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August 8, 2020 M@D time to Order!
Eggstraordinary!
Market Chitchat & Grower Notes
THE LOWDOWN ON EGGS
Eagle Grove Farms recently added quail eggs to their Market listings. This week the Market is offering duck eggs as well from M@D’s customer and friend, Don Smith. We hope the following information will inspire you to try both of these wonderful products! We’re including goose eggs for information only as they’ve previously been offered through M@D.
The chicken clearly rules the roost of American egg production, but many other birds lay tasty eggs, among them the quail, duck and goose. Other cultures have long recognized the virtue of these varieties.
The funny thing about eggs is that most people say they all taste about the same. If you prepare a dish using duck, goose or even quail eggs, guests may notice subtle differences but usually will say it tastes like a chicken egg.” This is actually a good thing, because it allows you to incorporate the more unusual types of eggs into recipes without worrying about drastic changes in flavor. You will, however, need to adjust the amounts!
Quail Eggs: Bigger isn’t always better. The diminutive, spotted egg of the quail is perfect if you’d like to experiment with a fun, unusual type of egg. At about 1 inch in length and 9 grams in weight, quail eggs are popular with chefs looking to make creative treats such as bite-sized deviled eggs. As long as you make adjustments for size, quail eggs can be used interchangeably with chicken eggs. Caterers and party-planners should take note that it’s very impressive to do little things like a open sandwich, such as croque madame or to serve hors d’oeuvres topped with a quail egg. They’re served with steak tartare in France, marinated in soy sauce in Korea, and paired with chorizo and toast for Spanish tapas.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 14
Protein: 1.2 grams
Cholesterol: 76 milligrams
Chicken Eggs: A standard 60-calorie chicken egg is about 2 1/2 inches long, weighs about 60 grams and can vary drastically in color, depending on the breed of chicken that laid it. This is the egg that Americans love most and the only egg that many have ever been exposed to. Consumers have many options when it comes to buying chicken eggs. White or brown eggs? Organic, free-range, cage-free, or pasture-raised? Omega-3-enriched or soy-free? The variety can be confusing, but ultimately, which egg to choose comes down to personal choice.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 60 to 70
Protein: 6 grams
Cholesterol: 187 milligrams
Duck Eggs: A bit larger than chicken eggs, duck eggs have a creamy, rich consistency, due to their larger yolk-to-white ratio. It also means that they have a higher fat content than chicken eggs. Duck eggs also contain more calories per egg and feature a harder shell than chicken eggs and have a potentially longer refrigerated shelf life. Once you do crack a duck egg, you’ll notice that the yolk is very large. This is why duck eggs have a higher fat content and a creamier texture than chicken eggs which is why many bakers like the really silky batter they make. In addition a lot of pastry chefs prefer duck eggs for flan, crème brûlée, or anything where you desire a custard texture.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 130
Protein: 9 grams
Cholesterol: 620 milligrams
Goose Eggs: Weighing in at about 5 ounces each, goose eggs are equivalent to two or three large chicken eggs. Once you master the trick of cracking these giants — tapping them against a bowl won’t cut it! — you’ll find them a delight to eat. Geese have a limited laying season of just a few months in the spring, and most birds lay only about 40 eggs per year, give or take. Goose eggs are roughly the equivalent of two jumbo eggs. Like duck eggs, they are highly prized for baking.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 265
Protein: 20 grams
Cholesterol: 1227 milligrams
CHITCHAT & GROWER NOTES
Welcome Don Smith! Don has been steadily growing his flock of ducks who give him a wide variety of beautiful duck eggs. Be sure to read his product description to learn more.
Danny’s Greens is taking a break for his lettuce to grow. Even using heat tolerant varieties in the summer months, our August heat is hard on it. Danny has promised to notify us as soon as he sees there will be enough to list for sale. In the meantime, he’s got a number of other crops started that should be available in the fall.
Avalon Farms:
With the daily temperatures running in the mid 90s, and heat index of well over 100, this heat has really been impacting all of our chickens. We’ve been taking extra precautions to keep our chickens comfortable. The broilers moveable house has been retrofitted with an extra roof-over of tarp. This creates a cooler airspace over their entire area. We are also changing out their water several times a day and watering their grass area to keep it cooler. And even with this help they are still growing very slowly. They are several weeks behind schedule. The layers are also suffering from this heat. (And, yes we give them extra cooling things too!) Daily egg counts are down almost by half!
Hopefully the extreme heat will break soon. It makes it so hard to even think about fall plantings.
FOOTNOTES
We would love to hear from you! If you have a favorite recipe, want to write a product review, have an idea or request for an article or information, let us know! You can reply to this newsletter or write marketatdothan@gmail.com.
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: 10am – 12pm, Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: 11am – 11:30am, Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: 12pm – 12:30pm, Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
Join our Online Discussions! www.facebook.com/groups/MarketatDothanDiscussion
Be sure to use our hashtag! #marketatdothan
Our COVID protocol is still in place for everyone who wants curbside service.
I. Order Payment:
1. Voluntarily prepay by 6 pm Thursday if possible using this PAYPAL link. This eliminates passing paper currency back and forth or handling debit/credit cards on site. Your invoice will be marked PAID and pickup is fast and easy. In the event of undelivered items you will be issued a Market credit that will apply to your next order.
2. Debit/Credit – One of us will briefly step within 6 feet for you to put your card in the chip reader. We do our best to avoid touching your card or you touching the equipment which means we sign an “x” for your signature.
3. Cash and Checks – You may hand them to us. Exact change is preferred if using cash to prevent a lot of passing back and forth. If you choose curbside pickup you are welcome to put payment in your trunk/tailgate as that would eliminate the need to come near your window.
II. Order Delivery:
1. Curb Service: Please pull up next to the Market Shed. We will direct traffic a little bit if needed. Have your trunk/ hatchback open and we’ll load you up!
2. Walk Up Pickup: Please do not come inside. When we see you coming we’ll put your order near the entrance and step back for you to claim it. This system works really well for those of you wishing to get extra veggies that may be available.
3. Regardless of how you choose to accept your Market order please know that we make every effort to practice safe distancing and ask that you do the same.
We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!
August 1, 2020 M@D is Open!
