By Melody Hartsell
For the Salisbury Post
Did you know that all scuppernongs are muscadines, but not all muscadines are scuppernongs? If you are at the Market at the Mill and see David or Crystal Allen, owners of Tranquility Farm, they will gladly inform you all about these scrumptious grapes.
David and Crystal are members of the North Carolina Muscadine Grape Association, and they know a lot about growing them, having planted over 260 vines. Hopefully, we can all enjoy these wonderful native grapes until early October and for many years to come. Tranquility Farm also offers for sale different plants, with many varieties of Wandering Jew. They also sell their own honey.
Husband and wife team, Robert and Laura Miller, along with Seth, Brock and Daxton, own and operate Miller and Sons Produce. The Millers work six different farmers markets locally. With all their hard work, they have grown some beautiful produce: corn, tomatoes, squash, potatoes, okra, cucumbers, green beans, watermelon, onions, green peppers and, new this week, sweet potatoes and apples.
Now is the time to can, freeze or dry some of this bounty of produce. Try a new recipe. Savory Sweet Potato Soup is one of my familyís favorites. It freezes great, and itís easy to pull out of the freezer and heat up on a cold day. With summer almost over, enjoy the harvest of their hard labor while you can. The Millers also have honey and farm fresh eggs for sale.
Also at the Market at the Mill, Dude Corriher had a truckload of mouthwatering watermelons, large, medium and small, which is great if you have a small family. Mr. Corriher has grown watermelons for over 35 years and he knows what he is doing. One of his small watermelons we purchased was sweet and juicy, just enough for two people.
Sweet Pickle Bakery and Delicatessen sold out once again of their divine cream horns; you have to get there early for a taste of these. Sweet Pickle also had their yummy granola, fresh baked breads, pound cake, and huge heavenly cookies. Their crostini are great for some homemade bruschetta, or just spread their wonderful pimento cheese or chicken salad on top.
All of these farmers and producers have worked long and hard to give us all of these wonderful items. Buy local and show them that you appreciate all of their hard labor.
The Market at the Mill is located at 308 N. Main St. in China Grove. The market is open May-October, each Friday 4-7 p.m. Due to the season slowing down, vendors are located at the front of the Mill.
There is still time to enter the Biggest Watermelon contest. Melons can be brought to the market weekly to be weighed until September 30, and more than one entry is allowed. For more information you can call Market Manager Alan Goodman at 704-857-5938.
Melody Hartsell is a Rowan County Master Gardener volunteer.