Rhubarb is a vegetable well known to the “old timers.” It is generally hardy, and once established, can produce for generations. Its leaves are among the first to surface during the late winter and early spring, and seem relatively undaunted by the killing frosts and snow cover of March and April.
Tropical parts of the world and the south and west coasts of the United States may have citrus fruit, but it is hard to imagine that there is a more tart “fruit” grown than rhubarb. It seems that it would have been a great antidote to scurvy on ships of old; who needs lemons when we have rhubarb? The strawberries are coming into season, and around here the combination of rhubarb and strawberry is quite popular.
Several market shoppers noted their failed attempts at growing rhubarb. Apparently “rhubarb anthracnose stem rot” is one possible culprit. There is a website (rhubarb-central.com) devoted solely to rhubarb, and where questions are posted and answered. Of course, your library is a valuable resource for researching all manner of topics.
The Fayette County Farmers’ Market is open Saturday morning from 8:30 a.m. 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.
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.
By Thy Hand (Mark and Lori Chrisman): Angel food cakes, specialty breads, pies, cookies, dip mixes.
Chilcote Farm (Bruce & Marlene Chilcote): Honey, hickory nut cake, cherry, apple and blackberry pies, chocolate chip cookies, blueberry buckle, rhubarb crumb cake and Texas sheet cake.
Donaldson Wood Shop (Roger Donaldson): Hand carved spoons and cutting boards that are made from live edge slabs of local wood.
Forgotten Way Farms (Cathy Ludi): Therapeutic grade essential oils, wooden signs, homemade soaps, bath salts, foot soak packets.
Greens & Greenery (Katrina Bush): Sustainably grown produce and plants—heirloom tomato, pepper, eggplant, broccoli, tomatillos, cucumbers & squash plants, as well as flowers. Flowering shrubs (elderberry, lilac, ninebark, cranberry vibernum, choke cherry), and live plants (lovage, rhubarb, caster bean, red raspberry). Small amounts of produce (asparagus, rhubarb, lettuce, green onion, green garlic).
Jones Farm Fresh Produce (Jon & Taylor Jones): Strawberries (limited quantity), radishes, green onions, lettuce, brown eggs, pork sausage patties, sweet Italian and jalapeño links, maple breakfast links, pork chops, ground pork, 1# bulk sausage, chicken breast, chicken patties, chorizo chicken links, hamburger patties and ground hamburger.
Nidays Microgreens (Victor Niday): Microgreens – basic salad mix.
Persinger Cottage Foods (David Persinger and Julie Mosny): The Jam Man will have jams, jellies, peach butter, Texas sheet cakes. The Pie Lady will have pies, cinni mini’s, cinnamon rolls and cookies.
This and That (Mary Ford): Peanut butter fudge, pineapple banana bread, orange peel bread, catnip toys, dog treats, goose outfits, snow drop bulbs and more.
Tom’s Tool Shed (Tom McMurray): Tool sharpening for a small fee.
Your Other Mother’s Kitchen (Don & Sara Creamer): Artisan breads, whole wheat brownie tarts, bran muffin tops, and fresh asparagus.
Katrina Bush is a vendor with the Fayette County Farmers’ Market.
