Open on October 5! C'Mon By 8 to Noon

This Saturday the Vienna Farmers Market is open from 8 am to noon so be sure to visit your favorite vendors before heading over to Oktoberfest festivities. Our market is located at 301 Center Street South in Faith Baptist Church parking lots. TJ Michaels, balloon artist extraordinaire, will be there at least between 9:30 and noon to create balloons for the kids as well.

This week marks the last of the peaches available at the market (go to McLeaf’s Orchard and Kuhn Orchards). Is there anything sadder than the thought of no more fresh peaches for the season? It means fall is here for sure!

Time to talk about one of those fruits that you often see at the market but just don’t know what to do with or know much about—the fig! I’m here to tell you a little bit about it. The common fig is a sweet fruit but it sometimes puts people often because it is soft and squishy.  Figs are fragile-they bruise easily so don’t expect to get them home without some damage. It just happens.  Avoid fruit with mold or ones that smell sour.  You want to use the fruit within a few days of buying it (and its best to keep it at room temperature because chilling takes away from the flavor. If you must store in the fridge put in a paper bag. To prepare wipe the skin with a damp cloth and trim off the stem. Cut in half from top to bottom. Or you could make a fig flower (make a deep cross at the top end of your fig cutting almost but not all the way through—then squeeze at the base with your fingers—the 4 quarters should then open out like petals.)  My preference to serve figs is to eat the figs raw or with toasted nuts. I also serve them with cheese and bacon on Arugula to make a salad. Another choice is to poach them (suggested time is 5 minutes whole) or grilled cut in half for 3 minutes or roasted whole for 8 minutes.

Pictures this week are from Lois’ Produce, one of produce vendors from Westmoreland County in Virginia. Visit this outstanding vendor in the corner of the market and say hello to vendors Bobby and Joy. See you all here next week or at the market. Market operated and sponsored by the Optimist Club--visit us on Facebook or at www.viennafarmersmarket.com Farmer SJ