By Katherine Jones
For The Salisbury Post
Last Saturday was a beautiful day and the many visitors to the Salisbury Farmers Market were enthusiastic and happy to be shopping in the fresh air for locally grown produce, meat and plants and cut flowers. Delicious baked goods and unique handcrafts were also available.
Strawberries were plentiful and will probably be available for a few more weeks. Miller Farm, Eagle Farms and Cress Farm had locally grown berries that were big, red, juicy and delicious.
Most of the produce vendors had spring onions as well as many varieties of lettuce. This coming Saturday, in addition to onions and lettuce, there will be kohlrabi, swiss chard, bok choy, collards, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, beets, mustard greens and other cole crops.
County extension agent Toi Degree will be at the market this Saturday from 9 -11 a.m. She will be demonstrating various methods for cooking spring greens and other cole crops. She will prepare kohlrabi and tender spring greens such as bok choy. The food being prepared by Toi will be provided by the vendors and recipes will be available. Tasting will be allowed also.
Toi has appeared at the Salisbury Farmers Market on several occasions showcasing her cooking skills using locally grown products from the vendors.
Another new vendor at the market is The Funky Pepper, which specializes in products made from peppers. Owners Donna Rowland and Shelley Daubenmire welcome you to check out the dips and salsas that have their own “heat” rating. Also, they have hot sweet zucchini relish, jalapeno pepper jelly and hot sweet mustard. The ingredients used by Donna and Shelley are grown in their own garden.
I have never seen as many plants at the market as we have this year, and they are fabulous. There is everything imaginable, including all types of herbs and many varieties of vegetable plants. There are annual and perennial flowers, rose bushes, hanging baskets and containers. All are sturdy, healthy-looking plants.
The bakers have been busy. This week Carla Anne’s will be taking orders for Mothers Day cakes. Emma Martin of the Bread Basket has wonderful wheat bread made from fresh milled flour. Remember, her fresh fried apple pies sell out early. Cris Turco of How Sweet It is will have an extensive supply of breads, pies, cakes, cookies and cupcakes. Be sure to try her Black Bottom cupcakes, which are oh so yummy.
T & D Charolais and Wild Turkey Farms will be offering many different cuts of beef, pork, lamb and chicken. All their meat is locally grown and pasture- raised.
The cut flowers offered by Yang Flowers and Lee Ly were colorful and skillfully arranged. Maybe you need a bouquet for Mothers Day.
Handcrafts are really interesting, and a wide variety is available. There will be quilted items, goat milk soap, tote bags, hummingbird feeders, aprons, pillows and much more.
Debit and credit cards are accepted as well as food stamps, WIC and senior vouchers.
Visit the website www.salisburyfarmersmarket.com to learn more about the vendors and the products that will be available each week.
• • •
The Salisbury Farmers Market is located in downtown Salisbury at the corner of South Main and Bank Streets. Market hours are every Wednesday from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. and every Saturday from 7 a.m. – noon.
Katherine Jones is a Master Gardener volunteer for the Cooperative Extension Service in Rowan County.