Davidson Farmers Market this Saturday

Chef Vera is back at the Market this Saturday with a chef demo at 9 and 10 a.m. She will arrive at the Market by 8:15 a.m., ready to shop for her demo ingredients. Vera has chosen two, cool summer recipes, featuring farm-fresh tomatoes, which are in abundance. She'll be preparing a watermelon-tomato salad and a Panzanella (tomato bread salad).

Our DFM chefs are focused on educating Market-goers on using what's in season now, cooking techniques and safe practices.

Be sure to visit the demo for a tasty sample and a copy of Vera's summer recipes.

Salsa Showdown - Bring it on!

It's time to get ready for the Second Annual DFM Salsa Showdown Saturday, July 23 at the Davidson Farmers Market. And we don't mean salsa dancing...we mean salsa making!

So if you think your salsa can make the Market crowd yell "I LOVE IT!" Then bring it on!

Salsa showdown1

Here's how it works:

1. Submit your entry here on www.signupgenius.com; on the DFM website at www.davidsonfarmersmarket.org; or in person at the DFM booth.

2. Four entires will be chosen through a blind-drawing to determine the four showdown contestants.

3. Before you apply - be sure to read the fine-print. For example, contestants must use their own money to buy their salsa making ingredients at the Market on Showdown day. In addition, only three non-Market ingredients are allowed. More details on the entry form - check it out!

4. The winner and their assistant will each win $25 in Market tokens and bragging rights for one year!

Bring on the heat!

Attention!

Food Preservation Workshops

NC Cooperative Extension, Cabarrus Co. Center - access flyer here

Sessions offered in July. Don't hesitate - they fill up quickly!

Register on-line here

and browse all class offerings

This Week at the Davidson Farmer's Market!

We are in peak Market season! All the veggies and fruits are bursting with flavor and nutrients. This yummy produce is just waiting to be paired with other vendor selections including Gilcrest meats and poultry; Wild Turkey Farms meats and pork; Big Oak's meats and pork; Flying Fish Seafood; Calico cheeses and more!

Summer gatherings are happening. Instead of bearing your host or hostess with a bottle of wine, why not say "thanks for having us" with a lovely bar of soap from Essential Soaps or Half-Moon Garden. Or a special gift from our Lavender Lady.

Chef Vera is back this Saturday at 9 and 10 a.m. Be sure to arrive on-time to get a spot under the tent and watch her prepare two, cool summer recipes. See chef demo details below.

Experience all the wonderful offerings from our region this Saturday at the Davidon Farmer's Market.

See you there!

Fundraising Campaign a Success

Thanks for all your donations to the DFM's Annual Pea Pod Campaign.

We reached our goal! $2,500!

You've helped our Market become even stronger!

The DFM accepts donations any time.

Market Events this Week

*Chef Demo: Chef Vera at 9 and 10 a.m.

*Music: Work Release String Band

*WOW: Carolyn Walker "Tadpole Clouds"
*Community Partner: Davidson Committee on Aging

*Sponsors of the Day: Mi-connection, Flatiron, Wooden Stone

* Growing Kids: Stop by the Growing Kids booth this Saturday

Volunteers Make the Magic Happen

Imhoff

At 6:15 a.m. on a summer Saturday morning in Davidson, the air is crisp and peaceful. The town is sleeping. One-by-one, vibrant green and white shirts emerge from various parking lots, Summit's back porch and surrounding brick pathways. Coffee in hand and remnants of the sand-man, Market volunteers arrive at the shed with smiles and greetings, ready to set-up the Farmer's Market. The Market Map shows the volunteers where to set-up the 32 blue tents and tables, water coolers, trash cans, recycling and composting bins. The volunteers, focused and perky, work hard to set-up before the vendors arrive.

As early as 6:50 a.m., pick-up trucks begin pulling into the parking lot, loaded with tomatoes, corn, peppers, onions, Eggplant, potatoes, melons, berries, peaches, herbs, plants, meats, cheeses, breads, cakes, honey, soaps, lavender, chocolates and dog treats. Farmers, bakers and producers transform their booths into festive Market stands, adding tablecloths, shelving, baskets, bins and signs...loading their tables with their homegrown, homemade bounties.

