week, we are expecting beef, pork, eggs, rhubarb pie, rhubarb crisp, salad greens, herbs, breads (you may want to try Ann Patsis’s Olive Onion Loaf, it is delicious with cream cheese!), asparagus, rhubarb, jam, Smith’s country cheese…

 In addition we expect perennials, soaps and locations, hand creams, incense, hand painted tin pieces including Mailboxes and antique reproductions, ornaments, quilted items, tote bags, jewelry…

Westminster Farmers’ Market Report from Maple Heights Farm

Massachusetts Local Food – Delivery Day is Friday.  Stop by the booth if you want more information on this incredible opportunity to bring local food to you on a year round basis.  We may have a bit of leftover organic, fair-trade coffee from Dean’s Beans for sale.  All proceeds from this product benefit local food pantries.

Although the weather was threatening, last Friday was another great day on Academy hill.  We were busy for most of the afternoon with customers looking for meat and bread – and information on Massachusetts Local Food!  This week I am planning to add more loaves of cinnamon bread and Finnish coffee bread as these sold out by 4:30.  Remember that you can order ahead (by emailing me tonight) if you want something reserved. 

Showers are expected this week and remember, rain or shine, you still have to eat this week and you deserve great food.  If the market doesn’t have much for fresh vegetables this week (though it may), it won’t be long before peas and lettuce are available in abundance.  Strawberries are ripening too, though ours are not completely red yet – perhaps next week…

Westminster Farmers’ Market Report from Maple Heights Farm

The coop is here!  Mass Local Food – our online Farmers’ Market is now stocked with over 150 products and more producers are signing up this week.  Customer ordering opened yesterday and will close on June 1^st.  Anything you order will be delivered to the Westminster Farmers Market on June 5^th.  You will arrive at the Mass Local Food booth and your order will be ready.  If you miss this order cycle, you will have to wait until the end of June to place your next order.  We have some fantastic producers listed offering honey, meat, spreadable fruits, jams, baked goods, soaps, herbs, and even fair-trade organic coffee that is roasted in Orange.  It is in my house now and the smell is heavenly!  It was just roasted yesterday!  So, if you have a minute, at least go online and read about our interesting producers!  We are also having a meet and greet pot luck dinner this Sunday, May 24th at 6:00PM at the Congregational Church, 138 Main St., Westminster.  Kelley O’Connor will give a short presentation about how to log in and shop, and Sheryl Vaillette and I will be there to answer any questions you have.  www.MassFoodCoop.org/shop.

Now, back to the Farmers’ Market…

Last week we had 9 vendors at our market.  That is an excellent showing considering the time of year and the lack of fresh fruits and vegetables that are available now.  Still, there was plenty of food to purchase, plants to add to your garden and useful items for your home.

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend and we can meet your barbeque needs, so don’t forget to stop by for some of the freshest food money can buy.  The quality and freshness of local farmers is better than Whole Foods and our market prices are better, too!  And we are much closer, and a lot more fun!  The children I see at our market are running around having fun.  I have yet to see too many happy children getting dragged through Whole Foods or any grocery store for that matter!

Westminster Farmers’ Market Report from Maple Heights Farm 

 Massachusetts Local Food – Delivery Day is Friday.  Stop by the booth if you want more information on this incredible opportunity to bring local food to you on a year round basis.  We may have a bit of leftover organic, fair-trade coffee from Dean’s Beans for sale.  All proceeds from this product benefit local food pantries.

 Although the weather was threatening, last Friday was another great day on Academy hill.  We were busy for most of the afternoon with customers looking for meat and bread – and information on Massachusetts Local Food!  This week I am planning to add more loaves of cinnamon bread and Finnish coffee bread as these sold out by 4:30.  Remember that you can order ahead (by emailing me tonight) if you want something reserved.