What We’re About

Recently someone asked my why our Market does not have (insert fruit or vegetable product) like some of the roadside vendors they drive by on a regular basis. They thought it strange those people would offer certain food items that we do not. It got me to thinking about our core values: Fresh, Local, Sustainable and Year Round.

While roadside products may appear FRESH, (as opposed to overripe or poor quality), sometimes that’s not the case as many items can be refrigerated an extended time or ripened with gasses before being put on display for sale. They are seldom LOCAL. More often than not, they have been purchased from a wholesaler who got vast quantities by truck from down in Florida. If not there they’ve probably been hauled off a boat from Central America. These too have been subject to refrigeration, spray, dye or gasses. Market at Dothan limits our distance to within fifty miles of Dothan, ensuring that the food you purchase from us is truly LOCAL. As far as FRESH, it is usually picked 1-2 days before pickup on Fridays.

The other issue is SUSTAINABILITY. Sustainability is all about growing food without depleting natural resources. The nutrients taken from the soil by crops must be replaced using natural methods. The USDA defines sustainable farming as agriculture that:

*Enhances the natural resources upon which society lives
*Efficiently uses resources by implementing natural controls and biocycles
*Is economically viable
*Enhances life for farmers and those eating the products

The grand hope of sustainable farming is that mankind will be able to continue living off the land without depleting natural resources and ruining the earth. To be sustainable, farmers must also be able to afford their business.

The last core value of Market at Dothan is YEAR ROUND. While it is nice to serve fresh berries during the fall and winter, it is not natural, and it is not necessarily what our bodies need the most. Case in point: citrus in this region ripens and is available most of the winter months. What does citrus offer? Vitamin C. We all know that. And what do we need during the fall and winter months to help fight off colds and flu? Vitamin C, of course. There are other studies showing the value of root vegetables during the cold months as well as leafy green brasseric vegetables which are very popular in the deep south.

The downside of a Year Round Market is unpredictable weather. Those of you who ordered root crops last week experienced the downside of that as our recent cold snap damaged them severely and has limited what our growers are able to offer this week.

That being said, THANK YOU from all of us here at Market at Dothan.

Market Info

Winter Market Schedule Order Online January 14 – January 17 for Pickup on Friday, January 20 Order Online January 21 – January 24 for Pickup on Friday, January 27

Order Online January 28 – January 31 for Pickup on Friday, February 3 Order Online February 4 – February 7 for Pickup on Friday, February 10 Order Online February 11 – February 14 for Pickup on Friday, February 17 Order Online February 18 – February 21 for Pickup on Friday, February 24

The Huffington Post offers some good thoughts as to why we prefer comfort foods this time of year, complete with recipes!



SMITH FARMS – Ground Lamb and Dexter Beef


AVALON FARMS Be sure to check Wendy’s jam and jelly special.


CASABLANCA RANCH. Read more about them: http://casablancaranch.com/. Locally Grown Hormone Free Santa Gertrudis Beef

D’S JELLIES – D’s Mayhaw Jelly, Hot Pepper Jelly, and BlackBerry Jelly are good year round.

GINTHER FARMS Fresh UNFERTILIZED eggs from young chickens. Perfect for Deviled Eggs.

HORTON’S FARM Danny has Lettuce, Chard and Onions available this week. Hortons Farm is your local source for Local Wildflower Honey. Tupelo Honey in fancy jars are perfect for gifting as they never granulate. Be sure to check out our 100% beeswax candles and Bath and Body products made with gifts from the honeybees.

KATHY’S CHURPERS Always the finest in fresh local eggs.

MARY’S PEEPS I am super ready for the new year and back enjoying making baked goods and pepper jellies, my favorite thing to do. Be sure and check out the baked goods as I am always adding a new product every week. Thank you for trying the things I make and I appreciate any suggestions. Please remember to recycle because it helps keeping cost low. I would love feedback. Have a good year. Mary Dale Peeples, Echo Community, Ozark, Al.

RICHTER FARMS: Red Wattle Pork Products


SANDSPUR FARMS “We raise our pigs over a spread of close to 100 acres, they are allowed to roam the pastures and fields and are given NON GMO veggies and supplemented with some NON GMO feed and minerals. We take pride in our heritage bred hogs and produce some of the best tasting pork. Our pork has been sent to as far north as Kansas and as far south as Orlando and everywhere in between. Our prices are kept low as we believe it should not cost an “arm and a leg” to eat healthy and provide flavorful meals to our families.”

SANDY VALLEY NEW This week: Cabbage Collards. Also available: Swiss Chard, Broccoli, Radishes, Japanese Salad Turnips, Vates Curly Kale

Footnotes

Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net

Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan

For Friday Pickup: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303