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Dane County Farmers' Market eNewsletter
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September 15, 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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Inside the paper-like husk you'll find the delicious tomatillo fruit. They are available from various DCFM members. --Photo by Bill Lubing
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This Week ... A spray of colors and greenery from Almost There Farm. (West Mifflin at the Wisconsin Ave. Inlet) --Photo by Bill Lubing
Get Squashed! We're moving firmly into the fall squash season. Butternut, spaghetti, festival, and kabocha squash are appearing in greater numbers at the market. Celery, cilantro, and collards join leeks, lemongrass, and lettuce as the raw ingredients for a great menu.
Many of the melons are reaching their prime, including musk, cantaloupe, and serenade, a small melon about the size of the softball, with a smooth skin, and sweet flesh.
This is the time of year when many folks mistakenly call an end to their flower and decorative plant passions. That would be a mistake. Mums, asters, dried grasses, bulbs, and more are available at the market. Beautiful hanging baskets, outstanding bouquets, and fall table decorations can be found throughout the market. So don't put away your watering can just yet!
See you at market. [email protected]
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Meet the Producer: Heck's Farm Market Gary Heck from Heck's Market replenishes the beans at his stall at the Dane County Farmers' Market. (West Main St.) --Photo by Bill Lubing
When you pass by the Heck's Market stand, on West Main St. across from AnchorBank, you notice a lot. If it's sweet corn, owner Gary Heck brings a lot. If it's beans, peas, melons, or tomatoes, it's always a lot. | A row of coolers at Heck's Market. |
When you step behind the large market building at Heck's Market, located at 7266 Highway 14, just west of Arena you see why they offer so much. There are acres planted in potatoes, tomatoes, melons, and squash. An intricate irrigation system keeps the fields watered. A dedicated crew is either planting, tending, or harvesting the crops. The farm boasts 75 acres of sweet corn, five acres of strawberries, and ten acres of watermelons and muskmelons. That is not including the potatoes, beans, carrots, and other produce. Gary, who operates the market with his wife Cheryl, has also started bringing to market Heck's own canned goods. At the Heck's DCFM stand you'll find tomato juice, salsa, and other products, all made for their own fruits and vegetables. Gary says that the farm was started by his parents in 1972. "We had to work hard to build up the soil," he says. "When we first started nothing would even grow here." By carefully managing their land, the farm is now known for its abundance of produce. Heck's Market was recently U.S.D.A. Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certified. The GAP protocol and audits focus on the best agricultural practices to verify and maintain that fruits and vegetables are produced, packed, handled, and stored in the safest manner possible to minimize the risks of microbial food safety hazards. Gary shows us how some of this is accomplished in the accompanying video with their tomato handling protocol. "GAP is very important to us," says Gary. "It's opened a lot of doors because many wholesales won't buy from a farm unless it's GAP certified." | Concrete lawn ornaments at Heck's Market |
While he doesn't bring them to the DCFM, Heck's Market does a brisk business in concrete lawn ornaments. They feature one of the largest selections in Southern Wisconsin. As far as painting the lawn ornaments ... guess what you'll find Gary doing during the winter months? The market also features a flea market every Saturday and Sunday from April through October. A long-time DCFM vendor, Gary says he loves to come to market. It's a great opportunity to socialize with other vendors and his many loyal customers. For us, it's an opportunity to find some really great produce! And we don't mind driving for the lawn ornaments. Besides, they're too heavy to carry around the square. For More Information:Heck's Market Gary and Cheryl Heck 608-753-2474 7266 Highway 14 (25 miles West of Madison) Email: [email protected]_________________________ VIDEO BONUS! Hanging Out With Gary Heck At Heck's Market | Hanging with Gary Heck at Heck's Farm Market |
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Recipes:
Caramelized Butternut Squash; Honey Roasted Pork Loin
Caramelized Butternut Squash --Photo by GaylaJ
by Pianolady
This is a delicious butternut squash recipe from Ina Garten / The Barefoot Contessa. We really enjoy this during the holidays and when the evenings start getting cool. It is best when the squash is cut in medium to large chunks so that the outside gets a maple-flavored crust and the inside stays soft and delicious.Ingredients- 2 medium butternut squash (4 to 5 pounds total)
- 6-8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/2-1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Directions- Preheat the oven to 400.
- Cut off the ends of each butternut squash and discard.
- Peel the squash (optional) and cut in half lengthwise.
- Using a spoon, remove the seeds.
- Cut the squash into 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" cubes (large and uniform is best), and place them on a baking sheet.
- Add the melted butter, brown sugar, salt and pepper.
- With clean hands, toss all of the ingredients together and spread out in a single layer on the baking sheet.
- Roast for 45 minutes to 55 minutes, until the squash is tender and the glaze begins to caramelize.
- Turn the squash while roasting a few times with a spatula to be sure it browns evenly.