This and That
Market Chitchat
Grower Notes: Avalon Farms, Danny’s Greens, Horton’s Farm, Grier Acres
A SMALL HODGEPODGE
As you probably know, Gov. Ivey has continued Alabama’s Safer At Home mandate and extended the mandatory wearing of masks through the end of August. If you choose to read the article highlighted in green you can almost feel how hard it was for her to make this decision. Politics aside, we ran across a great tidbit that should make mask wearing a bit less disagreeable.
If you are struggling with your mask try putting one drop of oil on it. One person reported, “I’m not claustrophobic but I have asthma so after a long period of time the hot air I’m breathing in and out is almost unbearable. Today I used one drop of peppermint and it was a game changer. It was uplifting and had somewhat of a cooling effect.” There are many oils you can try such as lemon, grapefruit or orange for something energizing and motivating. Lavender or any other calming oil would be soothing and relaxing. Remember one drop!!! Don’t overdo, it only takes a tiny bit!
On a different note, while our Market Shed conditions do not qualify for mandated masking during Friday Pickup, we are attempting to follow orders and appreciate your understanding if you catch us taking a much needed breather in the heat.
This might be redundant for those who follow our Discussion Page but after some research on hammerhead worms a Public Service Announcement seemed fitting as they have the potential to wreck havoc on valuable farmland.
There are a few things you should know about this unwelcome hitchhiker from Asia.
1. They are BAD. They cannibalize regular earthworms. Good soil becomes dead soil when they take over.
2. They are GROSS. They use slime to kill and their mouth doubles as its anus.
3. Do the world a favor and KILL IT with vinegar or salt. If you cut it in half both pieces will regrow. This is one of the ways they multiply.
There are a number of great articles and youtube.com available on the internet if you wish to learn more.
MARKET CHITCHAT
Did you know that each Market newletter/weblog contains a number of links to various internet pages and articles? Links to Market pages are in red/maroon, usually at the bottom of the page, and links to other pages are in green. We don’t believe in hogging information and are glad to share resources.
Several of our vegetable growers have gone on vacation mode as their summer crops have completed their growth cycle and they’re planning /preparing for the fall growing season. It will be interesting and fun to see what’s available in the coming weeks! Some summer crops can be planted and harvested a second time during this season and it’s also when cool weather crops can be seeded.
GROWER NOTES
AVALON FARMS: Well, the summertime physical farmers markets are over for the Summer. (No more getting up at 3:30 AM to pack, load and drive to set up tables somewhere. ) I should be able to keep you better informed on farm happenings now.?
We all love the Kinston Sweets. I mean what’s not to like, sweet crispy onion to add to sandwiches, salads… anything really. The only con I know of is they only store for 3 or 4 months. I really wanted these lovelies to last longer so we all could continue enjoying them. So last Fall, I split up the sweet onion planting, half Kinston Sweets and half a new variety of sweet onion reported to store for 6 months. That didn’t work out so well. Enter the Yellow Onions, more of a mild onion, but definitely not a Kinston Sweet!
Unfortunately, the Kinston Sweets are sold out. Still have lots of Creole Red and Yellow onions available.
New this week, Delicata squash, a small squash with orange-yellow flesh that tastes similar to sweet potatoes. Its skin is thin and tender enough to eat after cooking, which sets it apart from other winter squash. As you can see, this variety makes small round ones. Later I should have some bigger ones.
I’ve got quite a bit of winter squash growing. All the ones from last year plus a couple new ones, plus more delicata and spaghetti squash.
As soon as I can get the seed beds prepped, I’ll be planting spinach, broccoli, assorted Asian greens, turnips, radishes and one more planting of zucchini (see if we can squeak that in before frost).
DANNY’S GREENS: Limited quantities of salad greens and green onions available this week. Lettuce likes cooler weather so it grows very slow when it’s hot like this.
HORTONS FARM : My uncle is not crazy. I should probably explain. Last week I got a call from an elderly uncle who was (of all things) running a one man state sanctioned farmers market in his yard. Uncle Jimmy is a well known and colorful character in Randolph County and like generations before him, grows beautiful vegetables. I can’t tell you enough about his practices to know if he would qualify for Market at Dothan, but what I learned from him after we got through the family chit chat gives me hope.
He swears by the use of spraying colloidal silver on his plants.
I’d never heard of it either and shared it with our Market growers a few days ago. Today I found a great article which goes into great detail about its use and benefits. Apparently gardening with silver has been around a few years and is very popular in the production of cannabis.
And now we know.
GRIER ACRES: This great photo did not come through in time to share it with you last week. This is REAL gardening in the south!
And a wild Paw Paw for your viewing curiosity:
FOOTNOTES
We would love to hear from you! If you have a favorite recipe, want to write a product review, have an idea or request for an article or information, let us know! You can reply to this newsletter or write marketatdothan@gmail.com.
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: 10am – 12pm, Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: 11am – 11:30am, Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: 12pm – 12:30pm, Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
Join our Online Discussions! www.facebook.com/groups/MarketatDothanDiscussion
Be sure to use our hashtag! #marketatdothan
Our COVID protocol is still in place for everyone who wants curbside service.
I. Order Payment:
1. Voluntarily prepay by 6 pm Thursday if possible using this PAYPAL link. This eliminates passing paper currency back and forth or handling debit/credit cards on site. Your invoice will be marked PAID and pickup is fast and easy. In the event of undelivered items you will be issued a Market credit that will apply to your next order.
2. Debit/Credit – One of us will briefly step within 6 feet for you to put your card in the chip reader. We do our best to avoid touching your card or you touching the equipment which means we sign an “x” for your signature.
3. Cash and Checks – You may hand them to us. Exact change is preferred if using cash to prevent a lot of passing back and forth. If you choose curbside pickup you are welcome to put payment in your trunk/tailgate as that would eliminate the need to come near your window.
II. Order Delivery:
1. Curb Service: Please pull up next to the Market Shed. We will direct traffic a little bit if needed. Have your trunk/ hatchback open and we’ll load you up!
2. Walk Up Pickup: Please do not come inside. When we see you coming we’ll put your order near the entrance and step back for you to claim it. This system works really well for those of you wishing to get extra veggies that may be available.
3. Regardless of how you choose to accept your Market order please know that we make every effort to practice safe distancing and ask that you do the same.
We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!
July 25, 2020 Newsletter - M@D Time to Order!
