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The Market Beet
News You Can Really Sink your Teeth Into ...
Collegeville Farmers' Market, 460 E. Main Street
Every Saturday, 9a.m. - 1p.m.
August 8, 2012
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Longview Center for Agriculture
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Family fun and fresh local food and entertainment make Collegeville Farmers' Market the secret ingredient in your recipe for summer fun.
This week, don't miss: |
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Pick of the Week:
Fresh from our Farms
Good News: Summer sun means a bounty of fresh veggies and fruits.
Bad News: It's so hard to choose!
Best News: You don't have to!
Longview Center for Agriculture
Longview Center for Agriculture is a regional farm and food hub, with a mission to connect communities through food, farms, and education. The center at 3215 Stump Hall Road in Collegeville encompasses 120 acres of preserved farmland carefully managed using organic and sustainable farming practices. It's a great place to visit! Or you can stop by to see their picks of the week at our market and talk to the nice folks at their stand about what's new around their farm.
This Saturday, Longview is coming to our market with armloads of corn and tomatoes.It's a great time to start canning and preserving,and they have all the stuff you need! Folks can order tomato seconds for canning at $1.50 a pound - 20lbs per box. They can also do bulk orders of corn, flowers, green peppers, basil and oregano and other herbs for pick-up at the market on any Saturday.
Down Home Acres
This farm in Oley, PA, provides Collegeville with organically-grown heirloom veggies, including a rainbow of tomatoes and cucumber varieties, plus herbs and sweet melons. They have a great variety of tomatoes I bet you can't find anywhere else. Farmer Paul Crognale can tell you all about them.
Frecon Farms
Frecon Farms, in Boyertown, has been growing some of Pennsylvania's finest tree fruits since 1944. Depending on the season, they bring us: cherries, peaches, plums, blueberries, apricots, nectarines, raspberries, apples, pears, pumpkins, squash and more.
Now is the time to sink your teeth into fresh peaches: yellow, white and saturn. Come by to buy a big box while they are bursting with flavor...and juice. We dare you not to leave the market without nectar dripping down your chin!
These new kids on the block grow organically at Perkiomen Valley High School. This "Take Action!" environmental group is staffed by a great group of high school students, dedicated to making the world a healthier, happier place! They are waiting anxiously for their tomatoes to ripen, but in the mean time, stop by to talk to them about the work they do and to see what's fresh from their garden.
Bendy Brook Farm is located in the beautiful Oley Valley. They offer premium grassfed beef, goats, and pastured poultry and eggs. All of their animals are hormone-free and the land is chemical-free.
We are still thinking summer, but Bendy Brook Farmer, Nevin Mast, has to plan ahead. He's ready to talk turkey, and he is already raising a limited number of hormone-free, pastured birds for your Thanksgiving feast. He has a limited number to sell, so signing up now will make sure you can have one on your Thanksgiving table. He asks for a $10 deposit to reserve your bird.
Stop by and talk to Nevin about his humane farming practices and how they keep you, the animals, the environment healthy. He's still got some steaks left, and his eggs make a simple breakfast special. His grandson Seth is following in Nevin's footsteps and he'll have a couple dozen of his own eggs to sell this Saturday, as well.
Yellow Springs Farm Native Plant Nursery and Artisanal Goat Cheese Dairy, founded by Catherine and Al Renzi, is located in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania. The farm and nursery consists of an historic farmhouse, dairy barn, a springhouse with pond on 8 acres of land. Al and Catherine raise goats on site and make fresh cheese every day. Be sure to stop by this weekend since a very busy schedule will keep them away from the market until Labor Day.
This week, they'll have:
- Goat-za-rella ( for summer's tomatoes galore!), plus fresh
- Soft Chevre with lavender (great for fruit!)
- Pepito, an aged cheese with cracked black peppercorn.
Stop by to talk to Al about what makes Yellow Springs local cheese a healthier and more delicious alternative to mass-produced supermarket cheeses.