- Adjust seasonings if needed.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Adapted from www.food.com Honey Roasted Pork Loin Honey Roasted Pork Loin --Photo by Caroline Cooks by Lisa in Oregon Ingredients - 2 pounds pork loin (boneless (optional) (Numerous DCFM vendors. Check at the info booth on N. Carroll St.)
- To taste salt and pepper (Salt at Renaissance Farm, N. Carroll St.; Pepper, Savory Accents, S. Carroll St.)
- 1/4 cup honey (Various vendors)
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 2 tablespoons sunflower oil (Cherokee Bison Farms, N. Pinckney or Driftless Organics, S. Pinckney) from the market or olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 1/2 cup chicken broth from the market (Check Jordandal Farms on West Main St.)
Directions - Preheat the oven to 375.
- Season the pork and place in a roasting pan.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the honey, juice, oil and thyme.
- Pour over the pork.
- Add the broth to the pan.
- Bake until internal temperature reaches 150 (45-60 minutes).
- Baste frequently.
- Strain the pan juices into a saucepan.
- Reduce until slightly thickened.
- Serve over the sliced pork.
Adapted from www.food.com Return to 'In This Issue' Contents
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At Market This Week
Time to replenish the pantry!
An unusual jade plant from Good Earth Gardens. (West 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 Semolina 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
Gluten-free bakery
Jalape�o garlic cheddar cheese flat bread
'Mpanata Muffins
Panettone Pastries
Persian toffee
Persian rice cookies
Pistachio baklava
Ragusa Style Sicilian Semolina Bread Scaccia Scones Spicy cheese bread Sweet breads Tea breads Torts Tortillas Whole wheat sourdough Whoopie pies
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 Arugula Asparagus Banana leaves Basil Beets Bitter Melon Bok Choi Broccoli Brussels Sprouts Burdock Cabbage (several varieties) Carrots Chard Collard Greens Cucumbers Dill Edible flowers Garlic (green) Herbs Kale Keiffer lime leaves Kohlrabi Leeks Lettuce Mustard Mustard greens Onions (Green, overwintered, and fresh) Popcorn Parsnips Peas (Sweet, Snow, Snap, other) Potatoes (several varieties) Radishes Ramps Rhubarb Sweet Potatoes Shallots Salad mixes Spinach Squash (Summer, Zucchini, others) Sun chokes Sweet Potatoes Tomatoes, canned Tomatoes, fresh Turnips Canteloupe Jams, jellies, preserves Musk melon Pears Plums Raspberries (frozen) Raspberries (fresh) Strawberries (fresh) Strawberries (frozen) Tomatoes (fresh) Tomatoes (canned) Tomatoes (dried) Watermelon
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 Plants
Bedding Bulbs Cut flowers Dried arrangements Floral arrangements Hanging baskets Herbs (starts and potted) Native Ornamental starts Perennials Potted flowers Vegetable starts
Specialty Items Apple Cider Black Walnuts Bloody Mary mix Candles Eggs Flavored sea salt Gluten-free bakery Gourds, decorative Grains (whole and flour) Hickory Nuts 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
Delicious pears from the market. --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.
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Looking Ahead ...
A real up and comer, the aronia berry. Shown here atCarandale Farm, Stop by for a sample and recipe. (North Pinckney St.) --Photo by Bill Lubing
Fourteenth Annual 'Food for Thought' Festival This Saturday!
Make plans to spend some time at the REAP Food for Thought Festival on Saturday from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. Taking place on Martin Luther King Blvd., just south of the Capitol Square, the event celebrates local food and products. This free event brings together over 40 organizationsj, farms, and restaurants connected with our local food system. The foods tent promises to be the best yet. Plus there are tasting demos, kids' activities, and the first-ever food camp. Remember, it's FREE and it's LOCAL!
Here are highlights of the upcoming event: (New this year) Food CampOpportunities to participate, taste, and learn on topics like beekeeping, backyard chickens, cooking with veggies, composting, building a mini hoop house, cheese making, and more. Chef ShowdownWhere area chefs are provided with a collection of the freshest mystery ingredients provided by the Dane County Farmers' Market from which they prepare a dish on the spot. Local Food TentPick up tasty and locally-sourced breakfast and lunch dishes from Buy Fresh Buy Local program partner chefs. Interactive Exhibitor BoothsDisplays by dozens of organizations, farms, restaurants and others working to promote a healthy food system. Kid's Activity Tent- Chickens! Kids can feed, pet, and meet chicken friends.
- Colleen's Art Wagon will have a variety of great food-centered kids activities like edible jewelry making.
- Veggie Stamps - help decorate the kid's tent with big stamps of your favorite veggies!
- Pickle Making! Kids can bring home their own batch of refrigerator pickles.
- Face painting;
- And so much more!
REAP works in several areas to strengthen local food systems. The Dane County Farmers' Market co-sponsors the Food for Thought Festival and other REAP projects.
Until next week.
Bill Lubing
DCFM
[email protected]
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