By Katherine Jones
For the Salisbury Post
Attendance at the Farmers Market has been tremendous. This is a testament to the abundance and variety provided by the vendors. The problem for me when I visit the market is that I want some of everything!
For example, this past week I purchased cucumbers, hot peppers, green peppers, green beans, new potatoes, lima beans, peas (that I shelled), okra, corn, tomatoes, seasoned side meat, squash, onions, blueberries and a loaf of tomato basil bread. It took me most of a day to prepare and cook all my acquisitions but the big bonus is that I will have leftovers for a week.
Other notes of interest:
Cooking demonstration
On Saturday at the market, we can look forward to Toi Degree treating us to a cooking demonstration featuring corn. How many ways can you prepare corn? Maybe we will discover a new recipe or two.
Top Tomato contest
Those of you interested in participating in the Top Tomato contest can bring your entry to the market on Wednesday or Saturday morning from 8 to 10 a.m. for the official weigh-in. The other official weigh-in station is at Patterson Farm Market and Tours on Caldwell Road. Hours are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
Fruits and vegetables
The biggest attraction at the Farmers Market is still the fresh fruit and vegetables. Miller, Correll, Eagle and Cress farms, along with Country Garden, offer the largest selection of produce. Miller Farm usually has a truck load of corn, Correll Farm appears to have a dozen or so varieties of tomatoes, Eagle Farm still has plenty of squash, okra and cucumbers and Cress Farm offers some delicious cantaloupes. Some of the vendors have lima beans and peas already shelled. But you must get there early because they go quickly.
Watermelons and peaches are now available also. Barnette Blueberries report they will have blueberries available until the first week of August. These berries are grown locally, using no pesticides or chemicals.
Baked goods
Homemade breads, pies and cakes are still a big hit with a lot of the shoppers. Visit the Bread Basket, Posh Pasta and Cakes and How Sweet It Is! for their appealing offerings.
Meat products
Wild Turkey Farms has pasture-raised beef, pork and eggs. T & D Charolais offers a wide selection of beef cuts.
Flowers and plants
There are some truly beautiful cut flowers to select from for your dining table. Lee Ly and Blue Bird Farms will custom build a bouquet for you.
Flowering plants in baskets and containers are still available for your porch or patio at Joyce’s Flowers and Blue Bird Farms as well as a good variety of perennials that can be attractive additions to your landscape.
Dawn’s Greenhouse provides a good selection of herbs for planting or already cut. She also has some beautiful ornamental grasses.
Cooking tip for the week
Jeff Eagle says the very best corn on the cob is cooked in boiling water with Old Bay Seasoning added to the water.
We are now in mid-summer and some of the selections at the Farmers Market will soon be unavailable until next year. If you haven’t visited the market this season, I urge you to come by and see what a wonderful small town market we have. You have to see it to appreciate the variety these vendors provide us each week.

For more information about the farmers market, visit www.salisburyfarmersmarket.com.
The Farmers Market is located in downtown Salisbury at the corner of South Main and Bank streets. It is open 7 a.m.-noon each week on Wednesday and Saturday.

Katherine Jones is a Master Gardener Volunteer for the Cooperative Extension Service in Rowan County. She and Sue Davis provide a Farmers Market update each week.