By Katherine Jones
For The Salisbury Post
Summer is winding down but the fresh produce at the Salisbury Farmers Market is still plentiful. Corn and tomatoes are still “King of the Hill” and will be available for a few more weeks, but there are numerous other selections to suit whatever your taste dictates.
On Saturday, Heather Jones of Posh Pasta and Cakes will entertain market patrons with a cooking demonstration. The dishes to be prepared are to be a surprise but some of the food items used will be provided by several of the other vendors. I bet there will be plenty of homemade pasta.
The Top Tomato contest is still underway but will end on Aug. 22. If you have a huge tomato to enter into the contest, take it to one of the official weigh-in locations at Patterson Farm 8 a.m.ń6 p.m., Monday-Saturday or the Salisbury Farmers Market 8ń10 a.m. Wednesday or Saturday.
Expected to be available at the Salisbury Farmers Market this week:
Fruits and Vegetables
Correll Farm, Country Garden, Cress Farm, Eagle Farm and Miller Farm are at the Salisbury Farmers Market every Wednesday and Saturday. Among the produce currently available from these good friends are cabbage, corn, cucumbers, stringless green beans, pole beans, half-runner beans, lima beans, okra, onions, several varieties of peas, green pepper, hot pepper, white and red skin potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, zucchini and many varieties of tomatoes. Cress now has October beans. Purple hull peas are expected to be available from now through September as well as a few varieties of crowder peas.
Flowers and Plants
Joyce’s Flowers is still offering some annual and perennial plants as well as beautiful blooming potted plants and shrubs. Dawn’s Greenhouse has dried herbs and fresh-cut organic herbs each week. In addition, she provides organic herb crafts including herb balls, herbal dream pillows and handmade herbal heating pads. Dawn will still have some organic figs. Seng Yeng will be on hand to make you a custom bouquet from your choice of dahlias, zinnias, sunflowers, lilies, asters and the very fragrant tuberose.
Baked Goods
The Bread Basket and Posh Pasta and Cakes will have many homemade treats for you to choose from. Emma Ruth of The Bread Basket has wonderful fried fruit pies as well as a good selection of breads, cakes and cookies. Heather of Posh Pasta will offer a large selection of homemade pasta along with her special breads and cookies.
Kris Turco of How Sweet It Is! will be on vacation this week but will return to the market on Aug. 19 with all her marvelous creations.
Meat Products
T&D Charolais has some great ground beef patties ready for the grill along with many other beef selections. Wild Turkey Farms will offer pork, beef, chicken and eggs.
Handmade Crafts
Ruth Booker and Virginia Alexander are becoming a fixture at the market and you can usually see them surrounded by a wide variety of handmade crafts for your selection.
Cooking Tip
Everyone loves fried okra. “Mater” Eagle says he can eat three pounds at one meal. Here is a really good recipe for fried okra.
1 quart okra, cut
1/2 C. flour
1/2 C. cornmeal
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 egg beaten
1 C. vegetable oil
Heat oil in large skillet. Mix together the flour, cornmeal, salt and pepper. Put the okra in a bowl and pour the beaten egg over the okra. Stir gently to coat well. Dredge with the flour mixture. Shake off the excess flour and add okra to the hot oil. Remove from the skillet with a slotted spoon when light to medium brown. Drain on paper towels.
Katherine Jones is a Master Gardener Volunteer for the Cooperative Extension Service in Rowan County. – – –
For more information about the Farmers Market, visit www.salisburyfarmersmarket.comThe Farmers Market is located in downtown Salisbury at the corner of South Main and Bank streets.
It is open from 7 a.m.-noon each week on Wednesday and Saturday.