Farmers’ Market Contest
Tom Farmer Oysters and Clams
Whirliwind Whirlies
Julies’ Secret Salad Dressing
Hamilton Farms Geraniums
From the Prez,
(distilled from 10 Reasons to Eat Local
by Jennifer Maiser, editor & founder
posted @ eatlocalchallenge.com website,)
Locally grown produce:
Is fresher
Just plain tastes better
Fruits & vegetables have longer to ripen
Buying & Eating local food:
Is better for air quality and pollution (less travel)
protects us from bio-terrorism (less contamination risk)
keeps us in touch with the seasons
is fodder for the wonderful story of where your food comes from (& your farmer!)
translates to more variety (you can’t get lemon cukes at the grocery store!)
supports responsible land development
note – This is extremely abbreviated. Go to the website listed above to read the full article & find other interesting facts.
See you at the market Saturday — it’s going to be a lovely day!
Laura Pittman-Hewitt, Port Orchard Farmers’ Market President
America’s Favorite Farmers’ Market Contest!!
American Favorite Farmers Market logo
Do you love shopping at the Port Orchard Farmers’ Market? Isn’t our market the best farmers market in the country?
If you find our local farmers market to be a great source of fresh and locally grown foods, make sure to participate in America’s Favorite Farmers Markets™ contest and let the world know why you love the Port Orchard Farmers’ Market!
Farmers markets are an asset to our communities and deserve our support. You can help your favorite farmers market gain the recognition it deserves and ensure that it and others like it continue to thrive. How can you help? Start by casting your vote at the link above. If we win, we get some nifty bags that we can pass out to our customers.
Vote early! Vote often!!
Tom Farmer Oysters and Clams
Geraniums from Hamilton Family Farms
Tom Farmer has been in the oyster/clam business now for 26 years and selling at the market all that time – he reports that he didn’t have any gray hair when he started! Tom and his wife Jean own a farm in Allyn and farm oysters and clams from their own and leased tidelands.
Tom Farmer - Raw Oysters
Their business is split into 3 different segments. The largest is the commercial end. Twice a week, all year round, Tom Farmer Oyster Co. ships 800 dozen oysters and 600 pounds of clams to a broker in San Francisco. From there they are sent out across the country from Maine to Hawaii. Their two other segments are the Port Orchard Farmers’ Market and a retail store on the farm. While the farmers’ market operates 6 months of the year, the retail store is open all year just like the commercial portion.
Tom and Jean encourage people to take the beautiful drive out to Allyn to see their farm, walk the gardens or meander down to the lake. Don’t be surprised if Finnegan Farmer (their giant dog) wants to stroll with you, or Maggie (their kitty) rubs up against your leg. While you are waiting for your order to be processed, enjoy the peacefulness of their lovely farm.
Whirliwind Whirlies
Whirligig
You can’t miss the Whirliwind Whirlies booth at the market, especially if the day is a bit breezy. Hanging from a hook or mounted on a stake, the colorful, clever and energetic whirligigs by Olalla artists Jan and Bill Olson will catch your eye and your imagination.
The whirligigs are all wood, made from pine and plywood. Bill does the cutting, sanding, and he paints the larger areas of each figure with acrylic craft paint. Jan is in charge of the finer line painting, applying the two coats of sealer, and quality control. The Olsons use only non-toxic paint.
Know someone who is putting in a garden this year? The Olsons are also making cute and colorful garden stakes, which would make a nifty gift, especially if that gardener is you.
Recipe — Julie’s Secret Salad Dressing
Lettuce is coming into the market now, so here’s a great salad dressing recipe. The acid in the dressing will wilt young lettuces, so toss it just before serving. Extra dressing can be kept in the refrigerator in a sealed jar for a few days.
1 T. red wine vinegar
1/2 C. mayonnaise
1 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
good squirt of Worcestershire sauce
juice from 1/2 lemon
1 1/2 T. dry tarragon
Mix all ingredients together for dressing. Add to a large bowl of mixed salad greens (use a colorful mixture from the market). Add freshly-grated black pepper, salt (if needed, I usually don’t), and LOTS of grated Parmesan cheese. Toss well. Guaranteed to get raves from your guests.
Port Orchard Farmers’ Market
9AM to 3PM
Every Saturday until October 10