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Dane County Farmers' Market eNewsletter
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April 28, 2012
6:00 am - 2:00 pm
Downtown Madison Parking Map
(Private ramps and street parking are also available.)
Dane County Farmers' Market
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This Week ... A sea of flowers and their admirers at Domann's Plants. (North Pinckney St.) --Photo by Bill Lubing "Neither snow nor rain nor Crazy Legs Race ..."Every year around this time Dane County Farmers' Market (DCFM) Manager Larry Johnson fields a runners pack of callers wanting to know if the market is affected by the Crazy Legs Classic. This springtime event begins at 10:00 am on the Capitol Square, OUTSIDE of the location of the DCFM. The market maintains normal operations before, during, and after the event. There are no fewer vendors, the hours of the market don't change, and the market proceeds unaffected by the Crazy Legs event. Manager Reports a Good Market OpenerDCFM Market Manager Larry Johnson dropped us the following thoughts on this year's opening market: The first Summer Saturday Market had a record number of vendors (138) for the Opening Day. The weather and the crowds were outstanding. Everyone had a great time renewing connections and finding delicious early vegetables and colorful plants.
Vendors had their usual "first market" challenges. One vendor forgot the cash box and another forgot a table - usual stuff. But one vendor forgot her shoes! She wore her high-top rubber boots to water plants in the hoop house before leaving the farm. Eager to get on the road, she drove away without changing into her walking shoes. It was a long hot day for her tired feet.
We can relate! See you at market! Bill Lubing [email protected]
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What to Expect This Week
brings plenty of herbs, house plants, bedding plants, and more this time of the year.
(South Carroll at West Main) --Photo by Bill Lubing
The asparagus is coming on strong while the morels are still holding their own. There were several producers with rhubarb last week and a number with hot house tomatoes. Ramps should still be available this week as will be the spring garlic.
| Petite cookies from Chris & Lori's Bakehouse.(N. Pinckney St.) --Photo by Bill Lubing | Chris and Lori's Bakehouse offers a great selection of scones, cookies, and other fresh baked goods. When we stopped to say hello last week, Chris let us know that they're offering a new line of petite cookies.
These sophisticated little gems include chai shortbread, snickerdoodle, chocolate chunk cardamom, and others. They're located on North Pinckney St.
Along with their good selection of dried beans, Flyte Family Farm is also offering bean flour. Carrie says it works great for making refried beans in a hurry. She explains that in recipes the bean flour is used as a supplement to wheat flour, adding body and texture to both savory and sweet baked goods.
Now is the time to start choosing those plants for your vegetable or flower garden. While there is still time to plant, if you're undecided there is an army of producers ready to answer your questions and help you decide. Remember, unlike many mass merchandising outlets, the sellers at the Dane County Farmers' Market are the growers. Who better to give advice on what they're selling?
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Recipes
Scrambled Eggs with Ramps, Morels, and Asparagus
Morels, asparagus, eggs, and ramps from the DCFM.
--Photos by Bill Lubing
from Bon App�tit Serves 2
This recipe is as delicious for lunch or supper as it is for breakfast. Morel mushrooms tend to trap grit, so swish them around in cool water, transfer them to fresh water for a 15-minute soak, and pat dry before using.
Note that except for the butter, all of the ingredients for this dish will be available at this week's market. Also, note that shiitake or oyster mushrooms can be substituted for the morels. Green garlic or green onions could work in place of the ramps.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced trimmed ramp bulbs and slender stems plus 1 cup thinly sliced green tops (from about 4 large ramps)
- 4 medium asparagus spears, trimmed, cut diagonally into 1/2-inch pieces (about 1/2 cup)
- 1 ounce fresh morel mushrooms, thinly sliced lengthwise (about 1/2 cup)
- 4 large eggs, beaten to blend
Directions
- Melt butter in medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add ramp bulbs and stems to skillet; saut� 3 minutes.
- Add green tops, asparagus, and mushrooms; saut� until ramps are soft and asparagus is crisp-tender, about 9 minutes. (We waited to add the morels the last five minutes of cooking.)
- Add eggs to skillet; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stir until eggs are very softly set, about 2 minutes.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide scrambled eggs between 2 plates and serve immediately.
Adapted from Epicurious.com.
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Locally Produced Popcorn
From the DCFM Fun to pop, more fun to eat,
no matter how you crunch it!
Beautiful to look at. More fun to eat. This corn on the cob pop corn from Krinke's Market (South Pinckney St.) can be put into a paper bag and placed in the microwave. Pop on high for around two minutes. When the pop rate falls to less than one every two seconds, it's time to take it out.
There's a lot of poppin' in these tubs of home grown corn from Tietz Family Farms (East Main St.)
Air pop the kernels or get a heavy three- or four-quart pot. Add just enough sunflower oil from the market to cover the bottom. Place two kernels of corn in the bottom. Cover, heat over medium-high heat, and wait for them to pop.
Then, cover the bottom of the pot with a single layer of pop corn. Cover. Pop until the frequency between pops drops to greater than two seconds. Remove from heat and pour into a serving bowl.
However you pop your corn, buy it from one of several DCFM producers to ensure that it is locally grown and of high quality.
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At Market This Week
Time to replenish the pantry!
