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Discovering Saratoga Through the Farmers’ Market

May 10, 2016 By marketeditor

By Mary Peryea

[pjc_slideshow slide_type=”spring-market-1″]

I moved to Saratoga Springs last October from the small Adirondack town of Tupper Lake after retiring from my position as news editor at the local weekly newspaper. I had made many visits to the Spa City prior to my move, and on one of them I discovered what I consider to be one of the gems of Saratoga — the Saratoga Farmers’ Market in High Rock Park.

Tupper Lake has a small farmers’ market that runs from June through September, and there are many other regional farmers’ markets throughout the Adirondacks. The growing season up north is considerably shorter, however. That meant locally sourced produce was always somewhat limited, though we always had access to items like cheeses, meats, wines, eggs and other items that were not weather-dependent.

Saratoga Farmers' Market Friends of the Market
Friends of the Market with Mayor Yepsen. Photo by Pattie Garrett 

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market, however, is a world beyond the markets further north. I spent many Saturday mornings wandering among the plethora of vendors and their offerings, marveling at the array of vegetables, wines, baked goods, plants, fruits, and honey. And let’s not forget the informational booths, the food vendors, and the entertainers. I was encouraged to register to vote, given information on the various candidates in this hotly contested presidential race, and learned about a variety of organizations operating in the city, all the while enjoying the talents of local musicians. It was at the winter market that I learned about the Friends of the Saratoga Farmer’s Market, a group I highly recommend to you.

One of my first purchases was local honey to help combat any allergies I might experience here. While studies into the efficacy of eating local honey to reduce seasonal allergy symptoms are inconclusive, I choose to believe it can’t hurt – and it sure does taste good on my yogurt in the morning.

The produce is the main reason I visit the market. Nothing can beat a salad made from fresh, locally grown greens and vegetables. Even my husband John, who is not a veggie lover, enjoys the dishes I make from my purchases at the farmers’ market. He enjoys those Saturday morning trips to the market almost as much as I do.

Now that it’s spring, I’m looking forward to finding some plants for my new flower beds. I’m hoping to be bee- and butterfly-friendly, so will be picking the growers’ brains for their thoughts on what will do best in my sandy soil. I’ll also be looking for spring produce – peas, rhubarb, asparagus, ramps, and such.

I just rediscovered my spiralizer among the boxies I’m still unpacking and am looking forward to giving it a spin (pun intended). You can spiralize all kinds of veggies: zucchini (known in the spiralizing world as “zoodles”), carrots, cucumbers, sweet potato, pumpkin, beets, radishes, turnips, even onions, cabbage and that broccoli stem you never know what to do with. You can also spiralize firmer fruits like apple and pear. I can hardly wait to whip up some zoodles.

Pasta Primavera

Ingredients

• 1 bunch fresh basil
• 3 cups chicken broth, divided.
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 pound fettuccine pasta, or better yet, use noodles made with the spiralizer.
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large leek, white and light green parts only, chopped
• 1 bunch green onions, chopped
• 2 pinches salt
• 2 zucchinis, diced
• 1 cup shelled English peas
• 1 bunch asparagus, stalks diced, tips left whole
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, or as needed

Directions

Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Hold basil bunch by the stems and dip basil leaves in boiling water until bright green, about 2 seconds. Immediately immerse basil in ice water for several minutes until cold to stop the cooking process. Once the basil is cold, drain well. Remove basil leaves from stems and discard stems.

Blend basil leaves, 1 cup chicken broth, 1/2 cup olive oil, and garlic together in a blender until smooth.

Stir noodles into the same pot of boiling water, bring back to a boil, and cook over medium heat until cooked through but still firm to the bite. Drain.

Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir leek and green onion in hot oil until softened, about 5 minutes. Add salt.

Increase heat to medium-high. Stir 2 cups chicken broth and peas into leek and onion mixture; bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Add asparagus and zucchini and continue cooking until vegetables are soft, about 3 minutes more.

Pour 1/4 cup basil-garlic mixture into zucchini mixture and cook and stir until heated through, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.

Place pasta in a large bowl; pour zucchini mixture over pasta and pour remaining basil-garlic mixture over the zucchini mixture. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the top. Toss mixture briefly to combine and tightly wrap bowl with aluminum foil. Let stand until pasta and vegetables soak up most of the juices and oil, about 5 minutes. Toss again.

