The Market is Open

Good Morning Everyone,
The Market is open!
I hope everyone enjoyed our first Northern wind in several months. One forgets how invigorating a cool wind can be. As you can imagine, a Northerly wind slows Summer vegetables down and provides ideal conditions for Fall seedlings. Hopefully, the broccoli and cabbage and lettuces we’ll be enjoying in a month or so like this cool wind as much as we do.
We just posted our visit to Arkansas Fresh Bakery. Look over the story and enjoy the mouth-watering pictures of bread. We hope this helps you enjoy Ashton’s Flaxseed Sourdough and infamous Challah buns even more.
Last but not least, there are whispers in the Northern wind of a 2nd annual Local Food Tour in a different neighborhood. But which neighborhood will it be? Hint: Mylo’s Coffee Company will be involved.
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• Organic Delicata Squash from Crimmins. You know, I forget that squash is a native vegetable. This particular squash is also known as the Peanut or Sweet Potato Squash, and it’s rich in potassium and fiber. Try it roasted and stuffed, like in this recipe.
• Eggplant: Black Beauty, Japanese, Fairytale. At this point in the Summer, I always have to think of what I can do with eggplant. Here’s an interesting recipe: Japanese Eggplant Pickles. Eggplant, apparently, is a common pickled vegetable in Japan. It’s simple to make and perhaps worth a try?
• OKRA! Organic okra from Crimmins and North Pulaski. Clemson from Barnhill. Okra is a vegetable I do not have to worry about: I roast it with olive oil, salt, smoked paprika, and a little brown sugar every time, and it’s always delicious. A word to the wise: slice your okra in half lengthwise before roasting to allow some moisture to escape.
• Last Ditch Purple Hull Peas. Barnhill has some unshelled pink eye purple hull peas. The last of the fresh peas we’ll probably see. Order up and shell them over a movie!
• Baby Pear Pumpkins from Willow Springs. I had the pleasure of seeing these little pumpkins in person at Robert’s garden two days ago. My Lord, they are cute. Robert’s Metro Butternut Squash are also small and tender. Very flavorful.
• Sweet Potatoes from Drewry. They even have big boxes available, for the sweet potato fanatics like me.
• The Fruit Story: muscadines and apples. It looks like Bluebird’s muscadine production may be winding down, so I’d order up now!
• Goat! I’d encourage you not to overlook goat meat. It is lean and lower in fat than beef or pork, but it bears a less gamey flavor than lamb. Use it in a simple braise, make kabobs, or sear a chop. I think you’ll enjoy it. Plus, goat meat makes a perfect accompaniment to peppers, of which we currently have a lot.
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News in the community…

Have you checked out the new Front Porch Arkansas podcast? They paid good mention to the Root Cafe and Loblolly Creamery.
And The Root is hosting its 2nd annual Hot Pepper Eating Contest. They organized last year’s in conjunction with our Local Food Tour, and it was an exercise in entertainment and sadism. Can’t wait for this year’s! October 13th. Mark your calendar!
And I encourage you to check out Laughing Stock Farms Facebook page. Great pictures and a lot of cool things happening on Josh’s farm right now.
Sincerely,
Sam Hedges
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