Short and Sweet
Grower Notes: Grier Acres, Danny’s Greens
MARKET CHITCHAT
We’re keeping things brief this week due to this thing called “life”. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes to send out a newsletter at 5pm every Saturday and whether the “send” command comes from a laptop or an android, an office or in the middle of nowhere, the information you receive has to be compiled, formatted and coded so it can happen.
So “life” . . . . many of you know about an emergency surgery that took place late last week. Things like that do throw you off! We appreciate your kind understanding, the sweet prayers and look forward to getting back to our crazy cool kind of Market normal.
BEAR WITH US! We still have lots of great vegetables listed despite being in that dreaded summer slump between plantings. Late summer is hard on a lot of crops because the heat and humidity foster all sorts of plant problems, whether “blight” like an uncle calls it, or a host of flies and bugs that want to chomp on tasty plants before the nights start cooling off.
GROWER NOTES
GRIER ACRES: Greetings everyone from Grier Acres!
We are so busy here with our full time jobs and working on the farm. Our pear tree pictured below has a wonderful harvest for us this year. Jeannie did an excellent salad with the pears last Sunday. She shared a photo on the website to you all. We are going to try doing a spicy relish with the misfits that we can’t sell.
We have several squirrels tearing up our pears. We wouldn’t mind sharing but they just take one bite and move to another. SO RUDE. These squirrels may need to be encouraged to move on if you get my drift. Our Cammie cat used to control these things but these days she likes to stay inside with the AC get loopy on her catnip and watch Tiger King. She says that she’s taking this Covid quarantine thing to heart. Seriously, she got spooked by our Livestock Guard Dog and doesn’t want to go outside. We are in the process of acclimating her to the outdoors again.
Our okra has taken off and we have both varieties: clemson and emerald. We have 800 feet of okra planted and we’re picking 12 – 15 pounds every other day. Man that’s a lot of okra. Clemson is excellent for cooking but Emerald is great for pickling. We have the garlic organically grown and may have the peppers to add for pickling. :) Will try and attach recipe on newsletter as well as on the discussion page. Peppers and tomatoes as well as eggplant is doing great. Once again we have a bountiful harvest of yellow pear and salad tomatoes. My frugal Jeannie takes the misfits and just tosses in with canned or frozen tomatoes and makes okra and tomatoes. She even freezes this for late nights…the okra stews down and is very filling or you can add to another soup to get more vitamins and fiber.
We have also planted a gourd garden this year with all kinds of watermelons, cantaloupes, and pumpkins. We have one plant that comes back that grew in our personal bean crop. Will be sure to let you know when those mature. They seem to be a beneficial with the beans as they growing prolifically and the watermelon seems to choke out weeds as well. Jeannie is just afraid of snakes being in there.
Our garden area is located across the road from our house site and therefore we do not have well water over there. It would cost a fortune to dig a well and run power out there (we were quoted $7,500 on the well and $1,200 for power) . So a few years back I built a ram pump to get water up to the garden area from the creek. The water is stored in 3 275 gallon totes and we manually watered the garden with buckets. This year we added a drip irrigation system that is powered by a solar panel. Once I have the videos edited, I’ll post them to our Youtube Channel.
DANNY’S GREENS:
We’re sharing this photo from yesterday just because it’s so beautiful. In the left back you can see the shade covers that makes it possible for Danny to grow high quality lettuce in this heat, and in the right back his work and storage building. Everything else is eye candy. There are places where the zinnias are taller than people! The white blooms in the left foreground are buckwheat. The marigolds in the right foreground repel many bad bugs. All of the flowers attract pollinators and when their job is finished they contribute to the compost that makes Danny’s soil rich and fertile with no need of anything artifical.
FOOTNOTES
We would love to hear from you! If you have a favorite recipe, want to write a product review, have an idea or request for an article or information, let us know! You can reply to this newsletter or write marketatdothan@gmail.com.
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: 10am – 12pm, Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: 11am – 11:30am, Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: 12pm – 12:30pm, Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
Join our Online Discussions! www.facebook.com/groups/MarketatDothanDiscussion
Be sure to use our hashtag! #marketatdothan
Our COVID protocol is still in place for everyone who wants curbside service.
I. Order Payment:
1. Voluntarily prepay by 6 pm Thursday if possible using this PAYPAL link. This eliminates passing paper currency back and forth or handling debit/credit cards on site. Your invoice will be marked PAID and pickup is fast and easy. In the event of undelivered items you will be issued a Market credit that will apply to your next order.
2. Debit/Credit – One of us will briefly step within 6 feet for you to put your card in the chip reader. We do our best to avoid touching your card or you touching the equipment which means we sign an “x” for your signature.
3. Cash and Checks – You may hand them to us. Exact change is preferred if using cash to prevent a lot of passing back and forth. If you choose curbside pickup you are welcome to put payment in your trunk/tailgate as that would eliminate the need to come near your window.
II. Order Delivery:
1. Curb Service: Please pull up next to the Market Shed. We will direct traffic a little bit if needed. Have your trunk/ hatchback open and we’ll load you up!
2. Walk Up Pickup: Please do not come inside. When we see you coming we’ll put your order near the entrance and step back for you to claim it. This system works really well for those of you wishing to get extra veggies that may be available.
3. Regardless of how you choose to accept your Market order please know that we make every effort to practice safe distancing and ask that you do the same.
We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!
July 18, 2020 M@D Newsletter - Time to ORDER!
Cool Thoughts
Market Chitchat
Grower Notes: Danny’s Greens, Sandy Valley, Horton’s Farm
CHRISTMAS IN JULY
Christmas in July is an annual tradition that got it’s start in 1933 at a girls summer camp in Brevard, NC. It was the brainchild of a zany staff member named Fannie Holt. The first celebration included carolers, a Christmas Tree, Santa Claus, presents, and fake snow made of cotton. As the tradition evolved, campers would use laundry bags as makeshift stockings, which they placed outside their cabins to be filled with candy overnight. Eventually elves, reindeer, and Mrs. Claus joined the act, along with a camp-wide gift exchange, counselors included.
I think it’s safe to say the idea caught on.
Christmas in July takes place in many forms now. The Hallmark Channel devotes two weeks every July to Christmas movies. Retailers start putting out Christmas themed goods, having sales and encouraging people to avoid the rush by starting their holiday shopping right away. QVC takes full advantage of this!
