In Season At Beaver Farmers' Market

McCormack Honey - Always In Season!

It was light jacket weather for most people Saturday morning since the sun stayed behind overcast skies.  LFLF got to the market a little late after parking on the other side of Beaver and weaving our way through the "Garrison Day" crowds.  We mostly browse the antiques and art booths ......

Cut Flowers Are Snapped Up!

 We got some nice iris stems from Ridgemont Farms and some cookies too ... didn't want to carry too much back to where we were parked!


Jodokinos Farm - Hanging Baskets & Veggies

In season for a short time ...... garlic scapes.   Great to saute & add garlic flavor!

Garlic Scapes Are In Season!

Shop Like You Mean It!

Today there was a "goal" or purpose to shopping at the Ambridge Farmers' Market. I'm on tap for a "sidedish" (NOT a salad) for a picnic dinner meeting tomorrow night. Since the committee is part of Penn State Cooperative Extension in Beaver County, it's only appropriate that fresh local farm products go into the the dish, right? So what's in season? Well, new potatoes are abundant right now, so we're having "Garlic & Rosemary Roasted New Potatoes ..... it had to be something that could be popped into the microwave to heat up after work. The new potatoes are from Dave (see the post from June 18th) & the garlic scapes & parsley are from Douds-Floyd Farm . The fresh rosemary is from plants that I overwintered on the kitchen windowsill. Now that's local!
I can smell the aroma from the kitchen as I write .... & rounded out by a couple of other items ...... fresh black raspberries from May-Malone Farm, yellow summer squash from Volkar's Farm, and chocolate/black walnut bars from Pat, the baker.

Also --- if you're interested in preserving your own food & farmers' market produce to enjoy all year, take a look at the brochure for a 3 hour class coming up at the end of July in Beaver County. This is perfect timing ..... right at the peak of canning season. Pat Leach, a former Penn State Cooperative Extension Sr. Educator from Indiana County will be leading the workshop. I worked with Pat at PSCE and she is an expert on the subject. You've heard of Penn State Master Gardeners, right? Well, Pat is a Penn State Master Food Preserver!

Click here for a copy of the program brochure. These programs are really popular right now. A similar program put on by PSCE in June at Janoski's Farm in Clinton had about 50 people in attendance.

Rain or Shine!

It didn't look good for the Ambridge Farmers' Market this afternoon. Just before I left work, it was pouring in the parking lot ..... not to worry though. By the time I made it to the market, things had cleared up. True farmers' market afficionados come out rain or shine, and of course the vendors are there unless it's a total wipe-out or it's dangerous. Bedding plants, herbs, veggie plants, and hanging baskets were popular today as these Enon Country Gardens customers can attest! Expect to hear more about them as they work with the Farmers Market Nutrition Program to provide nutrition education materials, educational materials about PA farm products, & outreach to FMNP participants to increase involvement in the food assistance program.


What else was at the market today? Lettuce and green onions. How about garlic scapes from Dave? They have an extremely short season. Or strawberries from 2 vendors. Pat the baker even had shortcake (!) for sale ..... saved me from having to haul out the Bisquick & whip up shortcakes when I got home! The strawberries and edible pod snow peas were going fast. After all was said and done, the sun even came out. There had to be a rainbow somewhere ......