Vegetables: beans (green), beets, bok choi, broccoli, chard (bright lights, green, red), corn, cucumbers, eggplant (Japanese, purple), garlic, kale (green, red), okra, peppers (cubanelle, green, jalapeno, poblano, purple, rainbow, red, serrano, white), squash (kousa, patty pan, summer, zucchini), tomatoes (cherry, grape, heirloom, yellow, plum, red), winter squash (acorn, butternut, red curry, spaghetti), zucchini flowers
 

Other products: grass-fed beef, bread, candy, cheese, chocolate, cut flowers, eggs, fish, honey, jam and preserves, lobster

Entertainment: 9:30-10:00 Winchester Community Music School Jazz Quartet, 10:15-10:45 WCMS Rock Band,

Artist: Debe Holland, ceramics

Community Group Tent: Winchester Community Music School

Business Tent: Jessica Klau, jewelry

Food Tent: Deborah's Kitchen, homemade jams and preserves; Sweet Lolo's, handmade candy

Cooking/Nutrition Demonstration: Vittorio Ettore (Bistro 5)

This week and next week (September 11 and 18), Chef Vittorio Ettore will demonstrate recipes inspired by his Heirloom Tomato Celebration, which is featured at Bistro 5 during the month of September.  This week, he will be making gazpacho with variations. Any of you who saw Chef Ettore's previous demonstration earlier in the season know what an informative, entertaining, and delicious treat this demonstration will be!

                                                                                 

According to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, Massachusetts ranks sixth in the country in number of farmers markets, and the number of farm shares, or CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture programs) is ever-increasing. But the growing season is short in New England.  Most markets and CSAs wind down in October, leaving locally minded consumers wondering where to shop for local food. Fortunately, more and more sources of winter produce are available in our area.
 
For those ready to make a commitment to eating locally year-round, several groups have begun offering winter farm shares.  As with any other CSA, these usually require you to pay in advance so that the farmers can plan and buy supplies, and you share with them both the risks and the rewards of farming.  Options vary widely, from weekly to monthly deliveries including everything from storage vegetables to honey and maple syrup, pickles, and preserves.
 
The Shared Harvest CSA is a partnership between six local growers: Busa Farm, Riverland Farm, Picadilly Farm, Brookwood Farm, Cider Hill Farm, and Moraine Farm.  From October through December, they provide a smorgasbord of fall and winter produce. Two month shares, distributed on Nov. 20 and Dec. 18, are still available., and can be picked up at Busa Farm in Lexington or at the Bradley Estate, home of Brookwood Community Farm, in Canton.  Members can also order special add-ons, including Fiore di Nonno handmade cheese, Taza chocolate, local apples, and cider, maple syrup, honey and more.
 
Other farms offering winter shares include Drumlin Farm (Nov. through Feb. pick-ups at the farm in Lincoln), Red Fire Farm,  (offering Nov. through March pick-ups in Cambridge, Somerville, and other cities), and Farmer Dave's (pick-ups in Somerville and other cities).
 
Looking for some meat to go with those winter potatoes? Omnivores can enjoy year-round access to locally raised meat, as well. Chestnut Farm in Hardwick offers a fall/winter meat share that can be picked up in Arlington or neighboring communities. Austin Brothers Valley Farm delivers meat shares to Central Square in Cambridge from December through June. The Farm School in North Orange delivers monthly shares to Watertown. Stillman's Farm offers winter meat shares starting in January or March, with pick-up points in Jamaica Plain and Brookline.