If you’re interested in sustainable local products for your gift giving this year starting early really is the best way to make you you get what you want. No sales pitch here – just an idea to add one item every week to your order for your Christmas stash.
Lastly, if nothing else here in the deep south Christmas in July is a gentle reminder that our hot muggy dog days of summer won’t last forever . . . that cooler weather will come and if we’ve got the time or energy, yes, we can and should prepare! With covid looming over everyone like the monster from Stranger Things, choosing joy, choosing to celebrate life and to plan good for those we love is a way to fight back.
MARKET CHITCHAT
A big THANK YOU to all Friday’s customers who were swift to adapt to the more serious covid procedures we had to implement midweek because of the summer infection increase. It was a hard decision to return to essential service/lockdown mode and until further notice we’re going to stick with contactless curbside pickup.
And the new products just keep coming! Kudos to our growers and producers who continue to try new crops and innovate!
GROWER NOTES
DANNY’S GREENS: This week salad greens, green onions (scallions) and turnip roots are listed.
SANDY VALLEY: One of the characteristics of sustainable farming is that you don’t depend on chemicals to keep things going. And for that reason Scotty is taking a breather while his sweet potatoes continue to grow and he takes some action to save his okra. His other summer crops have all completed their growth cycles for the season so he is not listing anything for a few weeks.
HORTONS FARM: It’s pretty quiet up here. The summer honey flow is over and the bees are taking it easy in the heat. Our young chickens are all doing really well. The Cocoo Marans are almost adult size and the young ones (Light Buffs, Rhode Island Blues and Welsummers) are thriving in their new digs. Hopefully in a few months we’ll be adding some different colored eggs to the daily collection! They’re all a fun mix of chickens for sure and I’ve got to figure out what to do with the young Rhode Island Blue “pullet’ that’s growing a comb and bossing his peers around.
Talk about a fun mix, when my German Shepherd, Mopsi, was a very small puppy I started bringing her into the chicken coop with me and teaching her to respect the chickens while they were still larger than her. She is now a great help herding them when they’re outside and standing guard at the door when I don’t want them escaping.
Mopsi transferred that gentle acceptance of smaller animals to three kittys that showed up this year. We had been wanting barn cats to help with mice and God just dropped them off one day. The cats are now chicken helpers too, or at least they think so. They intermingle with Mopsi and the chickens and it’s not uncommon to see chickens, dog and cats eating table scraps from the same container! Every once in a while I catch Mops and the cats nibbling on chicken food too.
FOOTNOTES
We would love to hear from you! If you have a favorite recipe, want to write a product review, have an idea or request for an article or information, let us know! You can reply to this newsletter or write marketatdothan@gmail.com.
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: 10am – 12pm, Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: 11am – 11:30am, Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: 12pm – 12:30pm, Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
Join our Online Discussions! www.facebook.com/groups/MarketatDothanDiscussion
Be sure to use our hashtag! #marketatdothan
COVID Pickup Protocol:
I. Order Payment:
1. Voluntarily prepay by 6 pm Thursday if possible using this PAYPAL link. This eliminates passing paper currency back and forth or handling debit/credit cards on site. Your invoice will be marked PAID and pickup is fast and easy. In the event of undelivered items you will be issued a Market credit that will apply to your next order.
2. Debit/Credit – One of us will briefly step close enough for you to put your card in the chip reader. We do our best to avoid touching your card or you touching the equipment which means we sign an “x” for your signature.
3. Cash and Checks – You may leave them in your truck or hand them to us. Exact change in a bag or envelopeis preferred if using cash to prevent a lot of passing back and forth.
II. Order Delivery: is Curbside Service until further notice. Please pull up next to the Market Shed. We will direct traffic a little bit if needed. Have your trunk/ hatchback open and we’ll load you up!`
We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!
July 11, 2020 M@D Newsletter - We're Back & We're Open for Orders!
Summertime . . .
Market Chitchat
Grower Notes: Grier Acres, Danny’s Greens, Sandy Valley
AND THE LIVING IS EASY . . .
Or NOT! If you’re a farmer summertime can be anything but easy! There’s crops to harvest, soil to care for when the crop is gone, and prep/planning for what to do next season. It’s a beautiful revolving cycle of LIFE that gives life and quality of life to all who receive from it’s bounty.
One of the unique characteristics of Market At Dothan is that we are SUSTAINABLE. Sustainable and organic are like twin sisters. “Organic” is the pretty twin sister that has the titles and gets all the attention while Sustainable is the twin that that has more dirt under her fingernails from making sure the job gets done right.
“Doing it right” agriculture involves much more than choosing the right seed and not using chemicals. In simplest terms it comes down to nurturing your soil. Nurtured soil will nurture whatever you put into it to grow. Our farmers use a variety of methods to nurture, that is to add organic material to their gardens, using wholesome sustainable materials available to them. Listed below are a few things our market farmers do.
Cover Crops/Green Manure: Buckwheat is a major source of soil nutrition at Danny’s greens. He both tills fresh cuttings into beds and puts it in his compost piles. The bonus is that it attracts pollinators as well.
Permaculture: Mayim Farms has added traditional German hugelkultur to their farm. This method uses WOOD at the bottom of a bed to provide nutrients to soil as it decomposes. Beds created this way get a good rich diet for years. Other permaculture methods are started by layering various organic materials over beds.
Compost: We all have our compost piles. They don’t all consist of the same ingredients but the end result is the same – beautiful rich compost goes that back into the soil.
Animal Manures: The chickens at Avalon Farms do double duty by adding nitrogen back to the garden soil. USDA mandates that all animal fertilizers be applied than 90+ days before harvest so they rotate the areas where the chickens graze.
Mulch: Not the recycled rubber tire type, but the kind shown in Danny’s garden below. It’s especially important in the South as it reduces the amount of water that evaporates from your soil, greatly reducing your need to water your plants. It breaks up clay and allows better water and air movement through the soil. It also provides nutrients to sandy soil and improves its ability to hold water.
This Mother Earth News article has some great info if you would like to learn more.
MARKET CHITCHAT
We’ve got some great grower notes for you this week and I hope you’ll check in on what’s available and what’s going on in the Grower Notes below. Grier Acres has returned with some great products and we’re tickled pink to have clean corn available from Sandy Valley this week. VIP – Please be sure to read the notes under the corn photo if you wish to order any.
