I'll be in Scotland for the next couple of weeks, so the blog will have the Sentinel columns, but no inside news. The menus and music will continue to be updated on the market's website: http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/M3615
Speaking of music, mark your calendar for Saturday, August 9th - 9:30 to 11:30. Ninth Hour will be performing. Three are Webb City boys and all are fantastic singers. You may have caught them in Forever Plaid when it was at the Route 66 Theater. Matt Holt is their director and pianist. This is a perfomance you won't want to miss.
& don't miss coming to the market while I'm gone. This is the high season when the choices are the widest and most abundant. It's the height of the flavor season.
I had two of Frank Runyon's watermelons over the weekend - delish!
Eileen
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Sentinel Column August 1
We’re loaded with tomatoes, so that must mean TomatoFest time!
This Saturday, we’ll celebrate with contests, sampling and demonstrations.
The Fun categories are: Heaviest/Biggest, Smallest Ripe Tomato and the Weirdest Tomato. Winners receive $15 of market tokens courtesy of the Richardson Law Office.
The Quality categories are: Best Red, Best Other Color and Best Small (cherry, grape, etc) Tomato. The winners receive $25 of market tokens courtesy of Granny Shaffer’s.
Tomato entries must be made between 8:30 and 9:30 in the south pavilion. Two tomatoes of the same variety are required for the Best Red and Best Other Color. Eight are needed for the Best Small. Only one tomato is required to enter the Fun categories.
Judging begins at 9:30 and hopefully winners will be announced by 10:30.
Judges this year are Mike Pound of the Joplin Globe, Chef Scott Teal, executive chef at the Holiday Inn and Mike Wiggins, owner of Granny Shaffer’s.
Tomato sampling will run from 9:30 to 11:30 in the north pavilion.
Tammy Roberts, Extension nutritionist, will demonstrate how to make gazpacho at 9:30 and 10:30 in the north pavilion. There will, of course, be a tasting afterwards.
Drywood Bluegrass will play and a full breakfast is served until 11 for $5. Redding Mill plans to be there will lunch specialties.
Webb City’s own Cub Pack 39 will have a bake sale.
We said farewell this week to one of our volunteers, Cody Vaughn. Cody is a senior at the high school and in the honors program. The program requires that participating students put in community service hours with a limit of three hours per organization. Cody offered to drive our market cart as his service and, of course, pretty much did the three hours in one day. He completed his fourth Tuesday of driving this week – now that’s really community service when all he gets is the satisfaction of helping. And, of course, what we really loved to hear was “See you next summer” from him when he left.
Now that watermelon and cantaloupe are at the market folks can really gather an armload quickly. Don’t forget we have wagons between the pavilions. Veggie valet is at the information booth. You can leave your purchases in the shade there while you buy more, eat lunch, visit or listen to the music. And though the walk to your car may have been easy coming in, you may want a lift back with all your melons, corn, tomatoes, pies, etc. There is a picnic bench under the west canopy between the pavilions. That’s the shuttle stop. If the shuttle is driverless, just stop by the information booth and a driver will be at your service.
Today lunch is barbecued beef sandwich, baked beans, corn salad, carrot cake and drink for $6. Coyote Pass will play.
Next Tuesday Cooking for a Cause will benefit Girl Scout troop 6438. This troop, which has met at Central United Methodist church since Brownie days, is made up of high school students. They deserve a pat on the back for sticking with a great program literally for a decade.
Speaking of decades, next year the market celebrates its 10th birthday. Any ideas on how we should celebrate?
This Saturday, we’ll celebrate with contests, sampling and demonstrations.
The Fun categories are: Heaviest/Biggest, Smallest Ripe Tomato and the Weirdest Tomato. Winners receive $15 of market tokens courtesy of the Richardson Law Office.
The Quality categories are: Best Red, Best Other Color and Best Small (cherry, grape, etc) Tomato. The winners receive $25 of market tokens courtesy of Granny Shaffer’s.
Tomato entries must be made between 8:30 and 9:30 in the south pavilion. Two tomatoes of the same variety are required for the Best Red and Best Other Color. Eight are needed for the Best Small. Only one tomato is required to enter the Fun categories.
Judging begins at 9:30 and hopefully winners will be announced by 10:30.
Judges this year are Mike Pound of the Joplin Globe, Chef Scott Teal, executive chef at the Holiday Inn and Mike Wiggins, owner of Granny Shaffer’s.
Tomato sampling will run from 9:30 to 11:30 in the north pavilion.
Tammy Roberts, Extension nutritionist, will demonstrate how to make gazpacho at 9:30 and 10:30 in the north pavilion. There will, of course, be a tasting afterwards.
Drywood Bluegrass will play and a full breakfast is served until 11 for $5. Redding Mill plans to be there will lunch specialties.
