| Join us for the Winchester Farmers Market
Saturday, 9:30-1:30, on the Town Common |
Greetings!
Welcome to the August 9 issue of the Winchester Farmers Market newsletter. This Saturday is an especially good time to come to the market to celebrate National Farmers Market Week (Aug. 3-9).
A new vendor, Autumn Hills Orchard, will be joining the market this week (see below for a profile of Autumn Hills).
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 |
|
|
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 (green, red), chard (bright lights, green, red), carrots, collard greens, corn, cucumbers (pickling, salad), eggplant (Chinese, Japanese, traditional purple ,white), green garlic, kale (green, red), kohlrabi, lettuce (baby lettuce mix, red leaf, romaine), mustard greens, new potatoes, pea tendrils, peppers, radishes, 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, ground cherries, peaches, plums, 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.
Sara Brown will be selling art prints and cards.
Featured entertainment this week from 10:00 to 12:00 will be the father and son band Eddie and Ryan Biggins playing originals, cover songs, and Irish music.
The featured artist in the Winchester Artists Network tent will be award-winning Winchester artist, Lee Ferrara. Lee will be demonstrating and showing watercolors, and she will also have a sampling of matted or framed originals and prints. Her charming note cards depict a variety of subjects indicative of a versatile background in painting, collage, and graphic design.
|
| New Vendor: Autumn Hills Orchard |
|
|
Autumn Hills Orchard in Groton grows over 20 varieties of apples, including MacIntosh, Macoun, Cortland, Mutsu, Empire, Paula Red, Liberty, Red Delicious, Rhode Island Greening, Lady Apple, Golden Delicious, Spencer, Gala, Fuji, Braeburn, Ginger Gold, Cox's Orange Pippin; Bosc and Bartlett pears; Italian prune plums; peaches; and Concord grapes. Autumn Hills Orchard had been a working orchard for more than 70 years and includes over 8,000 trees on 70 acres. The trees are planted on three parallel ridges to provide good drainage and excellent protection from frost. The staff at Autumn Hill has over 100 combined years of orchard experience. They practice integrated pest management (IPM) techniques and take special measures to intervene as little as possible in the natural growing cycle. They use no herbicides and constantly research ways to grow the highest quality fruit while producing maximum benefit for both the environment and the consumer. As part of their efforts toward stewardship, Autumn Hills is participating in a study by researchers at Manomet Observatory focusing on the effects of farming activities on migratory bird populations.
|
| Featured Item of the Week: Ground Cherries |
|
 Ground cherries, also known as husk tomatoes or strawberry tomatoes, are one of the more unusual fruits available at the farmers market. They are native to Central and South America. The name ground cherry relates to the sprawling growing habit of the plant, which often leaves the fruit on the ground as it ripens. Ground cherries grow inside of a husk, similar to a tomatillo, which they are related to.
The flavor of ground cherries is often described as being a cross between pineapple, cherry, vanilla, and tomato. Ground cherries can be eaten raw or dried, used in salads, or cooked to make pies and jam.
Following are some recipes using ground cherries.
|
| 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.
Lexington, Tuesdays 2pm to 6:30pm, Mass Ave. and Fletcher Ave., Lexington Center
Somerville, Wednesdays 12pm to 6pm, Day St. and Herbert St., Davis Square
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