North Star Orchard
North Star Orchard, on Cochranville, PA, specializes in growing unique and heritage varieties of tree fruits and a wide variety of vegetables. They will be back to our market next week, Aug. 18 and we can't wait to see what's fresh!
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Marvelous Mushrooms !
Kennett Square, PA, "the mushroom capital of the world" is just forty miles away. Over 51% of the nation's mushroom crops are grown there.
Lucky for us, Kennett Square is an easy stop for Timothy O'Kronley of PhilaDing, our international foods vendor and bakery. Tim stops by Phillips Mushroom Farm on the way to market, so he brings with him lots of fresh, delicious mushrooms: portabellas, creminis and shitaki's.
Stop by to pick up incredibly fresh mushrooms for dinner. While you are there, ask Tim about his great vegan meals and snacks, as well as unique dinner solutions and just-baked scones.
Also check out this great dinner solution for Meatless (Mushroom) Mondays that uses farm-fresh ingredients from our market. You truly won't miss the meat!
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Vendor Roll Call
Here This Week:
A'dello Vineyard - Fine and fun, local wines, including a new Riesling
Anita's Guacamole - Guacamole made on the spot with the freshest ingredients.
Bendy Brook Farm - Chemical and hormone-free, pastured beef, pork, poultry and eggs.
Down Home Acres - small-scale, sustainable and organically-based farm.
Earth Energy Herbs - Home-grown, and locally-produced, chemical-free apothecary creates herbal products traditionally used for healing both mind and body
Frecon Farms- Seasonal fruit, fresh from the fields
Fresh-A-Peel Hummus- Stop by to taste their fresh approach to hummus - savory, spicy or sweet!
ICED by Betsy - Gourmet cupcakes for every occasion. (Betsy will be on vacation next Saturday, so get your cuppies now!)
John and Kira Chocolates - Artisan Chocolate
Kay Bryant - One-of-a-kind, handmade and hand-sewn clothing, bags and jewelry.
Longview Center for Agriculture - 120 acres of preserved farmland carefully managed using organic and sustainable farming practices.
Marcy's Granola- Natural and delicious
Philly Bills Dills - Everyone's favorite pickles
Philading - Fantastic chocolate chip and berry scones, plus international food like Lebanese hummus, falafel and baba ganoush.
PV Produce- Produce, grown organically in a Perkiomen Valley High School by the Take Action student group.
Ridge Valley Farm - maple syrup and maple products including: maple sugar, maple cream, maple coated nuts and maple walnut ice cream topping.
Saint Peter's- Artisan Bakery offering Fresh Breads and Pastries baked daily in our French, Steam Injection Ovens. (Because of the heat, all of their fantastic fresh-fruit pies must be pre-ordered!)
Soaps Garden- 100 % natural soaps and bath products

Yellow Springs Farm- Al and Catherine Renzi make Yellow Springs Farm cheeses using age-old processes borrowed from both French and Italian traditions. (This is their last Saturday until Labor Day, so don't miss them!)
See Ya Real Soon...
All Hands in the Cookie Jar - Allergen-free, gluten-free baker
Annie Pod Press - original etchings and linocuts
Behmerwald Nursery- Perennials and shrubs, arrangements of garden flowers as well as some fresh cut flowers for making your own arrangements.
Bigg Dutt - Go Bigg at the grill!
Fat Head Peppers- Peppers stuffed with quality Italian ingredients like sharp provolone and prosciutto, made in North Wales, PA
Royce Yoder - Hand-thrown pottery pieces, made in Royce Yoder's Lederach studio. His work can be found in galleries and shops all over the United States.
Jenny & Frank's Artisan Gelato- authentic Italian gelato - the finest gelati, made in micro-batches, based on fresh, locally-produced dairy, fruit, and other ingredients.
Joe Paws Dog Bakery - handmade dog treats with no added preservatives, salts or sugars.