It’s a blessing to see so many great vegetables listed on the Market this week. One of the benefits of living in this region is that if you time your planting and crops just right you can grow literally year round. We are thankful for the wisdom and planning of our farmers to make this possible for you to have a year round supply of fresh seasonable vegetables. On that note, kudos to Danny’s Greens for being able to offer root crops in July!
GROWER NOTES
GRIER ACRES: We are back with Asian Pears this week. The tree is absolutely loaded. We have already gone through and thinned out earlier in the summer to reduce the weight on the branches.
We anticipated getting lots of okra but the rain has slowed it down. Before the rain came we had an overabundant supply. We have both varieties again—Clemson Spineless and Emerald. I think it needs more sun.
Peppers are coming in nicely. Will have ghost, tabasco, habanero, jalapeno, and bell peppers.
Eggplant is going ape!!! We have the traditional eggplant and we have ichiban variety. So far the ichiban is the most prolific so far. I think it comes to maturity faster due to smaller size. Jeannie cooks it sliced thin in rounds in an iron skillet with a dash of olive oil and seasalt. We do that method for the okra as well and use the whole okra even the stem. The stem gives you a way to eat it :).
Chickens are doing well. We have a regular personal customer who buys every single one we get. He and his mother swear free range eggs are the cats meow. :)
Speaking of cats we still have catnip grown organically for those felines in need of some stress relief with the corona virus and the humans being around more. Cammie will allow us to sell a small portion of her special stash….;)
We also have beans but probably will not have enough to share for selling. So far we have eaten all we have picked.
Goats are doing well. Jeannie has learned a male baby goat is not as much fun when they get older. Leap has gotten a new four letter name after his many antics. I don’t let her know it but I have gotten some secret laughs watching her with that male goat. She’s stubborn but I think Leap may be a good match for her. Seriously she does love the goats and chickens. One of the goats was a rescue we got from another girl raising goats. She was undoubtedly the most pitiful site. She has blossomed with a lot of love and Jeannie’s treats which includes baked sweet potato bites. We look forward to hearing everyone else’s updates.
DANNY’S GREENS: The garden has caught up and this week Salad Greens, Carrots, Green Onions, Beets and Turnip Roots are listed. Shop early because Danny’s stuff sells out FAST.
SANDY VALLEY: THE CORN IS HERE! Besides Eggplant, Okra, and Sugar Baby Watermelons Scotty’s Golden Queen CORN is finally ready.
(Editors note: Golden Queen is a hybrid corn (not GMO) and like everything else he grows, Scotty’s is grown sustainably without any chemicals and VIP in the case of corn, without any pesticides. What this means for you is that it may be the kind of high quality corn your Market Manager shucked as a child where you had to throw away the extra protein at the top of the ear. In other words, it might have a worm at the top. Modern agriculture has done away with corn worms through the use of pesticides so having one at the top of an ear of corn is a sure sign the corn is clean and safe to eat. Here’s additional info if you’d like to learn more.
FOOTNOTES
We would love to hear from you! If you have a favorite recipe, want to write a product review, have an idea or request for an article or information, let us know! You can reply to this newsletter or write marketatdothan@gmail.com.
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: 10am – 12pm, Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: 11am – 11:30am, Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: 12pm – 12:30pm, Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
Join our Online Discussions! www.facebook.com/groups/MarketatDothanDiscussion
Be sure to use our hashtag! #marketatdothan
Our COVID protocol is still in place for everyone who wants curbside service.
I. Order Payment:
1. Voluntarily prepay by 6 pm Thursday if possible using this PAYPAL link. This eliminates passing paper currency back and forth or handling debit/credit cards on site. Your invoice will be marked PAID and pickup is fast and easy. In the event of undelivered items you will be issued a Market credit that will apply to your next order.
2. Debit/Credit – One of us will briefly step within 6 feet for you to put your card in the chip reader. We do our best to avoid touching your card or you touching the equipment which means we sign an “x” for your signature.
3. Cash and Checks – You may hand them to us. Exact change is preferred if using cash to prevent a lot of passing back and forth. If you choose curbside pickup you are welcome to put payment in your trunk/tailgate as that would eliminate the need to come near your window.
II. Order Delivery:
1. Curb Service: Please pull up next to the Market Shed. We will direct traffic a little bit if needed. Have your trunk/ hatchback open and we’ll load you up!
2. Walk Up Pickup: Please do not come inside. When we see you coming we’ll put your order near the entrance and step back for you to claim it. This system works really well for those of you wishing to get extra veggies that may be available.
3. Regardless of how you choose to accept your Market order please know that we make every effort to practice safe distancing and ask that you do the same.
We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!
Crazy M@D Notice for table sales TOMORROW
I know… we’re closed this week. But several of our vendors will be at the Market Shed from 9 to 12 tomorrow with produce, products, and maybe even some samples.
We hope you’ll take advantage of this unique opportunity and drop by. We have it on good report that one of our ladies will have quail eggs!
Ros
June 27, 2020 M@D Newsletter - Open for Orders!
Welcome to our Sweet Market Additions
Market Chitchat
Grower Notes: Sweet Acres, Sweet & Simple, Danny’s Greens, Sandy Valley
SWEET & SIMPLE and SWEET ACRES FARM
After your editor got all excited and started writing stuff . . . I found the notes from both these lovely ladies! Their personal greetings to you can be found in the Grower Notes below.
It was a blessing to have Meredith of Sweet & Simple with us at the Market Shed yesterday. A recent transfer from New Mexico, she brings some Southwest influence to her baked products. Yesterday she treated everyone to Brownie Cookies (delish), Chocolate Chip Cookies (yummy), Chocolate Chip Scones (delectable) and (hold on to your hat) Green Chili Cheese Bread, all shown below.
We’re excited to welcome her to our Market family and look forward to watching you all get to know her and her products as well.
Next . . .Remember the song, “Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold”? Our long time customers will remember Anna of Sweet Acres Farm. Anna is gold. She was with Market at Dothan before she became a mother and is back, now with two lovely daughters. We’re tickled and hope you will enjoy her bountiful garden goodness. Her products are listed in Market Chitchat.
MARKET CHITCHAT
This is the last order cycle before Summer Break Our next Market pickup date is next Friday, July 3. There will be no newsletter on Saturday July 4 nor Market pickup Friday, July 10. We encourage you to order extra of the items you may need during the off week. Market will reopen again on Saturday, July 11.
