Welcome to Northeast Harvest E-Newsletter

Northeast Harvest E-Newsletter
June 2010
In This Issue

Get it Fresh at the Farmers Market

Farmers Market Chart

Nutritious Food at Farmers Markets

Featured Product

Recipe of the Month

Favorite Farmers Market Contest

Edible Boston

NOFA Summer Conference

What's On Your Mind?

ATTENTION!  Essex and Middlesex
Farmers...

Please send us any updates to your farm listing, including new and different offerings and share the dates/times of any farm happenings with our readers...
 
AND PLEASE ADD
NortheastHarvest.com as a reciprocal link on your farm website. Thank you.
 
CALENDAR
 
 
June 
 6/19 Marini Farm and so many other farms - Strawberry Festival
 
6/30 7pm - 8:30,
Summer Chef Series at Smolak Farm featuring Chef Antonio Bettencourt
 
July
7/28 7pm-8:30
Summer Chef Series at Smolak Farm featuring Jason Bond
 
August
8/13-15 NOFA Summer Conference at UMass Amherst
 
8/25 7pm-8:30 Summer Chef Series at Smolak Farm featuuring Samuel Hunt 

Meet the Northeast Harvest Advisory Board  

James O'Brien
_______________  

Richard Adelman
Alfalfa Farm    

Dr. Rich Bonnano
Pleasant Valley Gardens

David Butt
Turkey Hill Farm
 
Alison Coutts
Chateauneuf Mother's Prize Preserves      

Bill Clark
Clark Farm        

Lisa Colby
Colby Farm   

Glenn Cook
Cider Hill Farm  
 
Karen Cook
Cider Hill Farm 
 
 
David Dumaresq
Brox Farm
 
 
Peter Gibney
Gibney Gardens
 
Kathy Herrick
Herrick Dairy Farm
 
Mary Jordan
MA Department of Agricultural Resources 
 
 Joy Nowak
Topsfield Fair 
 
 
 
Andrew Rodgers
Green Meadows Farm  
 
Diana Rodgers
Green Meadows Farm  
 
 
Scott Soares
MA Commissioner of Agriculture     
 
Sandy Trefry
Gibney Gardens
 
Steve Verrill
Verrill Farms  
 
 
Stephanie Wilson
 
Frederic Winthrop
Former MA Commissioner of Agriculture
Links
 
Get it FRESH at the Farmers Market!
Get it Fresh at the Farmers Market!Whether you live in a city or rural township, a farmers' market is easy to find today. Not so not too long ago! Back in 1977, there were only 7 farmers markets in the entire state. Today there are hundreds and 55 of them are in the NortheastHarvest region.
 
From spring until late fall, you can find local growers set up with their canopies and colorful displays of just-harvested fruits and vegetables in town squares, parks and other public spaces. You'll also find an array of other farm products, including baked goods, jams and jellies, maple products, honey, farmstead cheeses, flowers, turkey products, eggs and more! The festive atmosphere, community spirit and fresh foods will certainly please all your senses.Learn more...
Farmers Markets in Essex & Middlesex Counties
NortheastHarvest has made finding a farmers market near you easy as pie! Use the NortheastHarvest website, clicking on the Farmers market category to call up a google map of regional farmers markets, or use this printable pdf as a guide to the freshest fruits and veggies in town.

Farmers Markets = Nutritious Food  

CarrotsLocal fruits and vegetables from a farmers market are good sources of vitamin A, beta-carotene, vitamin C and fiber. Vitamin A and beta-carotene are needed for fetal and infant growth. Vitamin C builds healthy bones, teeth, and skin and helps to heal wounds and burns 
 
 

Vitamin A & Beta-Carotene:

cantaloupe  carrots   sweet potato  green leafy vegetables     pumpkin spinach  winter squash

 

Vitamin C

broccoli   brussels sprouts   cabbage   cantaloupe      cauliflower     green pepper   strawberries   tomatoes

 

Fiber

apples   asparagus   blackberries   carrots   cherries     corn   cauliflower  pears   potatoes   strawberries   tomatoes          

 

Cruciferous Vegetables - High in Vitamins A, C, and Fiber   

bok choy   brussels sprouts  cauliflower  onions   cabbage   broccoli   kale   kohlrabi   turnip

Featured Product:  Bok Choy                                                   

Bok ChoyA veggie that has raised its Farmer's market profile in recent years is Bok Choy, aka bak choi, paak choi, Chinese chard cabbage and Chinese mustard cabbage. It is a vegetable that resembles celery although it is actually a member of the cabbage family. It has thick, white stalks and dark green leaves that have a round shape.

