The Weblog
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May 16, 2020 M@D Newsletter
Yes, we Can Can!
Market Chitchat
Grower Notes: Richter Farms & Avalon Farms
CANNING SEASON IS UPON US
If you’re like a lot of southern (and northeast, and midwest and northwest and southwest . . . oh shoot the whole country) country folk, you grew up eating green beans and tomatoes and an assortment of pickles, relishes, jams and jellies from a mason jar. If it originated in your mom or grandma’s kitchen it was indeed some good eating as it was picked and preserved at the height of freshness. Unlike grocer counterparts, you didn’t have to worry about what may be added to enhance color, freshness or flavor.
Canning has never really gone out of style, but its not as popular as it one was. Succeeding generations have not picked up where mothers and grandmothers left off as evidenced by all the unwanted jars and equipment that estates are often left to deal with. Really great stuff often winds up in the dump, flea markets, Craigs list or thrift stores.
Covid is changing minds and more people are more people become interested in taking control of their pantry and food supply. The good news is one can start simple with nothing more than a few jars and a big old stock pot. The possibilities are pretty amazing from there and thanks to the internet even old hats like this writer are learning new methods and recipes every day. Best of all some of the new equipment like the Carey Electric Canner that Richter Farms uses has removed some of the fear that held a lot of would be canners back.
This is the perfect time of year to start canning. Strawberries are still in season and blueberries and blackberries are still to come. One young family went out to pick strawberries this week and came home with 25 gallons of fresh picked green beans, and no idea what to do with them. With both Sysco and commercial operations disposing of perfectly edible fresh food, why should it go to waste? Your market manager nearly cried a couple of weeks ago when we learned of a local charity throwing out cases of fresh mushrooms because nobody wanted them.
So give it some thought and if you’re interested, speak up! There are a lot of us, both growers and customers, in our M@D family with years of experience who would love to help. Next week we’ll be sharing some good resources. We know canning is not for everyone but for those of us who’ve got our feet wet and got in the water, there is something deeply satisfying about the whole business. Like one lady said “It makes me feel like a Proverbs 31 woman.”
Oh, and the lady with the green beans . . . she’s bringing them all to my house to process next week.
MARKET CHITCHAT
We’re excited to WELCOME BACK Restoration Gardens! The Tavares Family were locallygrown.net and Certified Naturally Grown farmers before they moved to our area a few years back. Their garden is just starting to produce and they’ll be adding new products as they become available.
Few things sadden us more than when someone comes to pick up an order that doesn’t exist. This sometimes happens when that last button on the page showing all your ordered items doesn’t get pushed just right. There are several things you can do to make sure this does not happen to you:
1. Check to make sure you have an email order confirmation. It will show you everything on your order page.
2. On your “My Account” page, click Your Order History. The order you just placed should be at the top of the list.
3. If your order is not showing in your order history email marketatdothan@gmail.com and we’ll check it for you.
We are slowly getting back to having TABLE SALES available on Fridays. Covid prevented us from doing this for many weeks and with the state starting to open up and our growers gardens producing abundantly its an unintended blessing that you can take advantage of if you’re comfortable doing so.
While we’re on the topic of opening up – we plan to start using MARKET BAGS again the first Friday in June.
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 of debit/credit cards on site. Your invoice will be marked PAID and pickup is fast and easy.
2. You may use PAYPAL curbside on Friday. Not quite as efficient as we have to verify receipt but it does work.
3. Debit/Credit – yes, we still take cards using our regular system. We just have to get 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.
4. Cash and Checks – please put them in a plastic baggie or bank bag. If you want to put them in your trunk/tailgate that would eliminate the need to come near the drivers window
II. Curb Service: It’s OK to pull up next to the building. In fact we recommend it as tractor trailers sometimes need to share that space. Have your trunk/ hatchback open and we’ll load you up!
GROWER NOTES
RICHTER FARMS PORK IS RELISTED We have ground, mild pan, chops, sliced ham, boston butt. The smoked sausage, smoked ham and bacon (smoked the old fashion way) won’t be ready until early June.
AVALON FARMS:
Started digging taters this morning. We planted our standard Red New Potatoes but also planted fingerling potatoes too. We are very excited about the fingerling potatoes! There is a white skin and a red skin for visual interest.
Fingerling potatoes have a waxy texture similar to new potatoes, but with a thinner tinder skin. Great for roasting or boiling since they hold their shape so well.
There will be some new listings of Asian greens and perhaps turnip greens.
Blackberries are getting started! Yummy. There will be some of those listed 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
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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!