Summer's Not Over Yet--In Fact It's Still a Peach! August 17th 8am to noon Market

When we're old will we remember 2013 as the year of the fantastic peach and the best and most succulent corn? Will we remember where we were when we were eating peaches with the juices dripping down our chins? This week let’s talk about peaches and next week we'll talk about the corn, melons and even tomatoes! But before we start our discussion remember that our market is open each Saturday at 301 Center Street South in the Faith Baptist Church parking lots from 8 am to noon. In these waning days of summer lots of parking is to be had so come on down and visit us. 

Georgia, Florida and California are the largest producers of peaches. As such they are also the largest wholesalers. So our two Pennsylvania growers, Mcleaf's and Kuhns can focus on growing tree ripened fruit for local customers like you and they bring you the fruit straight to the market. 

Kuhns and Mcleafs picks their fruit the day before they bring it to the market for and often the salesperson is the one who has picked it for you. Talk about service. The ability to pick tree ripened-fruit means they are able to grow varieties for flavor more than for quality and often you can pick up a peach at the market and darn it you can smell the peach and it often has a perfume to it! You might even see me (Farmer SJ smelling the peaches because they smell so good!). When shopping for the perfect peach, the one that you’ll remember that dripped down your chin when you stood over that trash can eating it (so as to not get it on your clothes), look for a peach that is firm but with a little give and take, a luscious fruit will always feel heavy for its size and for peaches that aren't quite ripe, leave them at room temperature (a closed brown paper bag will accelerate the ripening process).

We have heard this question many times --once peaches are ripe can they be refrigerated? Yes they can -- but be careful because our farmers don’t use the preservatives and chemicals that those farmers do that sell to grocery and other stores do. So we are probably talking about a day. Things ripen pretty fast. In comparison I bought a peach recently at a grocery store and it took a week to ripen! WOW. Also those soft brown spots you see on peaches—it’s not a bruise, it’s a sugar pocket or the much talked about, rarely realized sweet spot. Instead of avoiding it, embrace the fruit bearing this mark. This is what we like to talk about in the Optimist Club of Greater Vienna as looking at things in an optimistic light. 

Now take this wisdom and turn it towards the plum, the nectarine, the the tomato, the melon, the cantaloupe, corn, etc. And you will better understand our vendors and the love and effort they put into their work each week when they come to the market.  

This week please stop by and talk with New Family Naturals, our guest vendor who is at our market twice a month.  With gardens in full swing and our market bursting at the seams with good vegetables and fruits Engin can talk to you about how to capture this great food while packing it into a healthy alternative—juices and kale chips and more! It’s a great way to capture the season’s best flavors. The drinks are healthy and nutritious and tasty too. Farmer Dave is a juice lover (always buying two!).  New Family Naturals will be right between McLeaf’s and Westmoreland Produce this Saturday.

This weekend Savage Fudge Delicacies returns from vacation--at last (my sweet tooth has suffered). Everona Dairy and Cheese has gone to an every other week basis (and this is their week off--due to the death of their owner and founder). We hope you will understand as we do. They are working to staff up to their regular schedule next season. This season the staff secretary comes to our market every other weekend in addition to working in the office five plus days a week. Hope to see everyone this Saturday from 8 am to noon=remember summer isn't over yet and the weather is cool.  Until next week right here. Farmer SJ