 

 

Filed Under: Featured Article, News, Seasonal Recipes Tagged With: Saratoga Farmers' Market, Saratoga Farmers' Market Recipes

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Get ready to mushroom into a world of flavor at th Get ready to mushroom into a world of flavor at the Saratoga Farmers' Market! 🍄🌱 This week, we're thrilled to highlight the Mushroom Shop and their incredible selection of locally grown and harvested mushrooms. We spoke with owner's Jacob and Elysee to learn more.

Q: What are some of the health benefits associated with consuming mushrooms?

A: Mushrooms contain a multitude of medicinal compounds. The mushroom species Cordyceps militaris contains cordycepin, which increases your blood's ability to absorb and transport oxygen, improving exercise performance. Mukitake or Panellus serotinus possesses compounds that have shown in recent studies to improve liver function in people suffering from fatty liver disease. Reishi mushrooms improve immune health, warding off sickness and reducing inflammation. Other medicinal mushrooms include Turkey Tail, Chaga, Agarikon, Maitake, and Lions Mane.

Q: What inspired you to start selling mushrooms at the farmers' market?

A: We initially got our inspiration from a mushroom farm based in Tennessee called Mossy Creek Mushrooms. They have many videos on Youtube covering every aspect of operating a mushroom farm from building and maintaining equipment to harvesting and marketing mushrooms. Jacob has had an interest in growing mushrooms as a hobby for about eight years when he discovered a patch of oyster mushrooms growing in the wild. We got the opportunity to lease land in the beginning of 2021 and shortly after started selling at farmers’ markets.

Q: How do you recommend customers prepare and cook the mushrooms they purchase from you?

A: At our farmers markets we always provide printed recipes that utilize the mushrooms available during the current season. Like meat, mushrooms can be cooked in a variety of ways, such as sautéing, roasting, and grilling to create a flavorful dish. One of our recent favorites is a Spicy Crispy Lion's Mane Sandwich- a thick slab of Lion's Mane mushroom battered and fried on a toasted bun with spicy mayo and pickles. This is a delicious take on a chicken sandwich made entirely of whole, natural produce. 

*Find the Mushroom shop year round at our Saturday markets!*

#saratogafarmersmarket
Get ready for a mouth-watering adventure! 🍴🌍 Get ready for a mouth-watering adventure! 🍴🌍 Join us on Saturday, March 25th from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Saratoga Farmers' Market's International Flavor Fest in the Wilton Mall food court! 🎉 Indulge in frgál cakes, julekaker, burek, curries, samosas, and more, representing cuisines from all around the world! 🌎 There will be live music, family-friendly activities, and food tastings that will take your taste buds on a journey around the globe! 🎶👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Plus, our friends at the World Awareness Children's Museum will be hosting a paper fortune cookie making session for the kiddos! Don't forget to pick up your passport for a chance to win a prize by filling it with stamps from market vendors! Let's celebrate our traditions, history, and community through the language of flavorful food! 😍🍴

 #InternationalFlavorFest #SaratogaFarmersMarket #FoodieAdventure #CommunityConnection
Join us tomorrow for our Saturday market! From 9:3 Join us tomorrow for our Saturday market! From 9:30-1:30 you can find all your favorite vendors in the Wilton Mall Food court. We’ll by joined by the Academy of Life Long Learning, AIM Services, and musician Lee Paquin. Hope you can make it!!!

Photos of: @squash.villa.farm , KOKINDA Farm, and @eurodelicaciesco by Graciela Colston

#saratogafarmersmarket #saratogasprings #farmersmarket #agriculture #shoplocal
The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is seeking donation The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is seeking donations to help improve our market and keep our nonprofit organization running. Your donation will be used for essential functions of the market as well as helping us reach more of our long-term goals for the community. We are looking for additional resources to expand our community offerings such as hosting family friendly events, programs and activities.

You can help us by donating via our GiveButter account (link in bio) or in person at the market via our market manager. Thank you for your ongoing support. We couldn’t do it without you! 

#saratogafarmersmarket #supportlocalfarmers #nonprofit #communitylove #givebutter

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