When purchasing bok choy, select stalks that are pure white and firm. Additionally, look for leaves that are dark green and non-wilted. Do not select bok choy that has any brown spots on its leaves, as this type of bok choy is less flavorful. Once purchased, you can safely store bok choy in your home for up to three days provided that you refrigerate it in a plastic bag immediately. Learn more...

Recipe of the Month: Roasted Bok Choy

Serves: 4    Prep Time: 15  Total Time: 15 min.

 

Roasted Bok ChoyA quick trip to a hot oven, combined with a drizzle of lemony dressing, brings bok choy to the table in no time at all.

 

Ingredients

4 heads baby bok choy, (1 1/4 pounds), trimmed, leaves separated

4 teaspoons canola oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon or 3/4 teaspoon dried

1 teaspoon mirin, (see Note)

Freshly ground pepper, to taste

 

Cooking Directions

Preheat oven to 450°F. Toss bok choy, oil, garlic and salt in a roasting pan. Roast on lowest rack, stirring twice, until wilted and tender-crisp, about 6 minutes. Whisk lemon zest and juice, tarragon, mirin and pepper in a small bowl. Drizzle over the roasted bok choy.

 

Note: Mirin is a low-alcohol rice wine essential to Japanese cooking. Look for it in your supermarket with the Asian or gourmet ingredients. An equal portion of sherry or white wine with a pinch of sugar may be substituted. 

 

Calling All Farmers Markets! Announcing the 2010 America's Favorite Farmers Markets Contest

This nationwide contest will give farmers' market customers an opportunity to vote for their favorite markets and show support for their local food communities. The goal is to promote the connection between fresh and local food and the local farms and farmland that supply it. The 2010 America's Favorite Farmers' Market contest is open for new farmers markets to register! This year American Farmland Trust is offering a host of new prizes for market managers and customers, more tools to get larger crowds out to support farmers' markets, and will be making a bigger impact for local farms and food in America!

Voting starts June 1st so get ready, get out, and love your farmers' market. Farmers' Markets that are interested in participating can sign-up now at

www.farmland.org/marketmanager.
Edible Boston - Agriculture in Massachusetts - "Green and Growing"
Edible BostonEdible Boston magazine, devoted to the celebration of the abundance of local food in the Greater Boston area, is in its fifth year running. Published quarterly, its focus is on local farmers, chefs, artisan cheeses, recipes, farmers' markets, guest articles, and all things locally grown! The latest 2010 summer edition of Edible Boston features an article by Commissioner Scott J. Soares entitled Agriculture in Massachusetts: Green and Growing. In it Commissioner Soares highlights agricultural trends, economic indicators, and recent "ag" initiatives. Learn more...
Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) Summer Conference
2010 NOFAPlease mark your calendar for the NOFA Summer Conference at UMass Amherst, August 13-15, 2010. Join constituents from all over New England, New York and New Jersey, as we celebrate sustainable local food. There are over 200 workshops to choose from, dozens of exhibitors, a Teen Conference, Children's Program, an Afternoon Fair with farm animals, live music, auction, and an ALL-LOCAL dinner. Stay on campus in the dorms or camp in a tent under the stars.
 
Here is a list of complete workshop offerings. This year they are featuring keynote speakers Sally Fallon Morell, of the Weston A. Price Foundation, and Dr. Fernando Funes, of the Cuban Association of Agronomists and Foresters. 
 
Download a registration form or register online. All registrations that are received before July 12, 2010 receive a $20 discount. For more information about the NOFA Summer Conference, please contact: NOFA/Mass, 411 Sheldon Road, Barre, MA 01005, 978-355-2853, or info@nofasummerconference.org.
What's on your mind? 
 
Send us your photos
Help us improve and enhance the NotheastHarvest e-news! Send us your photos and story suggestions. Keep us apprised of agricultural events in your community so we can help spread the word. 
 
This newsletter is presented in partnership by: