Shop Local, Eat Fresh at the Saratoga Farmers' Market | Food, Crafts, Music in Saratoga Springs

Shop Local, Eat Fresh

microgreens

Leaning into farming

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By Himanee Gupta-Carlson

Leaning Birch Farm, photo provided

It’s about an hour before sunset. A truckload of deep brown compost has just arrived at Leaning Birch Farm. It sits in a heap near the garden beds and high tunnels that Dan and Rose Fera began putting in their backyard five years ago.

Nic, their son, greets me as I pull up, but his focus is on the compost. A former coffee shop worker and musician, he pays close attention to the aesthetics – the color, the texture, the smell. He thrusts his arms deep into the heap and pulls out a handful. He forms a ball and lets its crumble through his palms back into the pile. He then buries his nose into a handful, savoring its smell.

Photo provided by Leaning Birch Farm

Leaning Birch Farm is among several new produce vendors at this year’s Saratoga Farmers’ Market. The Feras grow dozens of varieties of vegetables in approximately 1.5 acres of space. They use intensive, high-yield planting techniques to maximize their space, which as Nic notes, teaches that “you don’t need a lot of land to make a decent living.”

Nic grew up in Saratoga Springs, where his parents were renters. Dan restored violins and Rose worked as a clinical director for a special education school. All three had a flair for art and a fondness for fresh food. Nic began playing music at coffee shops, and ultimately worked in the business himself.

Dan and Rose had a garden and relatively low rent. Still, they yearned to build equity by doing something they loved. That desire led them to purchase a house in Broadalbin. The house came with a yard filled with good soil and abutted a pond. It also came with a mortgage that was nearly twice the monthly amount they had been paying in rent.

Dan had a plan: Pay the mortgage with garlic.

“I had heard somewhere that you could make $40,000 a year on an acre of garlic,” he said with a laugh.

Nic and Ashley at Leaning Birch Farm, photo by Pattie Garrett

Garlic as a sole moneymaker never materialized, but the idea helped the Feras see the hunger for fresh local foods. They began selling to restaurants, via a farm stand, and through a CSA. About three years ago, they joined their first farmers market, and now sell at markets in Schenectady, Glens Falls, and Saratoga.

“It’s a cool feeling to realize how many other people also are sitting down to dinner, eating our vegetables,” adds Rose. “We’re not just taking care of ourselves but our community, too.”

This week’s recipe: Ginger Sesame Salmon Salad

Get to know greens at the farmers’ market

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Fiddleheads, Ramble Creek Farm, photo by Madison Jackson

By Madison Jackson & Julia Howard

Spring is finally bringing warmer weather and with it an abundance of much-anticipated seasonal produce to the Saratoga Farmers’ Market. Greens, in many forms, including perennials, hearty cold-weather crops, and greenhouse-grown, have been catching our eye, and we invite you to try some fresh new flavors of the season.

Several farms at the Wednesday and Saturday farmers’ markets offer varieties of greens. This includes red romaine, baby spinach, radicchio, green romaine, red leaf, arugula, mustard greens, red chard, and tatsoi. These greens offer distinct fresh flavors and textures, and they are high in nutritional value, too. Depending on the green, some may be cooked, wilted, or enjoyed fresh as a salad.

Pea & sunflower shoots, Leaning Birch Farm, photo by Madison Jackson

Vibrant sunflower and sweet pea shoots are available at Leaning Birch Farm on Saturdays. Pea shoots have the sweet, grassy flavor of snap peas with a refreshing crunch, and sunflower shoots have a nutty taste with a similar crisp bite. According to Nic Fera of Leaning Birch Farm, both are a year-round crop for their farm. “They are great to add a little fresh accent to dishes,” says Fera.

Capital Greens NY brings varieties of microgreens to the Saturday farmers’ market, including the mixes like their Signature Gourmet, Thai Basil, and Gourmet Fiesta. Microgreens are young vegetable greens packed with nutrients and are easy to incorporate into many dishes or used as a garnish. Try them on sandwiches, in salads, on pizza, or blend them into a smoothie.

If you’re a fan of fiddleheads, stop by Ramble Creek Farm this month while they’re in season. Fiddleheads are young shoots that grow from the ostrich fern, and with a very narrow harvest season, you can only enjoy these shoots in the early spring from around late April to early June. With a nutty and sweet flavor reminiscent of asparagus, fiddleheads may be steamed, braised, or sauteed, as they contain a trace amount of a toxin and cannot be consumed raw.

This week, we encourage you to try something new, whether it be a new product or shopping with a new vendor at the Wednesday or Saturday markets.

This week’s recipe: Spring Vegetable Pasta

Spring Vegetable Pasta

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Photo by Pattie Garrett

Recipe by Simply Fresh Dinners, shared by My Saratoga Kitchen Table
Serves: 4

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market
● 14 ounces pasta* (use tagliatelle, fettuccini, or your favorite pasta)
● 2 cups fiddleheads* (in cold water, rinse and remove the brown papery husk on the fiddleheads, do this several times)
● 1 ½ Tablespoons olive oil*
● 1 garlic clove, minced
● ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
● 1 cup asparagus*, rinse, cut off woody ends, cut into 1 ½ inch pieces
● Juice from one lemon, zest from half the lemon
● ½ cup cherry tomatoes*, halved
● 2 scallions*, sliced
● ¼ cup fresh basil*, chopped
● Garnish with pea shoots*

Instructions
1. Cook pasta according to directions on box until al dente. Save 4 Tablespoons of cooking water. Drain and rinse.
2. Cook cleaned fiddleheads in boiling water (a rolling boil) for 5 to 10 minutes, until tender. Drain and place in ice-cold water. This will shock the fiddleheads and stop the cooking process, leaving them bright green.
3. Heat olive oil in skillet on medium-high heat. Add garlic and red pepper. Cook for one minute. Add asparagus, juice, zest and pasta water. Cook on medium heat for 3 minutes. Add fiddleheads and cook an additional 2 minutes.
4. Add cooked pasta. Toss well until coated. Top with tomatoes, scallions, basil, and pea shoots.

10 Things You Might Not Know Are Sold at the Farmers’ Market

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By Julia Howard

Upon the first look, the farmers’ market can be overwhelming. Tables are piled high with produce, coolers are full of meat and cheeses, and display cases tower high with bottles of syrup and jars of jam. In addition, products available at the farmers’ market change slightly each season. Here’s a peek at 10 things you might not know are sold at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market.

Shaving soap from Moxie Ridge Farm, photo provided

1. Shaving soap
“Soft Serve” shaving cream is an old-fashioned wet shaving soap made from goat milk and pig lard. This nourishing specialty soap is made exclusively at Moxie Ridge Farm. Just add some water, lather with a shaving brush, and enjoy the lather for a smooth shave.

2. Mushroom coffee & teas
Mariaville Mushroom Men have made it easy to enjoy a daily serving of mushrooms with their perfectly blended mushroom teas that come in easy to use teabags. Looking for something a little more robust? Scoop, stir and enjoy their instant mushroom coffee.

The Vermont Spätzle Company, photo provided

3. Spätzle (gluten-free)
The Vermont Spätzle Company has traditional spätzle that is no-boil, ready in 5 minutes, and gluten-free. What’s even better is that this spätzle is as versatile as it is tasty. The Vermont Spätzle Company has dozens of quick and easy spätzle recipes on their website.

4. Goat
Goat has a distinct flavor that is leaner than lamb and can be prepared in a variety of ways, such as being stewed, curried, baked, grilled, barbecued, minced, canned, fried, or made into sausage. Find a variety of cuts, ribs, and roasts at Squashville Farm.

5. Dog treats
Dog treats are serious business at the farmers’ market. Longlesson Farm and Lewis Waite Farm both offer beef bones specifically for dogs. Something’s Brewing makes ‘beastly bites’ dog biscuits from all-natural ingredients. And, Mugzy’s Barkery has a whole line of treats and cakes made from all-natural and organic ingredients.

Earth to Mind, photo provided

6. CBD oil
With high-quality hemp grown and processed here in New York, Earth to Mind CBD products are designed to help relieve stress, soothe pain, and attain a sense of well being when added to your holistic routine. If you’re looking for an alternative form of healing, visit Earth to Mind about adding CBD oil to your holistic routine.

