Join us for the Winchester Farmers Market
Saturday, 9:30-1:30, on the Town Common
In This Issue
This Week at the Market
Photos from Last Week
Featured Item of the Week: Squash Blossoms
Other Local Farmers Markets
Issue 8 July 26, 2008
Greetings!
 
Welcome to the July 26 issue of the Winchester Farmers Market newsletter.
 
This week at the market we will have a new vendor. Maria Day will be selling Trooper's Treats, which are homemade, all natural dog biscuits in three flavors: beef, chicken and peanut butter. They're homemade in Arlington, and sell for $5 a bag with about 25 treats in each bag. Bring your dog to the market this week to enjoy some Trooper's Treats!
 
A community groups tent will debut at the market this week, featuring a local non-profit organization or other community group. The Winchester Foundation for Educational Excellence is the featured community group this week. A few dates in August and October are still open for the community groups tent. Please contact us if you know of a group that would like to participate.
 
The market will take place rain or shine throughout the season. Please try to ride your bike or walk to the market if you can, or park your car in the Aberjona or Shore Road lot to leave parking spaces surrounding the common open for short-term parking near downtown businesses. The Aberjona lot, which runs along the commuter rail track across from the post office, is free on weekends, including the permit spaces in the end of the lot.
 
Remember to bring your own shopping bags to the market if you can.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday on the common.
 
Sincerely,
Winchester Farmers Market Organizing Committee
 

This Week at the Market

 
Blueberries Amaranth Peppers Peas Purple Beans Carrots
 
This week at the market, the farmers expect to bring the following:
 
Vegetables: amaranth, arugula, beans (green, purple, roma, wax), beets, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, chard (bright lights, green, red), carrots, collard greens, corn, cucumbers (persian, pickling, salad), eggplant (Chinese, Japanese, traditional purple), green garlic, kale (green, red), kohlrabi, lettuce (baby lettuce mix, red leaf, romaine), mustard greens, new potatoes, pea tendrils, peppers, scallions, squash (kousa, sunburst, yellow summer, pattypan, zucchini), tomatoes (cherry, grape, plum, red, yellow), water spinach 
 
Fruit: apples, black raspberries, blueberries, currants, golden raspberries, gooseberries, peaches, raspberries, strawberries
 
Herbs: basil (African blue, Italian, purple, Thai), chives, cilantro, dill, mint, oregano, sage, thyme
 
Other: cut flowers, herb plants, perennials  
 
In addition to the farmers, Globe Fish will be selling fresh fish, Glutenus Minimus will be selling gourmet gluten-free cookies, Cocoa Express will be selling coffee, tea, and baked goods, and Trooper's Treats will be selling homemade, all natural dog biscuits.
 
Jessica Klau of Queen Bee Designs will be selling jewelry and accessories for self, home, and baby.
 
Featured entertainment from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm will be jazz and classical guitarist Matthew Boland. Farmers market customers have already had a chance to enjoy Matt's music on July 12. Matt performs solo jazz and classical guitar locally at weddings, galleries, restaurants, and local events and with his ensembles at local venues such as Ryle's Jazz Club in Inman Sq. Cambridge and SpringStep dance studios in Medford, Mass. He teaches guitar privately out of his home in Wakefield, Mass. For more information, see Matt's website.
 
The featured artist in the Winchester Artists Network tent will be fiber artist Denise Konicek demonstrating quilting.
 
The featured community group will be the Winchester Foundation for Educational Excellence. The WFEE was founded in 1992 to support innovation and excellence in the Winchester public schools. They provide private money to fund initiative that are beyond the reach of available public funds.
 
Photos from July 19
 
Chip Sloan   Pattypan squash   Artist Jay Sullivan
Chip Sloan of the duo Chip and Dale.    Pattypan squash.                              Artist Jay Sullivan.
 
Grape tomatoes   Corn and beans   Relaxing on the common 
Grape tomatoes.                               Summer bounty of corn and beans.       Relaxing on the common.       
 
Featured Item of the Week: Squash Blossoms 
 
Squash BlossomsSquash blossoms are not only attractive flowers but also flavorful vegetables. A squash plant produces both male and female blossoms: pollen from the male blossoms is carried by insects to pollinate the female blossoms, resulting in squash. Because the male blossoms do not produce squash, they are ideally harvested for eating (although some should be left on the plant for pollination). Sometimes baby squash with the female blossoms still attached are also available. Squash blossoms do not keep well for longer than a day, so they are not usually available to the home cook in supermarkets and are available only at farmers markets.
 
Squash blossoms can be sliced and sauted, braised with other vegetables, added raw to salads or fritattas, or deep fried in a tempura batter. Squash blossoms are especially good for stuffing with soft cheese, ground meat, or mashed vegetables.
 
Following are some recipes featuring squash blossoms. 
 
Other Local Farmers Markets

If you ever have to miss the Winchester Farmers Market on Saturdays, there are several other great local farmers markets you can visit on other days.
 
Arlington, Wednesdays 1pm to 6:30pm, Russell Parking Lot, Arlington Center
farmersmarketarlington.googlepages.com/home
 
Bedford, Mondays 2pm to 6:30pm, Depot Park, South Road 
www.bedfordmarket.org
 
Belmont, Thursdays 2pm to 6:30pm, Cross St. Parking Lot, Belmont Center 
www.belmontfarmersmarket.org
 
Lexington, Tuesdays 2pm to 6:30pm, Mass Ave. and Fletcher Ave., Lexington Center
www.lexingtonfarmersmarket.org
 
Medford, Thursdays 1pm to 7pm,  River Street
medfordsquaremarket.blogspot.com
 
Somerville, Wednesdays 12pm to 6pm, Day St. and Herbert St., Davis Square