ENW
 
August 14, 2009 
UPCOMING EVENTS
 
Our Chef in the Market series continues on August 15th with Vincent Schofield of The Willows Inn Restaurant.  He is preparing Smoked Salmon & Fava Bean Puree on Crostini w/Poached Pullet Egg and Tomato!  Sounds delicious, doesn't it?!  Stop by to see the demonstrations at 11am.  There will be samples and copies of his recipe available.  The Chef in the Market tent is located in the front of the pavillion on the corner of Railroad and E. Maple.
 
Kids on the FarmKids, Cukes & Carrots!
Kids, bring your parents to the Bellingham Farmers Market Saturday August 29th to enjoy a day full of fresh local food and little people!  There will be children's "cooking" demos, storytelling about the history of food and farming in Whatcom Co., and lots of fun activities to help you and get to know your food a little better and have fun.  It's okay, play with your food!  Brought to you by the Bellingham Farmers Market in partnership with Sustainable Connections as the August Event for "Eat Local EVERY Week."  And special thanks to Claire Nilund of Cuisine by Claire, Laura Plaut of Common Threads Farm and David Westerlund, author of Simone Goes to Market  for their participation in this event.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR MARKET!
Geoff MartinMeet Our Vendors
Goeff and Anna Martin of Osprey Hill Farm
 
What makes your product unique, unusual, or special?  I love to cook and to eat good food.  I am always seeking out new varieties or products, as well as those that have stood the test of time, which will satisfy my palate.

Learn more about Osprey Hill Farm
TomatoesWhat's Fresh
Tomatoes, Tomatoes and More Tomatoes

The Market is overflowing with beautiful tomatoes of every size and color.  From cherry tomatoes to heirloom tomatoes, you'll want to stock up and eat them at their best.
 
What's the best way to store these gems??  Don't give tomatoes the cold shoulder. Store them at room temperature (above 55 F) until they have fully ripened. This will allow them to ripen properly and develop good flavor and aroma.   Also, try to store tomatoes out of direct sunlight so they will not ripen unevenly. 
 
If tomatoes are actually going to last more than a couple days in your house,  place them in the refrigerator, after they're fully ripened.  But serve them at room temperature to enjoy their peak flavor!
Photo by Cynthia St. ClaireHelpful Hint
 
BFM fan Cynthia St. Clair recommends using a recycled quart-size plastic yogurt container and lid to transport fragile berries, cherry tomatoes, and other market produce home safely.  So throw your empty containers in your Market bag and you'll always be prepared!
Saying Farewell to Dr. Dandelion

ciao thymeDeb Robbins of Dr. Dandelion has announced that she and her family are moving back to Maine in August!  Deb has been an integral part of the Market since 2006 and we will miss her smile, upbeat attitude and fabulous products!  Please be sure to wish Deb well and stock up on your Dr. Dandelion products before she leaves.
 
Roasted TomatoesFeatured Recipe
 
This is one of my favorite ways of enjoying tomatoes.  You'll be amazed by the intense flavor!  They are delicious in pasta, salads, or on crostini with a little goat cheese.  
 
Slow-Roasted Tomatoes
Ingredients:
4 pounds plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise
6 garlic cloves, minced
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
 
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 200°F.  Put tomatoes, cut sides up, in 2 large shallow baking pans. Combine garlic and oil and spoon over tomatoes. Season tomatoes with salt and pepper and roast in oven 6 to 8 hours (tomatoes will be reduced in size but will retain their shape). Cool tomatoes.
Roasted tomatoes keep in an airtight container, chilled, 2 weeks. Bring to room temperature before using.
GleanersSmall Potatoes Gleaning Project
 
Every Wednesday and Saturday, folks from the Small Potatoes Gleaning Project stop by the Market at the end of the day to collect donations from the farmers.  To date, over 3,500 pounds of fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs have been collected and distributed to organizations such as Sean Humphrey House and The Lighthouse Mission, ensuring that more people have access to healthy food!
 
If you are a home gardener consider donating your excess crop to the Small Potatoes Gleaning Project.  Gardeners can call to make arrangements for a team of volunteers to come and glean for them, or to obtain information about the locations and delivery hours of food banks and meals programs in their area.
 
If you are overwhelmed with abundance from your garden, they can help you share your crop with hungry people in our community. They do their best to provide quality produce to those who otherwise don't have access to fresh, nourishing food. Before calling, ask yourself if it's food you would eat. Please do not ask them to harvest overripe, or insect ridden fruit.  For more information contact Dorothy Mitchell at 739-5274.
Care2.com"Love Your Farmers Market" Contest
 
Care2.com and LovalHarvest.org are sponsoring a "Love Your Farmers Market" contest.  The winning market can win $5,000 or other prizes.  This money would help us continue to develop and improve programs like our Chef in the Market series, Kids Vending Day, live entertainment and our informational website and electronic newsletter.
 
Every vote helps promote local food, family farms and sustainable agriculture. Please help my farmers market win by voting today. Thanks!

CLICK HERE to vote and spread the word!

Suggestions and Comments Are Welcome!
  Email your ideas or concerns to market@bellinghamfarmers.org. There will also be a 'Suggestion Box' available at the Information Booth each Saturday for your comments.