Like we mentioned in last week's newsletter, A Taste of the Farm Dinner will take place on August 24th from 5:30-8:30pm at the Fifth Third Bank Pavilion. Stop by the information booth this weekend to purchase tickets and find out more.  We will also be posting an online ordering portal in the coming days.  

This week, as part of our interactive Facebook Challenges people had to guess which 5 varieties were used to spell out "Lexington Farmers' Market."  The answer is:  "Lexington" is made with Cheyenne Peppers, the dot for the "i" is a Thai Pepper, and the "o" is a Paprika Pepper;  "Farmers'" is 1/2 White Runner Beans; "Market" is the stem of Rainbow Chard.  Thanks for your participation and keep watch for our next Challenge. 

• 2 pounds boneless leg of lamb, cut into 2 inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic (3-4 cloves)
• 2 tablespoons minced rosemary leaves
• 1 teaspoon parsley
• 1/2 cup mild olive oil
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 red onion
• 5-6 mushrooms
• 1 red bell pepper

1. Whisk all ingredients except for the lamb and red onion in a large bowl.
   Add the lamb and coat all pieces. Make sure the lamb is covered in the marinade.
2. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight (or up to 2 days). Before cooking, let the lamb sit out and come to room temperature (30 minutes - 1 hour).
   Heat grill to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Arrange the kebabs on wooden skewer, alternating with red onion, mushrooms, and pepper.
4. Cook on grill for 10-15 minutes, turning about 2-3 times. Lamb is best served medium-rare.

• Lamb
• Garlic
• Rosemary
• Parsley
• Olive Oil
• Salt
• Red Onion
• Mushrooms
• Bell Peppers

If you haven't yet, we would like to invite you to join Blue Moon Farm on Facebook.......just click the link above!  We do last minute information before markets and post lots of great pictures, like the one you see here.  This was a beautiful cloud we saw on 7/14.  We were heading early to bed after a long weekend of markets, and I noticed that the light seemed odd outside.  When I went out to look this is what I found!  I call it the volcano cloud!

It looks like this weekend will offer a perfect opportunity for grilling out!  The quintessential summer dinner.....corn on the cob, fresh sliced tomatoes, and a STEAK, BURGER, or SAUSAGE on the grill!  

Colcord Farm's GRASS FINISHED BEEF steaks are on sale for 30% off!!  SIRLOIN, RIBEYE, NY STRIP and FILETS.   Put a dollop of GARLIC SCAPE PESTO on top just before serving!  Gourmet!!  Or try some on your corn in place of butter!  If you'd rather do sausages, Stone Cross Farm supplies us with great ITALIAN, POLISH, BRATS, CHORIZO, ENGLISH BANGERS and HOT DOGS.  They also supply the best BACON around for your BLT's!!  BREAKFAST SAUSAGE for patties or in links.

Kentucky  Grass Finished LAMB from Bourbon County....CHOPS, RACKS, STEW MEAT (great for shish kabob!), SHOULDER ROAST or Bone-In LEG ROAST.  GARLIC!!  ONIONS, SHALLOTS, fresh cut BASIL and CILANTRO!  GARLIC POWDERS and PEPPER POWDERS. ARTISAN BREADS from Sunrise Bakery, including the best GARLIC BAGELS in town!  3 delicious CHEESES from Stone Cross Farm's Cloverdale Creamery......we'll have samples for you to try!

Our beautiful MIXED LETTUCES are gone until fall, but we'll have Vibrant Greens hydroponically grown greens all summer.....BIBB LETTUCE and ARUGULA, maybe some ROMAINE, WATERCRESS and PURPLE BASIL by special request.

If you are planning a big party at any time, we can get you a whole pig or lamb to barbeque. (10 days lead-time required)  For a little smaller get-together we have a beautiful whole BEEF TENDERLOIN!

Forecast looks perfect at this point for the weekend......a break from the heat and humidity!  Come join the celebration of fresh local food!!

We were featured on Food News and Chews on Fox TV Sunday night. Here's a link.  

Our cheese is made from all natural JD Country Milk, a family owned Mennonite dairy farm in Logan County. The cows are pasture grazed and never given any antibiotics or hormones. Instead they are fed a vitamin enriched diet and all the grass they can eat. The milk is not homogenized and is pasteurized at just 145 degrees, then quickly cooled to preserve the natural flavor and enzymes that Mother Nature intended. We think the milk tastes better because the cows are happy.

