‘Salad days’ are upon the Farmers’ Market

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With hot weather coming so early in the year, some of the Fayette County Farmers’ Market’s early spring vegetables which prefer cooler weather will be short lived. This includes lettuce and other greens which are prone to becoming bitter or bolting in hot weather. But don’t lose heart, because the “salad days” are still upon us and you will find salad makings at the farm market.

Eating green salads has been linked to human longevity. I don’t know how many or how often one needs to eat salads for longevity to increase, but the days of referring to salads as “rabbit food” are hopefully well behind us. You will not find ice burg lettuce at the farmers’ market – rather loose leaf and cos head types, in beautiful shades of green and red, which have higher nutrient content than the lighter colored greens. Add variety, texture and nutrients with other vegetables. Broccoli and kale are in season, and both top every chart of foods one should eat more of. Broccoli is known for its liver detoxifying compounds (glucosinolates), and kale is one of the richest sources of critical eye-health antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin and one cup provides 70 percent of your vitamin C needs and almost all B-vitamins. There is virtually no end to salad additions; fruit (raisins, cranberries, or sliced strawberries), cheese, nuts, pickled vegetables such as beets or peppers. Topped with the dressing of your choice, which may be as simple as good olive oil and lemon juice, you have a side or a meal. And, after a salad, you can feel better about having a piece of pie or other tasty treat. To good health!

The Market is open Saturday morning from 8:30 to noon and is located in the municipal parking lot on the corner of South Main and East East streets. SNAP EBT food benefit cards, Senior Farm Market coupons and credit/debit cards are accepted. Those using the SNAP EBT card for produce receive matching dollar “Produce Perks” tokens ($1 for $1) for additional fruits and vegetables. So,”buy one, get one” for fruit and vegetables, up to $20 EVERY market day.

All first responders (police, EMTs and firefighters), teachers, medical providers and Farm Bureau members may pick up $5 coupons during the first two market weeks of each month. These coupons may be used to make farm market purchases anytime during the season.

The following list contains the names and products of the vendors that expect to set up for the Saturday Market. Other vendors may participate as well.

Greens & Greenery (Katrina Bush): Wide variety of plants – herbs (basil, sacred basil, lovage, horseradish, parsley, dill, salad burnette, clary sage, lemon grass); perennials (rhubarb, raspberry, echinacea, blanket flower, bee balm, marguerite kelways, milkweed); native flowering shrubs (elderberry, ninebark, choke cherry); ornamentals (caster bean, cleome, red cypress vine, scarlet runner and hyacinth bean). Baklava. Beeswax body care products.

Jones Farm Fresh Produce (Jon & Taylor Jones): Green onions, beets, lettuce, zucchini, yellow squash, garlic scapes, sausage patties, maple links, sage bulk sausage, ground pork, ground hamburger, hamburger patties, and brown eggs.

Persinger Cottage Foods (David Persinger and Julie Mosny): The Jam Man will have jams, jellies, peach butter, and Texas sheet cakes.

Reubens and More (Denise Rhodes): The food truck will offer omelets, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and sides. Coffee, water, hot chocolate and soda available.

Wood Designed by DW (Debbie Welch): Wood crafts: decorative bird houses, wooden totes, patriotic & wooden Ohio signs, pigs, cows, chickens. Hand made crocheted dishtowels, clothes, potholders, pocket books and baby booties. Special orders welcome.

Chilcote Farm (Bruce & Marlene Chilcote): Honey, bees wax wraps, butter pecan cake, sheet cakes, cookies, and cinnamon coffee cake.

Donaldson Wood Shop (Roger Donaldson): Hand carved spoons and cutting boards that are made from live edge slabs of local wood.

Engedi (Beth Day, Alana Walters, Janet Bick): Assorted home baked goods (cinnamon rolls, bread, yeast rolls, cookies, pies, brownies, cobblers, whoopie pies, small specialty bread) and a special children’s activity.

Katrina Bush is a vendor with the Fayette County Farmers’ Market.

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By Katrina Bush

For the Record-Herald

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