For the more casual consumer, winter farmers markets are one of the best ways to get locally and sustainably grown produce in the off-season.  Many of you got to enjoy the indoor winter market in Winchester last November, and the Winchester Farmers Market will again be holding an indoor winter market in November and another one in December. Watch this newsletter for details. There are several markets that stay open through the fall, closing up shop only once winter has really set in. The Boston Public Market at City Hall Plaza takes place on Mondays and Wednesdays through November 24 from 11AM to 6PM.  The Davis Square Farmers Market is also open every Wednesday, from noon to 6PM, through Thanksgiving.  Both scale back to a 5PM closing when daylight savings time ends.  Farther afield is the Jamaica Plain Farmers Market, which runs until just before Christmas. Hours are 12:00PM to 5:00PM on Tuesdays and till 3:00PM on Saturdays.  For last-minute holiday shopping, Lexington's Seasons Four will host a one-day winter market on Tuesday, November 23.
 
Even in the deepest part of winter, it is still possible to shop for local food at farmers markets. The Wayland Winter Indoor Farmers' Market, at Russell's Garden Center, opens on January 8, 2011, and volunteers of the Natick Community Organic Farm staff a market at the Johnson School on Route 27 on Saturday mornings, 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM, from January through March. Another market, new this year, is planned for Somerville. Groundwork Somerville, Union Square Main Streets, and other local agencies are working with the city to make the market dream come true.  Details are still being negotiated, but the Center for the Arts at the Armory has offered to host the market, which may be held on Saturday mornings.
 
There are many reasons to eat local.  You can feel good about supporting local farmers and businesses, and the super-fresh food they sell tastes great.  Plus, buying what's in season locally can save money. Now, with so many options for local food in the winter months, you can add convenience to the list!

Thank you to Leah Bloom and Gretta Anderson of Shared Harvest for providing this useful article!
 

Wondering how to save some of the bountiful summer produce available at the market now to enjoy into the fall and winter? The Massachusetts Chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA/Mass) is holding its second annual statewide Fall Food Preservation Days. On September 11 and 18, there will be food preservation workshops throughout the state covering topics such as: 

• Lacto Fermentation: Using salt to suppress spoiling bacteria while fostering growth of beneficial lacto bacillus bacteria, which are present on vegetables and produce the preservative, lactic acid.
• Pickling: Using vinegar to preserve vegetables or fruits along with spices and herbs.
• Water bath Canning: Using a boiling pot of water to push out air and seal the rubber lid of glass jars containing high acid foods.
• Pressure Canning: Using a pressure canner to create high temperature steam that pushes out air and seals the rubber lid of glass jars containing low acid foods.
• Freezing: Maximizing nutrient preservation in the food.
• Drying: Removing most of the water from a food and then keeping it dry so molds cannot take hold.
• Culturing: Using microorganisms to transform the sugars or lactose of various liquid foods into other kinds of nutritious and tasty substances.
• Root Cellaring: Putting foods - particularly root crops - in cool, dark, and properly humid conditions for extended storage.

(Information from the NOFA/Mass website.)

A special opportunity is available to support the farmers market during the 2010 season by displaying a lawn sign in your yard to help promote the market. We are looking for several people who live in Winchester or surrounding towns who would be willing to display a lawn sign on their property from Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon each week during the market season. If you would be willing to have a sign in your yard but do not want to have to remember to put it out every week, we will arrange to have a volunteer put out the sign on Friday afternoon and remove it on Saturday afternoon. All you have to do is make a few inches of lawn space available!

 
Thank you to everyone who has already agreed to display a lawn sign!

 

Visit the farmers market Facebook page to share your photos of the market, post comments, and get updates about the market.



Follow the market on Twitter to get the latest updates from the market on Saturday mornings.

We need volunteers this week (and every week) to help with the farmers market, especially for setup before the market between 8:30 and 9:30 and takedown after the market between 1:30 and 2:30. If you are able to help, please sign up at our online signup sheet to let us know when you are coming.

 

Thank you to everyone who has already volunteered to help. Your assistance is especially important in keeping the market running smoothly, and we appreciate everything you do!

We need Publicist/Marketing, Fundraiser Liaison, and Volunteer Coordinator. Please email Fred Yen at fredyen@winchesterfarmersmarket.org for more information.