You won't see hydraulic presses and fancy modern equipment around here. Instead, we make our cheeses by hand using traditional European techniques to protect the delicate curds. This is a lot more work and very time consuming, but we believe it creates better cheeses with rich complex flavors. We hope you agree.

Thanks for your support. See you at the market.

Boone Creek Creamery

859-402-2364
www.boonecreekcreamery.com
ed2@kycheese.com

" he looks relaxed. Careless like. Carefree. "

" we know they had him in Ireland, on Grafton Street nonetheless, but he's here in Lexington "

" Jackie, come down with me on Saturday morning, to Sunrise Bakery, I'll introduce the two of you - if you please "

" we know he's settled into a routine around here. We know his boy drives a mini with an unreasonable number of foglights. He's out downtown a lot. We understand his curious tastes and preferences. And, we will have our introduction when the time is right, thank you. "

" don't seem likely he'll give a damn if you take your time. He's not unhappy. Living on West Third. Frequenting the wine bar on the corner and strolling the outdoor vegetable market with his cappuccino in a cardboard mug. "

" right. Pull over here - at this bookshop. "

" need a book ? "

" an author. "

To be continued. 

Scott County

We appreciate seeing so many familiar faces returning to the markets on Saturday and Sunday outdoors, as well as lots of new people just moving to the area.  We will continue to attend each market each week including Tues, Wed, Thurs, rain or sun or something in between - hope to see you as well!

PRODUCE we are harvesting now includes Broccoli, Green Beans, Beets (Red, Gold, Candy Stripe), Carrots (Orange and Yellow), Cabbages (Savoy, Green, Red, Napa), Greens (Kale, Lacinato, Red Russian, Collard), Summer Squash (Yellow Squash, Green Zucchini, Patty Pan, Baby Squash Mix), Swiss Chard, Cucumbers (Slicing, English, Salad), Kohlrabi, Garlic, Green Bell Peppers, Turnips, and more coming on each day.

NEW  We have found a professional charcutier to make delicious sausages, bratwursts, and franks for us from Elmwood organic beef.  It has been several years since we had our all-beef sausages to offer, and we are really excited about these tasty and high quality offerings.

EGGS We offer each market our certified organic eggs from free-ranging hens who live outdoors on grass pasture.  Both whole dozen and half-dozens available. Our hens are always outside, enjoying the green growing grass & clover and rewarding us with beautiful big brown eggs packed full of flavor, orangey color, and healthful omega-3-fatty acids.

MEAT and POULTRY  We have restocked our inventory of grass-fed Angus organic beef, along with our certified organic whole chickens, cut-up chicken pieces, and flavorful hearty stewing hens.  In addition, we have chicken liver and ground turkey.  Feel free to order ahead for quantity amounts or a particular cut for that special meal, and we'll have it ready for pickup at any of the farmers markets.  View our website for special Beef & Chicken Bundles, and other quantities packages.

These days, more than ever, it's important to know the source of your family's food and you can look to our local organic farm to meet your body's nutritional needs resulting in good health.  Visit our website to learn more, review our price lists, pre-order your special items, or contact Elmwood for more information(scroll up a little for a quick link!)

Elmwood Stock Farm

859-621-0755

Our homegrown tomatoes are here!  Look for us and our big box truck at the Wednesday market at Commonwealth Stadium, behind the old courthouse at the corner of Short and Upper on Saturday, and at Southland Drive on Sunday.   All of our offerings are sustainably grown, Kentucky Proud, 100% homegrown, and pesticide free.  We will have the following:

-Homegrown heirloom and hybrid tomatoes, many varieties

-Roma tomatoes, great for sauces and salsa

-Multi colored cherry tomato pints

-Baby lettuce mix, likely the last week for it

-Yummy blackberries

-Assorted hot and sweet peppers

-Fresh cut basil

-Yellow squash

-Fresh cut cilantro

-Fresh purslane

-Our popular uglies but goodies

Check out what's new at the farm on our Facebook page, we look forward to seeing you at the market! 

The outdoor Lexington Farmers Markets for 2013 are now open. We will be at the following markets this week:    

Southland Drive, Sunday, July 28th (10am-2pm)

Mary Tyler "The Peach Lady" {Facebook}

Clark County

Peaches! Peaches! Peaches!