What was once a quiet and serene space is now a pulsating Farmer's Market Festival. The Market bell rings at 8 a.m.

Almost 1,000 people roam the Market visiting their favorite vendors and meeting new ones. Friends stop to chat, kids swarm the jungle gym, parents sip coffee and shop, vendors answer questions, Market foods sizzle at the demo tent, acoustic sounds fill the space, Market-goers buy tokens and t-shirts, more volunteers settle in at the DFM booth and help the Market run smoothly.

At Noon the Market bell rings to announce closing. The vendors pack-up, wiping sweat from their brows, ready to return home, happy, but tired.

Taking a pause from their weekend activities, more Market volunteers arrive to help collapse the tents and tables. They sort through the garbage and recycling bins, empty water coolers, break-down the DFM both and return all the Market equipment to the shed.

1 p.m. The space is peaceful. The Market is over. Until next Saturday.

Thank you DFM Volunteers. We couldn't do it without you!

Volunteer - sign up here!

Gleaning at the DFM

The DFM is gleaning!

At Market closing, the Society of St. Andrews will come out and gather farmer donations to distribute to our local community in need. That's right, this farm fresh food will feed our Davidson and surrounding area families.

Thank you DFM farmers and Society of St. Andrews for making this happen!

Are you a Growing Kid?

If you are a kid and like to plant and grow things...you could be a "Growing Kid" at the DFM. Come sell your home grown fruits and veggies two times during the Market season.

growing kids 3

Stop by the DFM booth for more information or Email info@davidsonfarmersmarket.org

Fresh at the Market this Week

calico

Many of our DFM Vendors may be contacted by phone or Email pre-ordering before the Market. Click the farm names below to see if they have websites available.

Audrey's Produce
Audrey Miller

Mooresville, NC
704.663.3472
audreysproduce@aol.com

Audrey will be back in the Fall with a beaucoup of apples!

Barbee Farms

Tommy, Anna & Brent Barbee

Concord, NC

980.521.1395

For this week we will have, squash, zucs, cukes, sweet and hot peppers, tomatoes, grape tomatoes, fresh basil, carrots, beets, 6 different types of melons to please any taste,(with samples), red and yellow sweet onions, white and bicolor sweet corn, red and white new crop potatoes, garlic, and peaches that are tree ripened (donut peaches are coming on strong), and I'm sure I have forgotten something - stop by to see us!

Big Jim's Produce

Jim & Chris Arthurs

Troutman, NC

Seasonal produce, loaf breads, pound cakes and fruit preserves.

Big Oak Farm

Mike & Dawn Smith

Denver, NC

mikesmith1859@yahoo.com

Beef & Pork products. Beef - pastured beef ribeyes, skirt steak, flap meat, cubed steak, ribeyes, sirloins, NY Strips, kabobs, ground beef, should and rump roasts, stew mean, beef jerky. Pork - chops, ribs, roast, uncured bacon, Boston butts, Grandpa Johnston's real old fashioned breakfast sausage, kielbasa, ground pork and Cajun sausage. Email your order by 6 p.m. Friday and we'll have it ready for you on Saturday.

Calico Farmstead Cheese

Jackie & Larry Gerringer

Gibsonville, NC

landjdairy@aol.com

336.516.0750

Butter, fresh and aged cows' milk cheeses - ricotta, queso fresca, havarti, mozzarella, farmer cheese, fromage blanc, feta, camembert, cheese curds, skillet cheese, several varieties of spreadable cream cheese and farm-fresh eggs. Several varieties of fresh artisan goat cheeses made by us from Wilderness Trail Farm goat milk.

Caroline's Chocolates

We will not be at the Market this weekend, see you next week!

Chef Charles Catering

Chef Charles Semail

Charlotte, NC

Handmade sausage (Roman, Provencal, Pork & Apple, Chicken Cordon Bleu & Merguez). Vanilla Custard Peach Pie, Brioche, Croissants, Focaccia, New Homemade Pizzas, BBQ packages, Herb Vinaigrette, Pear & Ginger Chutney, Green Tomatilla Jam, Pate (wild mushroom & green peppercorn), Cured Chirizo.