Little Lost Creek Alpaca Farm - Fine yarns and woven products
Neil's Sharpening Service - Sharpen knives, scissors, garden tools, and shop for hand-crafted gifts like pens and bottle stoppers
North Star Orchard- family farm growing unique and heritage varieties of tree fruits and a wide variety of vegetables
Old Mill Gourmet - gourmet jellies, jams and other products made from farm-fresh ingredients
Pure Scents Candles- clean burning, beautifully-scented soy candles
Stacie Dale Designs - Hand made keepsake boxes and gifts
Tonya Lov - hand-sculpted, porcelain and beaded jewelry is inspired by nature and created in Collegeville. Each piece is original and hand-made. Contact Tonya for information about custom-made designs
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Marcy's Granola:
See, It's Simply Good!
Any one who has stopped by to see Marcy Shenkle to taste her granola knows it's delicious. But this side-by-side comparison with supermarket granola really drives home why Marcy's is so good and so good for you.
Supermarket granola, like the one on the left are often over- cooked, over-sugared, hard, dry, and sometimes over- flavored with extracts and additives.
Marcy's Granola, pictured on the right is fresh, is moist and chewy, lightly sweetened with honey or (vegan) agave nectar, and baked to perfection using Marcy's time-tested recipe.
For 30 years, she's perfected the balance of nut and dried fruit combinations. Every ingredient is carefully selected for maximum flavor and nutritional value. There is no gilding the lily. You can taste each natural, nutritious, delicious ingredient.
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Get Your Cupcake Fix - Fast!
This week is the time to stock up on cupcakes! ICED by Betsy will not be at the market on August 18 or August 25. To see what flavor are available, check out Betsy's newsletter at: http://bit.ly/August11Market
Betsy is the best, so tell the world and take a minute to vote for them for the "Best Cupcake" on Philly Hotlist at this link: http://bit.ly/VOTEforUS.
You can pre-order any quantity of cupcakes from the flavors of the week! Place your order via email cupcakes@ICEDbyBetsy.com or phone (610)755-7062.
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Neil's Sharpening Service
Neil will be here next week, Aug. 18 so gather up your dull knives, scissors and gardening tools for some much-needed maintenance. Neil is at our market the third Saturday of every month.
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Did you say pie?!
Everyone loves pie, and everyone has a favorite.
Is yours a summer delight with juicy peaches or blueberries?
Or do you crave an autumn treat stuffed with fresh apples or savory pumpkin?
The Collegeville Pie Baking Contest will allow you to show off your favorite recipes...or simply taste the best pies from kitchens all over the county.
Fantastic prizes will be awarded for the best fruit pie and the best specialty, dessert pie. Each contestant will be asked to bake two pies, which will be judged by market visitors throughout the day. It will be a fun day for all with lots of market goodies, fun for the kids, music and of course...pie!
Contact Maureen at farmersmarket@collegevilledevelopment.org for details or to reserve your spot!
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A Recipe from Fresh Market Morsels
Portobella "Burgers" Stuffed with Roasted Tomatoes and Goat Cheese
With burgers this good, who needs beef?
4 burger-sized portabella mushrooms from Phillips Mushroom Farm
1 pint of grape or cherry heirloom tomatoes, from Down Home Acres Farm
1 4oz. container of chevre (fresh goat cheese) from Yellow Springs Farm
3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar, or White Pine Vinegar from Earth Energy Herbs
3 Tbsp. olive oil
¼ cup fresh onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
¼ cup of fresh basil, chopped
4 crusty Kaiser rolls
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Cut tomatoes in half. Toss in in a bowl with onion, garlic, basil, 2 Tbsp. of olive oil and salt and pepper. Spread in a a single layer on a cookie sheet, covered in foil (for easy clean-up). Put bowl aside (for easy clean up). Roast for 25 minutes until slightly caramelized.
Meanwhile, clean mushrooms, remove stems and place on a plate. Mix vinegar and remaining oil to make a marinade and sprinkle on mushrooms. Turn mushrooms to coat as much of the surface as possible with the marinade.
