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The First Sign of Summer – or Fall?

August 8, 2016 By marketeditor

By Himanee Gupta-Carlson
Photos by Pattie Garrett

[pjc_slideshow slide_type=”corn”]

A photograph on the Facebook page of Fresh Take Farm a few weeks ago caused me to whoop in delight. The photo featured ears of fresh succulent sweet corn. The first corn of the season. Available at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market from Fresh Take, the Gomez Veggie Villa, Malta Ridge, Butternut Ridge, and numerous other vendors. I couldn’t have been happier. Corn signifies for me the first sign of summer. But is that what it is?

I mentioned corn to my friend and fellow Friends of the Market member Pattie Garrett, who also is an avid Saratoga Farmers’ Market shopper and a food blogger.

“Corn?” she declared. “Oh no … corn means the end of summer.”

Our e-mail conversation evolved into a chat about the meaning of summer itself. There was no resolution to the question, and there was no need for one. But it led me to wonder how we define summer, and how shopping at the farmers’ market might fit into that equation.

I lived most of my adult life in cities but now live in a rural area about ten miles from Saratoga Springs. I am a college professor and help my husband raise most of the food we eat. I moved to Saratoga after growing up in the Midwest, and living for many years in the Pacific Northwest and in Hawai‘i. I always felt that these different geographic areas – like Upstate New York – had their own sets of seasons. For instance, there was a winter in Hawai‘i, even though there never was snow. It was characterized by “two-blanket” nights – the nights when the air temperatures would drop into the fifties.

In New York, I have learned to define summer through growing food and shopping seasonally at the farmers’ market. For me, fall begins when the garlic for next year is planted and when the collards and kale have survived a couple of light frosts to turn sweet and crispy. Corn – “knee high by the Fourth of July” – is the go-to hot weather crop that reaches its full sweetness in summer. Bushels of canning tomatoes at the farmers’ market signify fall.

But thanks to Pattie I want to know what you think: What crops signify summer? Which ones mark fall? Fill out our questionnaire at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market tomorrow. We’ll share the results – before the first frost.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open 3-6 pm Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at High Rock Park.


 

Corn Chowder Salad by Pattie Garrett of My Saratoga Kitchen Table

Corn Chowder Salad

Adapted from Beekman 1802, shared by My Saratoga Kitchen Table
Serves: 4

Ingredients
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 3 slices of bacon cut crosswise into ½ inch pieces
• 1 yellow potato, peeled and cut into ½ inch pieces
• 1 red bell pepper, ribs and seeds discarded, cut into 2 inch pieces
• 6 ears of corn, shucked and kernels scraped from cob with knife (3 cups)
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 small red onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 2 Tablespoons cider vinegar

Instructions

1. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-low. Add the bacon and cook until crisp, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel to drain. Measure the fat remaining in the skillet. You need 2 Tablespoons, add olive oil to make up the difference.

2. Add the potato to the skillet and cook, tossing occasionally until they are golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add the bell pepper, and cook, tossing occasionally until the pepper and potato are tender, about 5 minutes longer. Add the corn and cook until hot, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to bowl. Add the onion, cherry tomatoes, and vinegar. Season with pepper and stir to combine.

3. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Filed Under: Featured Article, News

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Today at our International Flavor Fest! Thank you Today at our International Flavor Fest! Thank you to everyone who came by today. We hope you had fun! 😋🌎🌾
Exciting news! The Saratoga Farmers’ Market Flav Exciting news! The Saratoga Farmers’ Market Flavor Fest is happening tomorrow! 🎉🍴 Our vendors have amazing samples for you to taste, including mouth-watering chorizo and bratwurst from Hebron Valley Meats and delectable Chicken Briyani from Perfect Plant Farm. 😍 Don't forget to grab your passport for a chance to win a prize by collecting stamps from market vendors! 🛍️ @worldkidsmuseum will also be joining us with a fun kid's craft to make your own fortune cookie 🥠, and CCE food is back with a fermentation activity. 🌱 See you there! ✈️🌎😋

#saratogafarmersmarket #saratogasprings #thingstodoinupstateny #internationalfood #flavorfest #farmersmarket #kidsactivities #smallbuisness #shoplocal
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

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