You know the old saying “if anything can go wrong it will?” That was the case with Mayim’s delivery this week! A hearty Thank You to everyone who graciously worked with us on that. It will be nice to put that behind us once everything finishes sorting out on Friday!
Laura, Laura’s Confections, informed me this week that she had a better Eggplant Parmesan recipe than the one in last week’s newsletter:
Preheat oven to 375. Requires a 9" square glass, ovenproof dish
1 medium, fat, purple eggplant (choose males as they have fewer seeds)
1 quart of your favorite spaghetti sauce that includes, among other things, mushrooms, green pepper, onions
1 Large Progresso Italian bread crumbs
32 oz. vegetable oil
3 jumbo eggs
1-quart ricotta cheese
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
8 oz. Parmesan cheese
Peel eggplant and slice by 1/4". Heat 3/8" deep oil to med. high preferably in a cast iron 12" skillet. Beat the eggs. Pour some of the bread crumbs in a large, shallow bowl. Dredge the slices of eggplant in egg wash, coat with breadcrumbs, fry several slices at once until golden on both sides. Drain on paper towels.
To assemble: Coat bottom of baking dish with sauce, lay on fried eggplant, tablespoons of ricotta over eggplant, mozzarella and parmesan. Repeat staying 1/4" below casserole dish rim.
Bake 45 minutes. When done, allow to set for 15 minutes.
Enjoy and Bon Appetit! Laura
GROWER NOTES
SWEET ACRES FARM: Sweet Acre Farms is back! We have been working hard to put in new products, try new things and generally have a good time! Look for the out of the ordinary varieties from us- one of my favorite past times is picking a seed out of a catalog and seeing if I can grow it! Such as the Red Kuri Squash listed this week- I just thought it would be cool if I managed to grow one or two, but the vines have exploded! They are over 25 feet long and have been loaded since May. We are adding additional growing space to the farm and have a few surprises coming later in the year! It is so good to be back!
SWEET & SIMPLE: Hello! My name is Meredith Sauerwein, and I am the baker behind Simple & Sweet. I am a recent transplant to the Wiregrass area, coming in from Las Cruces, New Mexico. I’ve got a few sweet listings, and a couple of savory ones. My savory bakes are inspired by my time living in the Southwest. Growing up, my mom baked all the time. Any class party featured something sweet from my mom’s kitchen, and my birthdays always featured a specially decorated cake. Everything I know, I learned from her. College and work have taken me out of the kitchen in the past, but the recent quarantine has gotten me back into my mom’s recipes, and made me excited to bake again.
DANNY’S GREENS: Danny is starting his Summer Break early and is not listing anything till Market reopens on July 11. He’s probably ahead of everyone planning his fall garden as his beds await planting.
SANDY VALLEY: Scotty will have okra, eggplant, various melons, and if the Golden Queen sweet corn is ready it will be available for table sales in the Market Shed on Friday.
FOOTNOTES
We would love to hear from you! If you have a favorite recipe, want to write a product review, have an idea or request for an article or information, let us know! You can reply to this newsletter or write marketatdothan@gmail.com.
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: 10am – 12pm, Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: 11am – 11:30am, Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: 12pm – 12:30pm, Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
Join our Online Discussions! www.facebook.com/groups/MarketatDothanDiscussion
Be sure to use our hashtag! #marketatdothan
Our COVID protocol is still in place for everyone who wants curbside service.
I. Order Payment:
1. Voluntarily prepay by 6 pm Thursday if possible using this PAYPAL link. This eliminates passing paper currency back and forth or handling debit/credit cards on site. Your invoice will be marked PAID and pickup is fast and easy. In the event of undelivered items you will be issued a Market credit that will apply to your next order.
2. Debit/Credit – One of us will briefly step within 6 feet for you to put your card in the chip reader. We do our best to avoid touching your card or you touching the equipment which means we sign an “x” for your signature.
3. Cash and Checks – You may hand them to us. Exact change is preferred if using cash to prevent a lot of passing back and forth. If you choose curbside pickup you are welcome to put payment in your trunk/tailgate as that would eliminate the need to come near your window.
II. Order Delivery:
1. Curb Service: Please pull up next to the Market Shed. We will direct traffic a little bit if needed. Have your trunk/ hatchback open and we’ll load you up!
2. Walk Up Pickup: Please do not come inside. When we see you coming we’ll put your order near the entrance and step back for you to claim it. This system works really well for those of you wishing to get extra veggies that may be available.
3. Regardless of how you choose to accept your Market order please know that we make every effort to practice safe distancing and ask that you do the same.
We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!
June 20, 2020 M@D Newsletter - Veggie Extravaganza!
Great Summer Recipes
Market Chitchat
Grower Notes: Danny’s Greens, Sandy Valley, Laura’s Confections
FRESH FROM THE GARDEN
| Creole Red Onions | Fairytale Eggplant | Danny’s Carrots |
| Fingerling Red Potatoes | Fingerling Tan Potatoes | Cowhorn Okra |
| Japanese Eggplant | Nadia Eggplant | Cherry Tomatoes |
| Kinston Sweet Onions | Yellow Onions | New Red Potatoes |
| Green Tomatoes | Raven Zucchini | Tempest Squash |
| Ripe Tomatoes | Zucchini Squash | Yellow CrookNeck Squash |
| Zephyr Squash | Yellow Straight Neck Squash |
| Flavored Vinegars from Casa Perdido | Genovese Basil | Flat Leaf Chives |
| Avalon Garlic Salt | Rosemary | Avalon Rosemary Salt |
MARKET CHITCHAT
Summer Break Announcement This newsletter starts the first of two ordering cycles before Market at Dothan takes a short Summer Break with the last pickup date July 3. There will be no newsletter on Saturday July 4 and no Market pickup on Friday, July 11. Summer Break gives all our farmers a much needed breather and a chance to plan. We encourage you to order extra of the items you may need during the off week and of course you’re welcome to contact any of our growers directly if needed.
Do you read Product Descriptions? They can be very interesting! We learned this week while listing some of Sandy Valley’s new products that Raven zucchini are high in the antioxidant lutein, and that the Tempest yellow squash was developed for chef quality organic production. How cool is that? It will take some time to go through all 343 listings currently on the Market but go we shall!