Our sweet juicy peaches are ripe for the pickin'.  Good every day, all day!  Even help soothe your afternoon hunger pangs with Mrs. Mary's tree-ripened peaches!  No need to reach for the vending machine change, instead sink your teeth into some peachy goodness.  And while you're at it, get enough for the entire office or even your grouchy uncle's pet python Perry.  These peaches are so tasty they'll even turn that snake face into a smile!

Quarles Farm {Website} {Facebook}

Lamb is back in stock in our coolers this weekend.  We'll have all cuts with us this Saturday and Sunday until they sell out.  Chops, shoulder roasts, legs, racks.  Succulent Kentucky grown lamb ready for your table.

This week you'll find us again with the grill fired up at Cheapside on Saturday and Southland on Sunday.  If you get out of your car at either location and get a whiff of those succulent burgers and brats; just follow your nose and bring your appetite.  The burgers and brats are made from our beef as well as the onions and soon tomatoes from our garden.  These burgers aren't those little thin things you get from the drive thru.  These are handmade, thick, juicy and topped with some of the market's best local cheeses.  Place your orders for lunch or breakfast when you first get to the market, do some shopping and then stop by to pick up your meal.  There's also plenty of sweet tea, lemonade and other drinks available.  We'll also be at Commonwealth Stadium on Wednesday. 

We'll have vegetables, plenty of candy onions as well as cabbage, corn, squash and potatoes.  Great on the grill or in your favorite recipes.  There'll be plenty of jams, including blackberry and blackberry peach, as well as plenty of breads and other baked goods.  Come on down.  Bring your grocery list and your appetite.  There's plenty of great surprises to be discovered at the market!

Follow us on  Facebook or check out our website.

Reed Valley Orchard {Website} {Facebook}

Bourbon County

Follow us on Facebook for updates each week. We are having a special on U-pick blueberries this week at our orchard.

Our website www.reedvalleyorchard.com will show the varieties of fruit that we have throughout the season.

This week we will have some GREAT flowers, including: 

• At least two varieties of Oriental lily: the awesome double, 'Roselily' and 'Merostar,' which is a gigantic red Oriental with white edges and fabulous fragrance. Both are magnificent as cut flowers. 
• TWO varieties of pollenless sunflowers which we put together in a bouquet with Zebra grass. If you have a tall vase or stone crock, a couple of bunches of these sunflowers and grass bouquets make a stunning centerpiece for a very modest cost. 
• Look forward to the classic white lisianthus this Saturday at the Lexington farmers market! It has an incredibly long vase life and is non-fragrant.! 
• Lemon basil zinnia bouquets will be packed with fragrant (and edible!) lemon basil, brightly colored zinnias and snapdragons, white yarrow and more. 
• Sweet peas are a flower that we don't see a lot, outside of florists, this time of year. We sourced our seed from Laughing Owl nursery in England because they're developing some of the best cut flower sweet peas in the world. We're growing them in the greenhouse, where we can keep it cooler, and they're almost 10 feet tall. We cut stems long, with blooming flowers, buds and the curly tendrils. 

Saturday looks to be entirely pleasant this week, so we hope you'll start off your day at the Lexington Farmers' Market! As always, just send us a note on Facebook or give us a call (859-771-2085) if you want to reserve flowers, have a question, or are wanting tot have some very special flowers for a very special event. We'd love to help!

Thanks very much for buying local and we hope to see you soon!

- Charlie Hendricks, Elizabeth Hendricks and Val Schirmer

Wildflour Scones & Tea {Facebook}

Scott County

We will unfortunately NOT be set up this Saturday at 5/3 Pavilion but we WILL be at the UK Farmers Market at Commonwealth Stadium this Wednesday 7/25 from 3-6pm. Come enjoy a locally made afternoon treat with us!

Sorry about the inconvenience and we will see everyone tomorrow or next week!

Visit our Facebook page for more info and flavor postings on Fridays. 

Facebook.comWildflourSconesandTea
See you Saturday!

In Your Community

If you live or work on the North side of Lexington, keep and eye out for us this week. Today we are serving up fresh cherry tomatoes at Booker T. Washington's summer feeding program. Any area children can stop by the primary school, eat a hot lunch, participate in our cherry tomato taste test, and learn about what it takes to grow a tomato.

Additionally, market produce vouchers will be appearing at more North side businesses, community cooking classes, and market locations this week. Grab a few and encourage your neighbors to shop at the Lexington Farmers' Market and Eat Like It's Summer!

Stephanie Hopkins

Food Desert Initiative Coordinator

Stephanie@lexingtonfarmersmarket.com