Coldwater Creek Farm

Brad Hinkley & Eric Williamson

Cabarrus County

Certified organic produce including spinach, Kale, Swiss Chard, Bok Choi and garlic scape pesto. From Cackleberry Farms: eggs, yogurt cheese, Queso Fresco, Feta, butter and specialty farmstead cheeses.

Correll Farm/Red Barn Market

David & Cheryl Correll

Cleveland, NC

The heirloom tomatoes have reached their peak this week, we will have lots of Cherokee Purples, pinks, Mr. Stripeys, Carolina Golds, Nyagous, and Wapsipinicon Peach, to go along with our reds and cherry and grape tomatoes. We will also have lots of sweet corn this week. Check out our hot and sweet pepper assortment and tomatillos to make salsa for your 4th of July cookout. This week we will also have Artichokes, Bell Peppers, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery Root, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Green Beans, Yellow Wax Beans, Hot Peppers. Onions. Potatoes,Zucchini, Mini Bell Pepper, and Mini Eggplant.

Elliott Apiary

Glenda & John Elliott

Davidson & Harmony, NC

Local wildflower honey. We will be bringing new honey crop this week!

Elma C. Lomax

Lynn MacDougall-Fleming & students of the Incubator Program

Cabarrus County

Seasonal organically certified produce - summer tomatoes, potatoes, garlic, squash and more!

Flying Fish Seafood

David & Peggy Meeks

Davidson, NC

Red Snapper is back on line for the season. (This is one of my all time favorites!) We will also have Grouper, Tilefish, Mahi-Mahi, Flounder, as well as Dry Pack Scallops (super sweet), Jumbo Shrimp, and N.C. Little Neck Clams- by the dozen. All of the above is N.C. caught.

Gilcrest Natural Farm

Gil & Amy Foster

Iron Station, NC

amyjofoster@yahoo.com

704.308.1431

Gilcrest Natural Farm will be on hand with our pasture raised meats (no hormones or antibiotics). Chicken: whole birds, split breast, boneless/skinless breast, wings, leg quarters, drumsticks, ground chicken. Beef: steaks - ribeye, sirloin, flank, philly and cube. Roasts: chuck, sirloin tip, shoulder, eye of round, brisket. Good stuff: ground beef, hamburger patties, stew beef, stir fry stips, liver, dog bones, breakfast sausage, Jerry's beef jerky and our delicious hot dogs!

Grateful Growers

Natalie Veres & Cassie Parsons

Denver, NC

Grateful Growes will be back the first weekend in August! Round pork (amazing burgers), bratwurst, chops, shoulder roasts (great BBQ), italian sausage. We'll also have breakfast sausage, chorizo, and uncured bacon for the best BLT ever. Be sure to try our thin-slice dry cured ham...aged 9-months, this ham is not quite prosciutto, but is still amazing with peaches, melons, figs, fish, grits, beans, eggs, rice, and anything else you can come up with.

Half Moon Gardens

Trish Raglin & Patrick Poitras

Mooresville, NC

This week we'll have herbs, sun and shad perennials and handmade soaps.

Happy Hound Bakery

happyhound@roadrunner.com

Stacey & Keith Ulaszek

Mooresville, NC

We will have our usual treat flavors: Barkberry, Gingerbark, Carob Nip, Peamutt Paradise and Pawfect Pizza. We will also have extra large specialty bones in Peamutt Paradise, Pawfect Pizza by the Slice and miscellaneous specialty cookies. Handmade reversible dog scarves in a variety of cute fabrics will be available again (xs, s and m/l).

Henry's Wholesome Foods

Henry Imhoff & Family

Cleveland, NC

henryandritaimhoff@juno.com

704.278.0503

Freshly baked loaf breads: Honey Oat, 60% Whole Wheat, cookies, fresh-made doughnuts, lemon bars and more. We will also have blueberries, tomatoes and canned tomato chunks.

Herr's Fresh Flowers

Jefferson Herr & Family

Vale, NC

828.308.3074

Custom or pre-order flower bouquets.

Houston Farm

Patsy & Bobby Houston

Huntersville, NC

Tomatoes, Potatoes, Yellow Squash, Zucchini, Acorn, Butternut and Spaghetti Squash, Green Peppers, Jalapeno Peppers, Garlic, Corn, Cucumbers, Egg Plant!

