By Sue Davis
For The Salisbury Post
New vendors and more varieties of locally grown fruits and vegetables are beginning to appear at the Salisbury Farmers Market.
There were two new vendors at the market last week. Callahan Farms from Mocksville is a 200-year-old family farm. You will find Kim manning the booth for her parents David and Gloria Anderson. In addition to the strawberries and lettuces Callahan has their fruits processed into fruit sauces and jams and jellies.
Daydreamer Glass artist Forrest makes blown glass items like ornaments, vases and pendants. Stop by and visit; he is eager to talk about his craft.
Strawberries continue to be plentiful. There are varieties of lettuces, greens and Asian vegetables. Many vendors still have vegetable and flowering plants. The warm temperatures tempted home growers and our Farmers Market vendors to plant early.
Last Saturday I heard several stories from our vendors about the crops they lost the previous Monday because of frost. Every vendor has already replanted because they know we will be eager to enjoy their cantaloupes, melons and squash in the next few months. David Correll of Correll Farms displayed one of the kohlrabi which was damaged in the early spring hail storm to show market visitors how a plant can survive heavy damage. The taste of a damaged vegetable might be the same as an undamaged one, but appearance of the damaged one would make any market patron apprehensive.
David has a good selection of unusual vegetables like kohlrabi and fennel. Bluebird Acres Farm has some interesting drought tolerant hanging baskets available. Our bakers have a wide selection of breads and sweets to tempt us. The Bread Basket has two varieties of granola which makes a great walk around the market treat.
This time of year at the market, our vendors can provide shoppers with a greater selection of vegetables and fruits by finding good non-local sources for some items. You will find the signs with the prices and source of the product (“Florida” or “Georgia”) to let you know the item is not local. In a few weeks, everything displayed will be local.
Lee Ly makes beautiful, whimsical flower arrangements from a wide selection of early spring flowers. The dainty purple larkspur mixed with willowy greens and a daisy or two is a welcome addition to a kitchen on the cool mornings of early May. This year she has Chinese broccoli and broccoli rabe, which have quickly become market favorites because of their flavor and color. She also has lettuces and other Asian favorites.
Have you tried the Funky Pepper’s new whole wheat pizza? Fridays before market day, the girls are busy making pizza dough, adding their own sauce and topping it with cheese. Their pizza is never frozen.
The Salisbury Farmers Market is open Wednesday and Saturday from 7 a.m. until noon at the corner of Bank St and S. Main Street in downtown Salisbury.
Sue Davis is an Extension Master Gardener Volunteer with Cooperative Extension in Rowan County.

---

Read more food, garden and farm stories at www.FarmCarolina.com

---