Grapevine May 27 2012 Market

We are getting closer to summer, ignoring this week's rainy, windy weather. Spring crops are a little late but coming in. The last word from our larger berry growers is that the June berries are about a week later than normal. Better than last year that's for sure.

As I mentioned a few weeks back, the market was selected by the Farmers Market Coalition and Jarden Home Brands, makers of Ball® Brand Fresh Preserving Products, as one of the 30 markets nationwide to take part in the Discover you Can education program. We will have canning demonstrations plus educational materials and coupons to hand out. I am finalizing the schedule this week and will have details in the next newsletter. Jams, pickles or sauces, if you've always wanted to learn how to preserve the harvest, we can help. Look for the schedule next week.

See you Sunday,

Eamon Molloy
Market Manager

What's Coming to the Market?

There will be plenty of greens (lettuce, kale, arugula, chard, spinach, mustard greens, etc.) available this Sunday. Spring root vegetables like turnips, spring onions, radishes, and garlic should be readily available as well. A few farms are starting to harvest basil, cucumbers, and zucchini this week. You should find some in limited quantities this weekend. Strawberries will be available, mostly Seascape and Honeoye, but a few intrepid farmers put hoop houses over Hood strawberries so you should find a few pints of Hoods as well.

IN
Fraga Farm
Greengable Garden
Happy Harvest Farm

OUT
Ayers Creek Farm (back in July)
Ancient Heritage Dairy (back next week)
Blossom Vinegars (back next week)
Cherry Country (back next week)
Kookoolan Farms (back next week)
Meadow Harvest (back in June)
Nonna's Noodles (back next week)
Liepold Farm (back in June)
Unger Farm (back in June)

Be sure to check the Availability List for updates throughout the weekend. Check our Twitter feed for Sunday morning updates.

The Fat of the Land

Vendor Profile: Boyco Foods

Farmers’ markets are a conglomeration of businesses, a temporal grocery where each shelf comes with a smiling face and a wealth of knowledge about the products they produce and sell. We’re giving our vendors the spotlight to share more about their role in the Hillsdale market community.
What products do you sell at the market?
We sell extracted local honey from a variety of sources: clover, raspberry, blackberry, wild flower, carrot and buckwheat, as well as bee pollen from every flower that we dehydrate and blend together, royal jelly, propolis and wax pieces. We also make honey based cooking sauces.
When did you start selling at Hillsdale? What made you want to be at this market?
I started the first year (2002) because it was a new market and on Sunday so I could work markets by myself.
What do you think is unique about Hillsdale Farmers' Market compared to the other markets you sell at?
The location is unique and close enough for me and the neighborhood customers to get to easily.
Where do you keep your hives?
All our hives are managed by us, moved by us and owned by us. We rent them out to farms that need bees to pollinate their crops.
How do you get such specific pollinations for your honey varieties?
We have specific farmers and locations for the hives and rent them out. We stay in touch with farmers to keep track of when its time for the flowers to bloom.
What is something you sell that you think more market shoppers should try?
I make honey sauces (Thai Peanut Sauce, Garlic-Jalapeño BBQ Sauce, Sweet & Spicy Chili Pepper Sauce) that can be used as condiments or cooking sauces. I want to encourage people to keep cooking at home and ready to use sauces make that easier.
What is your favorite food/product to buy at the market right now?
My favorite food products from the market are the fresh veggies that taste soooo good because they come from Oregon and not across the country or from another country. I’ve made so many wonderful friends at the market and being a vendor I can trade for products!! I can’t do that at a store!