Weekly Update – September 17

It’s been a while since we’ve had a rainy market. Not since last year, in fact. When it finally rained last Thursday, it poured. Even so, brave souls arrived just before noon to await the opening bell. One advantage about our new location in wet weather: it’s easy to park right next to the market, do a rapid shop and take off, all in a matter of minutes. Thanks to everyone who showed up!

Carrie Richter has a bumper crop of peaches this year. It’s hard to grow peaches without a lot of chemical enhancement. Peachtree Circle Farm takes pride in not going down that road. Carrie’s peaches may not be as large as some you can buy in the supermarket, and their skin may be superficially “freckled” as Carrie put it, but they are juicy, tasty and free of synthetic pesticides. If the freckling bothers you for cosmetic reasons, skin the peaches – the flesh beneath is perfect — and use them in pies, cobblers, crisps, compotes, jams, salsas and more.

Nobska Farms, which grows chilies, will be back this week to add a little spice to the market. If you need to restock Rooster’s Rocket Fuel, here’s your chance. Also the chicken tractor will make a return visit. You can win it in Cape & Islands Self-Reliance‘s raffle. Every market is a little bit different, which is part of the fun.

Here’s what we’re expecting this week:

Peaches! Also nectarines, melons, maybe local raspberries (if they last.) Pears and apples, sweet little husk tomatoes (similar to Cape gooseberries.)

Corn, including, if we’re lucky, organic corn grown in Falmouth by Pariah Dog Farm; also check out Pariah Dog’s bok choy and first hardy winter pumpkins and squashes. Green beans, pole beans, okra, green tomatillos for salsa, green and red peppers, poblanos and chili peppers, and plump eggplant. A variety of locally-grown potatoes – some half a dozen from Freshfield Farm in East Falmouth. Cucumbers, summer squash, including bi-colored Zephyr squash, zucchini, and delicata. Broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, small white and red cabbages. Leafy greens, including lettuce, bags of mixed greens, arugula, pea-greens, chards and kales. Carrots, radishes, turnips, beets – and mushrooms. Leeks, red and white onions and garlic. Herbs in bunches and pots, container lettuces, sunflowers, and floral bouquets.

Cheeses: Great Hill Blue and cheeses from Shy Brothers (including Cloumage) and Long Lane Farm in the cooler at Olio di Melli; mozzarella, burrata and Armenian string cheese from Fromage à Trois. Also nice farm eggs, fresh handmade pasta, including ravioli, bread, baked goods, granola, Michael’s freshly-made apple-cider donuts (yes!) jams, and pickles. To drink: fresh juices, coffee, including Jamaica Blue Mountain and Kona beans, and wines from Coastal Vineyards.

Day-boat fish, if available, from Machaca Charters, a short walk from the market, down at the dock. 

You can also deposit food-scraps you’ve saved at home into the bins provided by Compost With Me.