Blog Post: Mid-September and the Eating is Good

It looks like this might be the last of the peaches this week at the Vienna Farmers Market. We’re terribly sad about it but sigh it has to happen every year. A garden club member of mine says it’s the saddest thing she hears every year — "that's the last of the peaches." What do you despair to see go out of season at the market? Come on by for some Encore, Ochita Gold and Snow King white peaches at Kuhn and Mcleaf's Orchards. 

We'll have plenty of Bartlett and Asian pears as well as Blue Italian plums and some grapes as well. Look for strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, cantaloupes and watermelons as well (all of these are nearing the end of their time as well). Buy heartily of them all and think of canning or making jams of them all. Farmer Dave had the most delicious cantaloupe last week that I planned to make a jam of, sneaky! 

Now is the time for chestnuts and figs. And here are just a few of the apples you’ll find at our very own market: Honeycrisp, Jonamac, McIntosh, Early Fuji, Jonathan, Elstar, Cortland, Crimson Crisp, and Kids Gala (perfect for lunches and snacks). Want a prize star pumpkin? Check out all sizes at Westmorland including all kinds of squash to cook with — need to know how to cook them? Ask Cella or find Farmer SJ — Farmer Dave loves squash!

Look for garlic, shallots, cherry tomatoes, salad tomatoes, black eyed peas, heirloom slicing tomatoes, eggplant, beets, okra, tomatillos, peppers, cucumbers, radishes, beans, green beans, onions (assorted) at most of our farmers tables. And look for bitter melon and more specialty items at Kuhn Orchards.

Fall is the time for pork and if you are looking for something special — Ole Pioneer is gone this weekend only — but check out Friendly Hall Farmers for their organic pork and of course Smith Family Farm for their grass fed products including pork, chicken, and beef (it’s never too early to start thinking about your festive turkeys!).

Friendly Hall Farms, McLeaf's and Kuhn Orchards sells the most stunning bouquet be sure to get a lovely bunch of flowers to take home with you — they cannot be beat for value and long lasting beauty.

By the way last weekend we welcomed the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department to our market and they performed free blood pressure checks. Sure did appreciate having them at our market. Who were we to know that they would also perform a wonderful deed for one of our vendors who accidently cut themselves? Wow talk about synchronicity, we haven’t had an accident all year and wham the VVFD was right there in the right place at the right time. Thanks VVFD for everything. And for everyone who missed seeing them at our market, don’t miss out on their open house on October 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for more information check out their website closer to that date, vvfd.org, the VVFD is located at 400 Center Street South and is on the corner of Cherry Street. 

See you next week at the market. Farmer SJ