This Week at the Durham Farmers' Market

On September mornings at the Market, the colors always seem to intensify. I can never tell if it is because of the angle of the light in the morning, or if the colors of the vegetables and fruits and flowers are, in fact, deeper and more intense as their season draws to an end. In either case, on an early morning stroll through the Market last Saturday, I saw these vivid gomphrenas and dahlia, alongside brightly colored zinnias and gladioulus soaking in a beam of sunlight. Moving through the Market, I saw many piles of bright orange, red, purple, yellow and green peppers. Late season tomatoes sitting next to the rich, deep purple of eggplants. The jewel tones of scuppernong grapes. A handful of early pumpkins radiating their bright orange color in the cool morning air. It was a brilliant scene!

I know that as the sun rises later in the morning and the air cools down, it is easier to stay in bed longer on a Saturday morning. But, I'd encourage all the late sleepers to try and make it out to the Market early some sunny morning in September and see the stunning fall colors amplified in the low angle of the sunrise. It is totally worth it!

One of the best parts of the changing of the seasons is that every week holds a special surprise of something new coming back to the market. This week, baby kale has made its debut. Heads of lettuce are starting to re-appear and before long, a quick glance around the market will be a sea of green interspersed with bunches of root vegetables. Speaking of root vegetables, the first radishes and baby salad turnips have arrived. And several farmers have told me that the carrot seeds that they planted have germinated and it is looking like the upcoming carrot harvest will be plentiful! The conditions were perfect to start carrot seeds, just enough rain and cooler than usual August temperatures. The carrots won't arrive for a few more weeks, but when they do, there should be lots to go around!

Tomorrow, you can expect to find freshly dug sweet potatoes and some more varieties of pumpkins and winter squashes interspersed alongside the summer time standards of beans, squash, tomatoes, okra and eggplants. There will be lots to choose from in the produce department along with a great selection of meats. But, I wanted to let you know that now is the time of year when egg production drops off a bit. I'll tell you more about why that is next week. So, if you want eggs, get there early!

See you at the Market,
Erin Kauffman
Market Manager
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Upcoming Events
Saturday September 14th, 9am-Noon - Story Telling by Cynthia Raxter

Wednesday September 18th, 3:30-5:30 - Quick Dinners from the Market Demo with Matt Lardie (greeneatsblog.com)

Saturday September 21st - Homefries Kid's Cooking Class! 9:30am. Chef Aaron Vandemark from Panciuto will be teaching the class, spaces are still available. If you would like to sign your child up for the class, please email info@durhamfarmersmarket.com.

Saturday & Sunday September 21& 22, 1-5pm both day - Eastern Triangle Farm Tour! This year's tour includes the following DFM vendors... Meadow Lane Farm, SEEDS, Wild Scallions Farm, Spain Farm, and Vollmer Farm along with 22 other great farms in Durham, Granville, Wake, Franklin and Chatham Counties! More info & tickets: www.carolinafarmstewards.org/etft/

Saturday September 28th - Farmer Foodshare Challenge!

Saturday October 5th - 5th Annual CHEF CHALLENGE!! This year's chef contestants will be announced next week!

Fresh this Week....
FRUITS: SCUPPERNONG GRAPES, Apples, Figs, Pears, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Raspberries, Blueberries, Peaches
VEGETABLES: KALE, ACORN SQUASH, GREEN BEANS, Amaranth Greens, Arugula, Beets, Bitter Gourd, Butterbeans, Butternut Squash, Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Delicata Squash, Edamame, Fresh & Dried Herbs (Basil, Catnip, Dill, Mint, Rosemary, Oregano, Thyme, Sorrel, Parsley), Eggplant, Frisee, Green Onions, Garlic, Gourds, Kale, Lambs Quarter, Lettuce, Long Beans, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Onions, Peppers, Potatoes, Pea Shoots, Pumpkins, Purple Hull Peas, Radishes, Salad Mix, Shiitake Mushrooms, Sweet Potatoes, Sweet Potato Greens, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Turnips, Zucchini, and more
MEATS AND EGGS:  Beef, Bison, Chicken, Duck, Goat/Chevon/Cabrito, Lamb, Pork, Veal, Rabbit
Duck Eggs & Chicken Eggs
CHEESES: Fresh and aged COW and GOAT milk cheeses.
PLANTS: Bedding, House, and Flower Plants.
FLOWERS: Lisianthus, Tuberose, Gomphrena, Gladiolus, Echinacea, Sunflower, Dahlia, Zinnia, Mixed Bouquets
SPECIALTY ITEMS: RAW HONEY, creamed Honey, Flour, Cornmeal, Grits, Baked Goods including Pies, Breads, Cookies & Pastries, Fermented Foods, Beer, Wine, Jams, Jellies, Pickles, Preserves, Pastas, Perogies, Wool
CRAFTS: Pottery, Jewelry, Handmade Baskets, Woodwork, Photographs, Hand-dyed Clothing and other items, Handmade Clothing, Goats Milk Soaps, Body Butters, Lotions, Yarn, Roving, and much more...
Produce availability depends on weather conditions