The sun on the wings of bees captured in these jars of pure Wisconsin honey gathered by Wisconsin Honey Farms (East Mifflin St.) --Photo by Bill LubingWe strive to keep this list as accurate as possible. We probably missed an item or two that is at the market or listed an item as available when it is not. Chances are that not all items mentioned or listed below will be at each market. If you see an item at the market that is not listed here please email [email protected] so we may update the list. Bakery
Asiago black pepper bread,
Biscotti
Cashew finger baklava
Cheese bread
Cheesecake
Chocolate walnut baklava
Cinnamon rolls
Cookies
Dinner rolls (plain, garlic cheddar cheese, or Jalape�o garlic cheddar cheese available)
English toffee
Flat breads
Garlic cheddar cheese flat bread
Jalape�o garlic cheddar cheese flat bread
Muffins
Panettone
Pastries
Persian toffee
Persian rice cookies
Pistachio baklava
Ragusa Style Sicilian Semolina Bread
Scones
Spicy cheese bread
Spinach 'Mpanata
Sweet breads
Tea breads
Tomato Scaccia
Torts
Tortillas
Whole wheat sourdough
Cheese
Cheese curds Goat cheese Sheep milk cheese Mixed milk cheeses Cottage Cheese World-class aged cheeses
Return to 'In This Issue' Contents Fresh Vegetables Asparagus Beets Carrots Collard Greens Garlic (green) Herbs Kale Kohlrabi Leeks Lettuce Onions (Green and overwintered) Popcorn Parsnips Potatoes Radishes Ramps Rhubarb Shallots Salad mixes Tomatoes, canned Tomatoes, fresh Turnips
Fruit Apples
Jams, jellies, preserves Pears Raspberries (frozen) Raspberries (fresh) Strawberries (frozen) Tomatoes (fresh) Tomatoes (canned) Tomatoes (dried)
Meats (Grass and grain fed) Angus beef Beef Brats and sausage Chicken Conventional cuts Duck Elk Emu
Trout (fresh and smoked) Ham Highland beef Lamb Pork Salmon Special cuts Turkey Venison Fresh and smoked trout Smoked salmon
Specialty Items
Apple Cider Bloody Mary mix Candles Eggs Flavored sea salt Honey Hot sauces Infused olive oil Maple syrup Morels Mushrooms Pasties (frozen) Pesto Popcorn Salsa Soup (canned and frozen) Stocks (Chicken and Beef) Sunflower oil Tomato sauces Tortillas Vinaigrettes Return to 'In This Issue' Contents |
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Market Information
Dates, Times, Locations, and Contact Information for The Dane County Farmers' Market
There is a lot of interest in the grilled cheese sampling at Brunkow Cheese. (West Main Street at Martin Luther King Blvd.) --Photo by Bill Lubing 2012 Saturday Outdoor Market
Date: April 21 through November 10, 2012
Hours: 6:00 am to 2:00 pm
2012 Wednesday Outdoor Market
Date: April 25 through November 14, 2012
Hours: 8:30 am to 2:00 pm
Where: 200 Block of Martin Luther King Blvd., Madison Parking: Nearby municipal ramps and area on-street parking
Questions About the Market?
If you have any questions about the market or the vendors, please contact the market manager, Larry Johnson, at 608-455-1999 or email him at [email protected]. The DCFM website provides much information as well.
Dane County Farmers' Market
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are needed to staff the Information Booth, located at the top of State Street. If you'd like to find out more about this fun way to get involved with the Dane County Farmers' Market, drop an email to The shifts are short. The people are fun. And it's a great way to learn more about the Dane County Farmers' Market.
Please contact Elizabeth Barley and Sean Michael Dargan at [email protected] for information about volunteering at the market breakfasts (winter months only). It's fun, rewarding, and really appreciated by the market-going public.
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Looking Ahead ...
The May issue of Madison Magazine has plenty of great things to say about the DCFM.
Telling the DCFM Story This time of the year Market Manager Larry Johnson is busy fulfilling media requests about the DCFM. The interviews, photos, and information on vendors he supplies usually gain a mention, a few photos, or a short piece in a magazine, newspaper, or web site.
Rarely does a publication feature the market on its front cover. The May issue of Madison Magazine does just that. The article, "Square Roots" by Madison writer Sarah Karon traces the DCFM's early days, starting 40 years ago when "A handful of farmers assembled on the Capitol Square to sell their produce."
| Dan Aultman of The Summer Kitchen (West Main St.) is one of a number of DCFM producers featured in the article. --Photo by Bill Lubing | She brings us up to the present where the market, "Attracts tens of thousands of visitors weekly, making it one of the country's top markets, a symbol of Madison. and an essential connector between the city and the farms that surround it."
The magazine was published before last week's market. Several vendors at the market mentioned to us how they noticed a significant uptick in sales, which they attributed to the article.
Positive mentions of the market, such as this Madison Magazine article, directly enhance the efforts of DCFM producers. So do mentions to friends, co-workers, and family.
In many ways those of us who subscribe to this eNewsletter are the "enlightened" who understand the appeal of quality products being sold by the producer. It's why the DCFM has grown to be one of the largest producer-only markets in the country.
It's fabulous when the media tells the story of the Dane County Farmers' Market. It's beyond fabulous when we take it upon ourselves to do the same. Until Next Week!
Bill Lubing DCFM [email protected] Return to 'In This Issue' Contents |
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