Grapes, Apples, & Mums

Grapes - They Smell Wonderful!

Grapes are only at market for a few weeks each year & only one or two growers bring them.  They looked fantastic today.  LFLF did pick up several sweet peppers this week, but they were all smaller than usual.  I suspect that the farmers were picking them earlier before the stink bugs could get to them.
We also got some sweet corn, cookies, new potatoes, apples, & tomatoes. 

Chili Peppers!

Unusual at the Beaver Farmers' Market today were hanging bunches of chili peppers & Edamame pods (edible soybeans) ......

Stinkbugs Affect The Farmers!

LFLF went to the Beaver Farmers' Market today (minus the camera) with peppers on my shopping list.
I arrived a little late, true, but there really wasn't a selection of sweet bell peppers to be found.  In talking with several farmer friends, I found that the disgusting stinkbugs have damaged quite a few crops!  So far they hadn't gotten the hot peppers, but the sweet peppers got hit pretty bad.
I've been hearing about the stinkbug damage on the KDKA Radio Sunday morning show,  The Organic Gardeners.  The web-site has an entire discussiom thread on the Forum about stinkbugs.
Too bad the camera was at home .... I got some nice Teddy Bear sunflowers for the office! 

Heirloom Tomatoes, Sweetcorn, Peppers, Etc!

Beaver Farmers' Market Shoppers & Vendors

There were really good crowds at the Beaver Farmers' Market on Saturday.  The summer veggies & fruits are in full swing now.  Heirloom tomatoes, the first new apples, beets, okra, basil, garlic, swiss chard, summer squashes, crenshaw melons .... just some of the things available. 

Cheese & Beef

LFLF made a special effort to remember to bring along a little cooler & ice pack on Saturday.  As always, we got veggies & baked goods --- onions, cucumbers, garlic, raisin puff cookies, and lemon zucchini bread at the Beaver Farmers' Market.
Then we picked up some frozen ground beef and sampled some cheeses.  We picked out the smoked Swiss cheese in the upper left of the picture.  Several varieties were already sold out for the day! 

Busy Saturday @ Beaver Farmers' Market!

Customers were lined up at most of the booths today at the Beaver Farmers' Market.  LFLF picked up summer squash at the Volkar Farm table above ---- squash was a popular item as you can see!

Carrots & beets looked great & we got some cucumbers from the same farm. 
Our last stop was a pint of black raspberries that we picked out right next to these beautiful currants!  You don't see these at markets very often & there's nothing like bright red clear currant jelly .....

Sewickley Farmers' Market Today!

LFLF was in the Ambridge/Sewickley area this morning and we made a stop at the Sewickley Farmers' Market.  We first visited this market in 2008 and things are still going strong.   There are lots of local food & value-added food product vendors, but of course, the produce farmers are the backbone of any market.  We got strawberries, snow peas, cucumbers, & Pennsylvania maple syrup.  Cabbage, lettuces, onions, garlic, rhubarb, basil, & other herbs were in abundance! 

This market has a couple of greenhouse growers, so new summer squash, zucchini, and greenhouse tomatoes were also available.  More of our area growers are using high tunnels & greenhouses to try & satisfy the market for fresh local veggies early in the season.
Sewickley is a great place to buy local beef, lamb, chicken, & chevon. 

Our friend Lynne of Dream Thyme Farm sells lamb & chevon and has a message to all the eaters out there! 

More Than Greens

Customers At Enon Country Gardens

LFLF found more than greens this week a the Beaver Farmers' Market. 
McCormack Farms had really nice hanging baskets and, of course, the full array of honey products.

Picking Up Some Honey At Market

The beets below were grown under a high tunnel & we were next in line after the lady buying 2 bunches in this picture. 

Buying Fresh Beets