Do you have any special 4th of July foods or traditions you enjoy year after year? If you’d love to share we’d love to publish them in next week’s newsletter.
GROWER NOTES
DANNY’S GREENS: Danny is only listing onions and carrots this week. The lettuce is growing much slower now because of the summer heat and needs time to grow to cutting size.
SANDY VALLEY: Scotty is excited to introduce three new products to the Market this week and wants everyone to know that if everything grows right he’ll have plenty of both corn on the cob and watermelons available for your 4th of July celebration.
LAURA’S CONFECTIONS: “Ghirardelli chocolate is dirt!” A familiar face at the Market said this to me a while ago and caught me so off-guard I was struck dumb. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but as someone who takes enormous pride and professionalism in bringing to you my very best efforts and ingredients I was deeply hurt by her opinion. The number of orders I process each week is modest leaving no allowance to purchase ingredients in bulk. I pay retail prices for everything and take special care in evaluating everything included in your orders. The reason I use Ghirardelli chocolate is based on taste, texture, and consistency. Somewhat more expensive it allows me to offer wonderful flavor at a price I believe is within reason. In comparison, Amedei is considered the best chocolate in the world. There are 20 ounces of chocolate in a 9" Triple Chocolate Cheesecake bringing the cost of the chocolate alone to approximately $170.00. Ghirardelli is a very fine baking chocolate I will continue to use until something better comes along at a price I believe is reasonable.
I am on a constant quest challenging myself to learn advanced techniques and bake with the best ingredients at my disposal. I now use aluminum free baking powder and organic, terpeneless citrus extracts. If ever I fill an order you find unsatisfactory, never hesitate to inform me and allow me the opportunity to make things right. I am most thankful and grateful for your constancy, trust and business. Laura King
FOOTNOTES
We would love to hear from you! If you have a favorite recipe, want to write a product review, have an idea or request for an article or information, let us know! You can reply to this newsletter or write marketatdothan@gmail.com.
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: 10am – 12pm, Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: 11am – 11:30am, Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: 12pm – 12:30pm, Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
Join our Online Discussions! www.facebook.com/groups/MarketatDothanDiscussion
Be sure to use our hashtag! #marketatdothan
Our COVID protocol is still in place for everyone who wants curbside service.
I. Order Payment:
1. Voluntarily prepay by 6 pm Thursday if possible using this PAYPAL link. This eliminates passing paper currency back and forth or handling debit/credit cards on site. Your invoice will be marked PAID and pickup is fast and easy. In the event of undelivered items you will be issued a Market credit that will apply to your next order.
2. Debit/Credit – One of us will briefly step within 6 feet for you to put your card in the chip reader. We do our best to avoid touching your card or you touching the equipment which means we sign an “x” for your signature.
3. Cash and Checks – You may hand them to us. Exact change is preferred if using cash to prevent a lot of passing back and forth. If you choose curbside pickup you are welcome to put payment in your trunk/tailgate as that would eliminate the need to come near your window.
II. Order Delivery:
1. Curb Service: Please pull up next to the Market Shed. We will direct traffic a little bit if needed. Have your trunk/ hatchback open and we’ll load you up!
2. Walk Up Pickup: Please do not come inside. When we see you coming we’ll put your order near the entrance and step back for you to claim it. This system works really well for those of you wishing to get extra veggies that may be available.
3. Regardless of how you choose to accept your Market order please know that we make every effort to practice safe distancing and ask that you do the same.
We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!
June 13, 2020 M@D Newsletter - SO MANY SUMMER VEGETABLES!
Blast From the Past
Market Chitchat
Grower Notes: Sandy Valley, Bella Eden, Avalon Farms
RATATOUILLE!
I was just looking at all the great vegetables on the market when I realized we have all the ingredients for RATATOUILLE! Oh my goodness, what GOODNESS! It took a few minutes but I found the photos we shared 3 years ago when I made it for the first time and and made enough to make up for a lifetime of not knowing how wonderful it was.
First Photo with recipe link:
My uncooked version with a few recipe tweaks:
MARKET CHITCHAT
What a Friday! I must confess that theMarket felt more “normal” than we have in a long time. There were generous offerings of beautiful table sales, people coming and going (while respecting social distance) and folks who had not seen each other in a long time catching up. The word “community” comes to mind. That whole concept has experienced disruption but we like to think the bonds of our common interest and friendship are stronger than ever. I am reminded again what a privilege it is to serve our great growers and all of you.
GROWER NOTES
SANDY VALLEY: Poor Scotty! He’s feeling some of the downside of sustainable agriculture as the crazy weather continues to affect his crops. All of the 3rd planting of green beans got a double whammy of bugs and weather so all those orders had to be canceled. Many of you got credits for that. The okra seems to be perking up putting out new shoots so a moderate amount is listed this week. A few Sugar Baby Watermelons like those that were available for table sales on Friday are listed along with Nadia Eggplant and the last of the cucumbers. With any luck Straight Neck Squash, Zucchini and Carrots will be available for Table Sales this Week.
BELLA EDEN FARMS: After having a wonderful family vacation week, we are ready to get back to work . Next weekend, we celebrate Father’s Day! We have the perfect handmade gifts — and they are on sale! Soaps, such as Beer Soap, A Walk in the Woods, and Sandalwood & Patchouli, will make every dad feel special. More ideas for that special guy are Hunker Down Beard Balm, Escape Massage Oil, and Aloe Lotion. There is also Momma’s Healing Salve for all those accidental injuries! Sending a very Safe & Happy Father’s Day to all those special dads!
AVALON FARMS:
Things are getting a little busy around here. Definitely kicking up my “farm fit” workout. The 3rd planting of squash are starting to make as are the 2nd planting of cucumbers. The okra are thinking about blooming.
My weekly schedule these days is intense. I attend a farmer’s market on Tuesday afternoon. Then deliver to M@D on Friday morning. If that’s not enough I set up at another farmer’s market Saturday morning. Picking things daily to keep supplied for them all.
FOOTNOTES
We would love to hear from you! If you have a favorite recipe, want to write a product review, have an idea or request for an article or information, let us know! You can reply to this newsletter or write marketatdothan@gmail.com.