Remove roasted tomatoes from the oven, and carefully remove foil and turn tomatoes into bowl. While still warm, add chevre to tomatoes and mix well.
Stuff mushroom caps with goat cheese/tomato mixture. Lower oven heat to 375 degrees. Bake for 20 minutes until warmed through. Remove from oven and serve immediately on soft, crusty Kaiser rolls.
For another variation on these great ingredients, try Giada DeLaurentis's recipe with Goat-za-rella from Yellow Springs Farm or this variation from A Foodcentric Life
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 Over the Fence:
News from the Neighbors
Collegeville Fire Company's Annual Car Show; Sunday, Aug. 12
This Sunday, Aug. 12 is the much-anticipated Collegeville Fire Company's Annual Car Show. Stop by to visit the Collegeville Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) table and to take a bit out of fresh local corn and to support their plans to help Collegeville grow into an even stronger and more-vibrant community.
Classic cars and other vehicles parked up and down Main Street are a delight for young and old, and are sure to evoke fond memories from residents of all ages. The event takes on a festival atmosphere, with music, vendors, food and fun. This year's car show is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday Aug. 12, with a rain date of Aug. 19. It will once again be held on Collegeville's Main Street. You won't want to miss it!
Our dedicated fire men and women are raising money to bring the show to our community through a money raffle. Tickets are $5 each or three for $10. There will be five $1,000 cash prizes awarded at the car show and there is no need to be present. Please help them by participating in their raffle during the car show.
Turn Your Clutter to Cash!
Looking for an easy way to make some extra cash? Reserve your table now for Collegeville's upcoming community-wide Yard Sale! What are you waiting for? Clean out your closets, basement and garage and turn all your clutter into cash while you have a great time and enjoy the camaraderie of your neighbors! All you have to do is fill out and mail the registration form below.
When: From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 22, 2012. Rain date is September 23, 2012.
Where: TheCollegeville Shopping Center (former Acme Shopping Center) at the corner of Rt. 29 and Main Street, Collegeville.
Sponsor: The Collegeville Economic Development Corporation (CEDC), which supports the Collegeville Main Street Program and the Collegeville Farmers' Market. This event is a fundraiser for the CEDC.
What will make this event a success: Our extensive promotion of this event, music, great food-and YOU! Questions? Call Rachael at 610.454.1050 or e-mail: manager@collegevilledevelopment.org.
What is your Dog Eating?
Pet Food: A Dog's Breakfast will be shown at Frecon's Hardbean Café on Tuesday, August 14th at 6:30 PM as part of the Joe Paws Dog Bakery's educational series and the Boyertown Area Community Wellness Council's Living Healthy Cinema Film Series.
Pet Food: A Dog's Breakfast is a documentary filmed after the 2007 Menu Foods pet food recalls. It draws attention to the quality of ingredients used and the often misleading marketing tactics used to sell foods that in actuality are not the healthiest of choices for feeding four-footed family members. Shockingly, a bizarre concoction including leather boot scraps, wood shavings and motor oil, is cooked up by Dr. Meg Smart of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, and viewers learn that, in theory, this strange, inedible brew could pass one of the minimum standards for pet food.
We hope after seeing this film that you will be moved to become more educated about the ingredients used in pet foods and to make wiser choices. The film was to be aired on television last year but it was pulled without explanation.
The movie is free of charge and will take place at Frecon's Hardbean, located at 128 East Philadelphia Avenue, Boyertown. A discussion on the topic will follow. All are welcome to attend. No pets, please since this is an eating establishment.
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The Collegeville Farmers' Market and the Collegeville Main Street program are sponsored by the Collegeville Economic Development Corporation (CEDC).
Support the Farmers' Market by becoming a member of the CEDC, a 501 (c)3 non-profit group which is working to revitalize our local business district and further improve the quality-of-life of residents. For more information: http://www.collegevilledevelopment.org
Contact:
Maureen Cawley
Collegeville Farmers' Market Manager
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