Inspired Garden

Colleen McDaniel

Kannapolis, NC

Assorted organic vegetables.

KC Farm

Chris & Kristi Goodrum

Mt. Mourne, NC

This week we will have watermelons, cantaloupes, eggs, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, kale, collard greens, beets, Swiss Chard, red onions, radishes, turnips and turnip greens, arugula, tomatoes and corn. For baked goods we'll have banana bread, lemon pound cake and chocolate cake with icing.

Landis Gourmet Mushrooms

John & Kris Herron

China Grove, NC

Blackberries and a variety of herbs. We'll be bringing figs in a few weeks.

Laughing Llama

Robert & Kia Mulligan

China Grove, NC

Laughing Lama will be back in the fall!

The Lavender Garden

Rita Rodelli

China Grove, NC

I will be bringing Lavender/Sage Astringent; Lavender Spa Lotion; Lavender Bud Sachets; Lavender Wands; Linen Spray; Goat's Milk Soap; Olive Oil Soap; and SKY Perfume to the Farmer's Market on Saturday, July 9th, as well as the Lavender Dried Stems for Flower Arrangements. See you there! .

Lucille's

Lucille Benoit

Charlotte, NC

Lucille will have a selection of organic artisan baked goods, with many wheat free options including organic breads, muffins, scones, cookies, cinnamon rolls, as well as Lucille's Signature Jams and hand-thrown pottery by Susan Benoit.

Millstone Meadows Farm

Mark & Sara Hord

Morganton, NC

828.433.7126

mhord828@bellsouth.net

Artisan breads, beer breadsticks, homemade potato chips with Rosemary and sea salt, Heirloom tomato pies, veggie stratas, sweet and savory tarts (blackberry and peach), cold salads, prepared foods (using seasonal and local ingredients of course), lamb, Brats and Italian sausage.

Outdoor Feasts

Dan Huntley

803-487-6876
danthepigman@mac.com

Dan the pigman will be back in a few weeks!

The Pasta Wench

Andrea Morrell

Deep Gap, NC

Delicious gourmet ravioli and butters.

Peaches & Cream Farm

Calvin Phillips

Wadesboro, NC

Fresh peaches, blackberries and blueberries. Come early!

Renn Bee Farm

Marcel Renn

Cleveland, NC

Local wildflower honey.

Twin Oaks Farm

Greg Hartsell

China Grove, NC

A beautiful variety of fresh produce and herbs.

Wild Turkey Farm

Lee & Domisty Menius

China Grove, NC

704.202.9348

Great products from our own Pasture Raised Berkshire Pork and 100% Grass Fed Angus Beef. Restocked with Lamb and Free-range whole chickens. All of our producets are 100% Rowan County born and raised.

Thank you DFM Sponsors

DavidsonNews.net, Media Sponsor

Woods Stone Gallery, FlatIron Kitchen & Taphouse, Mi-Connection

5th/3rd Bank (office space); Baybridge Management; Bragg Financial; Brenda Pressley, CPA, PA; Campagnia Cafe; 'Cats on Main; Cocoon Salon; Davidson Chocolate Company; Davidson Family Medicine; Davidson Lands Conservancy; Davidson Village Inn; Downtown Davidson Inc.; Edmond Morgan Massage School; Home Careolina; Ingersoll Rand; JJ Wade Agency; John Marshall Custom Homes; Know Your Farms; Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce; Lake Norman Realty; Lake Norman Embroidery and Screen Printing; Lake Norman YMCA; Little Fish Marketing; Main Street Books; Mayes, Wilson and Associates; McIntosh Law Firm; North Carolina Medical Specialists; Our Town Cinemas; PiEs - Project for Innovation, Energy and Sustainability; PostNet Davidson; Prudential Carolinas/Mary Lib Richards and Julie Lopez; Robinson, Bradshaw and Humphrey; Sandy and Rex Kragh and Family; Smarthiking PR; The Cycle Path; The Stewart Group; The Village Store; Town of Davidson (market site and storage); and Triple Play Farm.

www.davidsonfarmersmarket.org