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‘Look, don’t touch’ keeps produce healthy and safe

August 3, 2020 By marketeditor

By Himanee Gupta-Carlson & Madeline McCarthy

Owl Wood Farm, photo by Pattie Garrett

The escarole sat crisply in my display bin at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market. It caught the eye of a customer.

I greeted him, and he asked, “Is this lettuce?” As he did so, his fingers wrapped impulsively around the leaves, cradling them.

“Please,” I said. “Can I ask you not to touch?”

The customer felt bad. I did, too. But as the COVID-19 pandemic continues we all are adapting to new practices of interacting with each other and the fresh foods at the market. Asking customers not to touch products until they have committed to buying them now is among the Saratoga market’s safety rules.

As we celebrate National Farmers Market Week this week, we also highlight how not touching fresh fruits and vegetables minimizes damage while also easing the risk of Coronavirus spread. In addition, the food remains safe and healthy with the farmers being the only ones touching the produce prior to purchase.

But how does one buy without touching?

Raspberries from Burger’s MarketGarden, photo by Pattie Garrett

Jason Heitman of Green Jeans Market Farm helps customers choose tomatoes by asking them what sizes they prefer and when they plan to eat them. He checks the bottoms of tomatoes to gauge their ripeness, noting that not fully ripened fruits will continue to ripen until consumed.

Brian Talmadge of Talmadge Farm encourages customers to choose beans that look wrinkle-free and shine. Cucumbers, he says, also have a shine.

Charles Holub of Scotch Ridge Farm brings handpicked berries to market that have attained enough sweetness to be eaten immediately or frozen for later use.

Greens from Squashville Farm, photo by Pattie Garrett

Such greens as lettuce, kale, and escarole are harvested one or two days before market so they can be washed and cooled for maximum crispness. They might wilt during a market from exposure to sun and wind but will rebound when rinsed in cold water. If stored in a produce bag in the refrigerator, they’ll remain fresh for up to a week.

I explained to my customer who mistook escarole for lettuce that it was a green from the chicory family and often used to make Beans and Greens. I also noted that it, like many other greens, was delicious sautéed with a bit of olive oil, black pepper, and garlic.

He bought the escarole and, like many others, thanked us for keeping the farmers market safe.


This week’s recipe:
Spinach Salad with Peaches and Beets

Filed Under: Featured Article, homepage feature, News Tagged With: Burger's MarketGarden, coronavirus, COVID-19, customers, green jeans market farm, National Farmers Market Week, Owl Wood Farm, picking out produce, produce, Scotch Ridge Berry Farm, Squashville Farm, Talmadge's Vegetables

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Give your gut a little love during these cold, dar Give your gut a little love during these cold, dark winter months! Grab @puckersgourmet probiotics, like pickles, kimchi, and sauerkraut, at the market this Saturday. We'll be open with 40+ local vendors from 9:30am til 1:30pm at the Wilton Mall food court. Healthy has never tasted so delicious!

🤸 What's your favorite gut-boosting food? 🤸
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#farmersmarket #saratoga #saratogasprings #saratogafarmersmarket #upstateny #pickles #probiotics #puckersgourmet #puckerspickles #tasty #healthy
Market Crush Monday is back! This week we talked t Market Crush Monday is back! This week we talked to Laurie from Kokinda Farm who brings her homemade jams & jellies, vegetables, eggs, bread and a variety of hand-sewn items to the market.

1. How did you get started with your farm?
My parents were dairy farmers and I always had a garden and did a lot of canning. Then I just happened to meet someone who got me into the market and have slowly learned things by trial and error to get to where I am today.

2. Do you have a favorite jam?
Definitely my peach jam that I make with my own peaches! Around 60% of my jams are made with all my own fruit that I grow and the rest I supplement with fresh fruit from local pick yourself farms.

3. Why do you like vending at the farmers market?
I love working for myself and being able to interact directly with customers, it’s very rewarding. It’s also great getting to know other local farmers and be able to share stories, information and goals with each other. I've been a school bus driver for the past 23 years but this May I’ll be retiring and am very excited to go full time for farming!

Are you also a local farmer or producer and are you looking to expand your business in 2021? Our summer season vendor applications are open January 15th-31st! Keep an eye out on our page for how to apply. And make sure to stop by Kokinda Farms every Saturday from 9:30-1:30 in the Wilton Mall food court!
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#saratogafarmersmarket #farmersmarket #saratoga #knowyourfarmer #farmermarketfinds #farmfresh #shoplocal #farmersmarketfresh #smallbusiness #growyourbusiness #smallbusinesssaratoga
Shop safely at the market! Please don't touch any Shop safely at the market! Please don't touch any products before purchasing, just point at what you want and our vendors will bag your order for you! This Saturday, lots of vendors will be back after a holiday break - pick up goodies like freshly caught fish from Pura Vida Fisheries. We'll be open 9:30am - 1:30pm in the @wilton_mall_leasing food court.

What's your order from Pura Vida? 🐟

📸: @mysaratogakitchentable
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#farmersmarket #saratogasprings #upstateny #shoplocal #knowyourfarmer #fish #freshfish
Are your healthy new year's resolutions already a Are your healthy new year's resolutions already a little hard to stick to? We feel ya! So instead of cutting out the foods you love and feeling bad when you inevitably "cheat", try upgrading your favorite comfort meals with real, fresh, and healthier ingredients. Like this butternut mac & "cheese" made by @mysaratogakitchentable! Grab some good ingredients at this Saturday's market and get cooking. We'll be open our normal times, 9:30-1:30 at the Wilton Mall food court - with a slightly smaller group of vendors still due to the holidays, but a full array of fresh foods.
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#saratogafarmersmarket #saratoga #saratogany #iloveny #farmersmarket #capitalregion #knowyourfarmer

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