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: 10am – 12pm, Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: 11am – 11:30am, Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: 12pm – 12:30pm, Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
Join our Online Discussions! www.facebook.com/groups/MarketatDothanDiscussion
Be sure to use our hashtag! #marketatdothan
Our COVID protocol is still in place for everyone who wants curbside service.
I. Order Payment:
1. Voluntarily prepay by 6 pm Thursday if possible using this PAYPAL link. This eliminates passing paper currency back and forth or handling debit/credit cards on site. Your invoice will be marked PAID and pickup is fast and easy. In the event of undelivered items you will be issued a Market credit that will apply to your next order.
2. Debit/Credit – One of us will briefly step within 6 feet for you to put your card in the chip reader. We do our best to avoid touching your card or you touching the equipment which means we sign an “x” for your signature.
3. Cash and Checks – You may hand them to us. Exact change is preferred if using cash to prevent a lot of passing back and forth. If you choose curbside pickup you are welcome to put payment in your trunk/tailgate as that would eliminate the need to come near your window.
II. Order Delivery:
1. Curb Service: Please pull up next to the Market Shed. We will direct traffic a little bit if needed. Have your trunk/ hatchback open and we’ll load you up!
2. Walk Up Pickup: Please do not come inside. When we see you coming we’ll put your order near the entrance and step back for you to claim it. This system works really well for those of you wishing to get extra veggies that may be available.
3. Regardless of how you choose to accept your Market order please know that we make every effort to practice safe distancing and ask that you do the same.
We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!
June 6, 2020 M@D Newsletter - Time to Order!
Market Superfoods Part II
Market Chitchat
Grower Notes: Sandy Valley
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK
ASsembling a list of Market Superfoods turned out to have so much great information that it was too much for one newsletter. Here’s hoping this will benefit you in your quest for tasty and healthy nutrition! All of these foods may be found on our Market Page. Last week’s list of superfoods may be found on the Weblog.
1. Garlic and Onions Contribute to Healthy Blood Pressure Levels
They may be pungent (some even bring us to tears), but allium vegetables — chives, onions, garlic, leeks, and the like — deliver potent health benefits. Plus, they’re delicious. Once used to ward off the evil eye, garlic also has antibacterial and antiviral properties, according to an April 2018 Scientific Reports article.
Studies have found allium vegetables may play a role in preventing cancer, and garlic in particular may benefit people living with diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. (August 2019 Food Science and Nutrition meta-analysis)
2. Dark, Leafy Greens May Play a Role in Preventing Colorectal Cancer
Generally, nutritionists say the darker the color of a vegetable, the more nutrients it contains. Dark, leafy greens like arugula, kale, collard greens, spinach, lettuce, and Swiss chard get their vibrant colors from chlorophyll, which keeps plants healthy, and the dietary fiber found in dark greens can decrease the risk of colorectal cancer, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research. Carotenoids, another type of plant pigment, also act as antioxidants that fight off potentially cancer-causing free radicals in the body, notes Harvard Medical School.
3. Tomatoes
Whether you prefer them in salads or on top of pasta, tomatoes are loaded with lycopene, a plant nutrient that gives tomatoes their red color. Lycopene has been linked to many benefits, like keeping your heart healthy and protecting against strokes. A study published in Neurology found that middle-aged men with a high amount of lycopene in their blood had a 55% lower chance of having a stroke.
4, 5, 6, 7 . . . this is a LONG list! and one of the things we found in researching this is that there are a LOT of superfoods that Market at Dothan carries or has carried at some point. Because we are Fresh, Local, and Year Round different foods are available at different times during the year. Like CITRUS – citrus foods are usually available late fall and winter. Right now we offer a limited amount of ROOT VEGETABLES like beets and carrots while there are plenty other times of the year. Mayim Farm lists fresh TUMERIC after it’s yearly harvest and various ANCIENT GRAINS as they are available.
So don’t be surprised if you see more superfood highlights going forward.
MARKET CHITCHAT
A big THANK YOU to everyone who ordered last week. We’ve come to realize that the first week of every month is a bit bumpier than usual so we’re especially grateful for your patience and understanding.
Where’s Everybody At? If you noticed several vendors missing last week you are right! Just like you our farmer’s have life situations where they sometimes have to take a week off. Smith Farms had a WEDDING. Horton’s Farm had to tend to family business upstate, and Mayim is most likely out of town teaching sustainable agriculture.
GROWER NOTES
SANDY VALLEY Scotty sends his apologies to everyone who didn’t get their order of COWHORN OKRA on Friday. He said it was very frustrating to see hundreds of 1 inch okras on the stem not grow because the sun didn’t come out all week. So the okra is relisted in the same quantities trusting that we’ll get enough sun next week for it to develop.
FOOTNOTES
We would love to hear from you! If you have a favorite recipe, want to write a product review, have an idea or request for an article or information, let us know! You can reply to this newsletter or write marketatdothan@gmail.com.
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: 10am – 12pm, Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: 11am – 11:30am, Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: 12pm – 12:30pm, Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
Join our Online Discussions! www.facebook.com/groups/MarketatDothanDiscussion
Be sure to use our hashtag! #marketatdothan
Our COVID protocol is still in place for everyone who wants curbside service.
I. Order Payment:
1. Voluntarily prepay by 6 pm Thursday if possible using this PAYPAL link. This eliminates passing paper currency back and forth or handling debit/credit cards on site. Your invoice will be marked PAID and pickup is fast and easy. In the event of undelivered items you will be issued a Market credit that will apply to your next order.
2. Debit/Credit – One of us will briefly step within 6 feet for you to put your card in the chip reader. We do our best to avoid touching your card or you touching the equipment which means we sign an “x” for your signature.
3. Cash and Checks – You may hand them to us. Exact change is preferred if using cash to prevent a lot of passing back and forth. If you choose curbside pickup you are welcome to put payment in your trunk/tailgate as that would eliminate the need to come near your window.
II. Order Delivery:
1. Curb Service: Please pull up next to the Market Shed. We will direct traffic a little bit if needed. Have your trunk/ hatchback open and we’ll load you up!
2. Walk Up Pickup: Please do not come inside. When we see you coming we’ll put your order near the entrance and step back for you to claim it. This system works really well for those of you wishing to get extra veggies that may be available.
3. Regardless of how you choose to accept your Market order please know that we make every effort to practice safe distancing and ask that you do the same.
We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!