This Week at Smart Markets Lorton Farmers' Market

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How many great things can we make this week with our market produce? Just ask and Annie will answer. Our demo chef joins us for the first time this season, and she will whip up a minestrone soup, a tabbouleh recipe using wheat berries from Wade’s Mill (which you can find at Fossil Rock Farm’s tent), and a sampling of panini sandwiches, all made with market ingredients.

Olio2Go also joins us this week and shares the cooking tent with Annie, who will be using their products in her recipes. The best thing you can do for the fresh vegetables and fruits that you buy at the market is to have on hand excellent olive oils and vinegars in your pantry. I use a pure olive oil for browning meats, an aromatic extra virgin for vegetable sautes, and an even more aromatic but less assertive olive oil for salads and drizzling over a finished dish. Even if you do not buy this week, take time to learn something about the many varieties of Italian olive oil that are out there in Italy and at Olio2Go here in the U.S.

Look for Wicked Oak, who thankfully is gracing us with their naturally raised pork, chicken, and great country eggs. Ask about preordering for pick-up on the 4th of July.

We will be open on the 4th with special hours of 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Feel free to pick up lots of free recipes this week to help you plan your holiday weekend celebrations.

Also at the Smart Markets tent, look for the kickoff of the Yes You Can canning project, which will be going on all summer. If you did not receive the special email announcement about our free canning classes this summer, you may indicate your interest at the market by signing up to receive future emails about the scheduled classes.

And most important of all, it is finally summer at the market! We will have corn and tomatoes at Ignacio’s, peaches at Chester’s, blueberries at Fossil Rock, and lots more throughout the market to help you kick off summer in the kitchen with Dinah and anyone else you care to invite. Let’s make this the summer you strive to serve your family at least one local product at every meal — and remember, the more the healthier.

Celtic Pasties will have Beef & Guinness, Cottage Pie Style, Mango Chicken, Chicken & Pineapple, Colcannon, and Cheese & Onion.

See you at the market!

From the Market Master

I love to share what I learn almost every day about any number of issues related to what the role of farmers’ markets in suburban society, and particularly information that informs and supportsour own mission at Smart Markets. We already have on our website a response to the question we often get about what “organic” means. But often someone else says it much better than I have, and I like to pass along the wisdom in its original form and context.

Check out this blog post about “organic” food in the marketplace — the grocery store as well as the farmers’ market. We will also link to this on our website to offer a little more background and underpinning to my own thoughts on the subject.

Keep up the good work in your own homes and neighborhoods, and we will keep passing along facts and ideas you need to keep and share your personal commitment.

Photo by Sarah Sertic