7. Take-home meals
The Food Florist offers a variety of frozen take-home meals made with carefully sourced ingredients so you won’t have to compromise over convenience. The Food Florist offers a variety of casseroles and lasagnas to choose from, even breakfast and gluten-free options.

8. Hormone balancing seed blends
Seed cycling is an easy and functional way to get nutrients in the body to help women rebalance their hormones. Moon Cycle Seed Company blends four seeds: pumpkin, flax, sunflower, and sesame. When ingested in a specific combination daily, they provide the body with essential nutrients.

Pea shoots at Pleasant Valley Farm, photo provided

9. Shoots
Whether you eat them by the handful, put them on a salad or sauté them with garlic, pea and radish shoots offer a burst of nutritious and delicious flavor. Varieties of shoots are growing in the greenhouse at Pleasant Valley Farm and Green Jeans Market Farm.

10. Beef Jerky
Muddy Trail Jerky offers handcrafted beef jerky in 13 flavors. Sweet, savory, or spicy options include Bourbon Barbecue, Habanero Mango, Bacon & Molasses just for starters. Visit their stand for over 50 varieties of dips, rubs, seasonings, and meal starters. Is beef not your thing? Try Zen Jerky by Vital Eats. This flavorful, plant-based jerky is packed with protein.

Vegetables in their ‘Baby’ Stage Add a Touch of Green to Winter Market

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By Himanee Gupta-Carlson

For Shane Avery, Saturday mornings begin early. He rises before 5 a.m. to harvest, prep, and bring his tiny little “vegetables” – known as microgreens – to the Saratoga Farmers’ Market.

At 9 a.m., the market bell rings and the greens – beets, broccoli, peas, radishes, and more – sit nestled in clear reusable containers, gleaming. Soon, market goers surround his table. Often, by the market’s 1 p.m. close, Avery has sold out.

A Sampler Pack. Photo by Pattie Garrett

Avery owns Saratoga Urban Farm. The farm is based in Gansevoort and produces microgreens, wheatgrass, culinary herbs, and other products. Avery started the business a year ago and joined the Saratoga Farmers’ Market last November. His clientele has expanded to include two farmers’ markets and a few local restaurants.

Microgreens are essentially vegetables in their youngest stage, harvested when the seeds from which they’re grown have produced their first true leaves.

“They’re about 10 days old,” says Avery. “At this stage, they have the strong flavor of their parent vegetable and a very high level of nutrient density.”

Pleasant Valley Farm offers pea and sunflower shoots, among other vegetables. Avery specializes in microgreens. His packages include the greens of individual vegetables and mixes.

For many, the appeal of microgreens is ease. They require minimal washing – just a quick rinse under running water and a shake dry – and little prep. They can be sprinkled over omelets, folded into sandwiches, added to stir fry dishes, casseroles, or soups. Avery offers a handout with 52 ideas for using them, one for each week of the year.

He likes them best fresh in a bowl, with a light drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper.

Unlike sprouts, which are typically grown in water, microgreens are grown in soil. Avery soaks his seeds for a day, plants them in trays filled with an organic soil, and gives them three to four days to germinate, at which point they go under grow lights. Three to four days later, the tiny plants are ready for harvesting.

Avery times the soaking, planting, and germinating so harvests come just before market. They arrive at market 1-2 inches long, bright, crisp, and packed to remain fresh for seven days.

 

 

Hummus Toast

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Recipe courtesy of My Saratoga Kitchen Table

Serves: 1

INGREDIENTS

All ingredients are currently available at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market

  • 1 slice of thick whole grain bread
  • 1 garlic clove
  • hummus
  • 2 thin slices of fresh tomato
  • 3 thin slices of red onion
  • balsamic dressing
  • baby greens
  • micro greens and arugula

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Before toasting the bread, lightly rub a peeled garlic clove over the toast. Toast until browned.
  2. Spread a layer of hummus on the toasted bread.
  3. Place tomato slices and red onion slices on top of the hummus. Drizzle a little balsamic dressing.
  4. Top with baby greens and micro greens and enjoy!