Webb City’s own Cub Pack 39 will have a bake sale.
We said farewell this week to one of our volunteers, Cody Vaughn. Cody is a senior at the high school and in the honors program. The program requires that participating students put in community service hours with a limit of three hours per organization. Cody offered to drive our market cart as his service and, of course, pretty much did the three hours in one day. He completed his fourth Tuesday of driving this week – now that’s really community service when all he gets is the satisfaction of helping. And, of course, what we really loved to hear was “See you next summer” from him when he left.
Now that watermelon and cantaloupe are at the market folks can really gather an armload quickly. Don’t forget we have wagons between the pavilions. Veggie valet is at the information booth. You can leave your purchases in the shade there while you buy more, eat lunch, visit or listen to the music. And though the walk to your car may have been easy coming in, you may want a lift back with all your melons, corn, tomatoes, pies, etc. There is a picnic bench under the west canopy between the pavilions. That’s the shuttle stop. If the shuttle is driverless, just stop by the information booth and a driver will be at your service.
Today lunch is barbecued beef sandwich, baked beans, corn salad, carrot cake and drink for $6. Coyote Pass will play.
Next Tuesday Cooking for a Cause will benefit Girl Scout troop 6438. This troop, which has met at Central United Methodist church since Brownie days, is made up of high school students. They deserve a pat on the back for sticking with a great program literally for a decade.
Speaking of decades, next year the market celebrates its 10th birthday. Any ideas on how we should celebrate?
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Thanks, Cody!
Cody Vaughn is off to camp and school. He spent Tuesdays in July driving the market cart. Last year Tuesdays were so quiet that we really didn't need the cart - this year we've had close to one thousand customers each Tuesday and many have taken advantage of a lift to the pavilions. Even more have caught a ride back to their car now that they are carrying sweet corn, tomatoes, watermelon AND cantaloupe.
Cody's done a great job and says he'll be back next summer after completing his senior year at Webb City High School.
Friday, July 25, 2008
We're loaded with produce
Fresh from the field sweet corn continues to come in by the truckload. And there are lots of field and garden tomatoes. If you're looking for canners, try Hector Troyer's stand. He was selling 20 pound buckets of canning tomatoes for $10 each last week.
Above - Mai Lee takes care of customers.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
TomatoFest
Saturday, August 2
Webb City Farmers Market
Tomato Contests –
Best overall quality categories –
· Red Tomato
· Other Color Tomato
· Best grape, cherry or other small tomato
(Two tomatoes for Red & Other Color categories, 8 tomatoes for Small category entered must be delivered to the south pavilion between 8:30 & 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 2.)
First prize in each category is $25 in market tokens redeemable at any market vendor.
Fun tomato categories –
· Heaviest/Largest Tomato
· Smallest Ripe Tomato
· Weirdest Tomato
(One tomato for each category entered must be delivered to the south pavilion between 8:30 & 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 2.)
First prize is each fun category is $15 in market tokens redeemable at any market vendor.
Top tomatoes will be announced at 10:30 and displayed until 11:30.
Schedule
9:30 until we run out – Sample a variety of fresh local tomatoes
9:30 & 10:30 – Gazpacho demonstration by Extension nutritionist Tammy Roberts. Tasting to follow.
9:30 – 11:30 – Drywood Bluegrass plays
10:30 – (or there abouts) Winners of the Tomato Contests announced
9:00 - Noon – Learn about the many different varieties of tomatoes sold at the farmers’ market by chatting with growers.
Pick up a contest entry form at the information table at the market or email: eileennichols@sbcglobal.
Webb City Farmers Market
Tomato Contests –
Best overall quality categories –
· Red Tomato
· Other Color Tomato
· Best grape, cherry or other small tomato
(Two tomatoes for Red & Other Color categories, 8 tomatoes for Small category entered must be delivered to the south pavilion between 8:30 & 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 2.)
First prize in each category is $25 in market tokens redeemable at any market vendor.
Fun tomato categories –
· Heaviest/Largest Tomato
· Smallest Ripe Tomato
· Weirdest Tomato
(One tomato for each category entered must be delivered to the south pavilion between 8:30 & 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 2.)
First prize is each fun category is $15 in market tokens redeemable at any market vendor.
Top tomatoes will be announced at 10:30 and displayed until 11:30.
Schedule
9:30 until we run out – Sample a variety of fresh local tomatoes
9:30 & 10:30 – Gazpacho demonstration by Extension nutritionist Tammy Roberts. Tasting to follow.
9:30 – 11:30 – Drywood Bluegrass plays
10:30 – (or there abouts) Winners of the Tomato Contests announced
9:00 - Noon – Learn about the many different varieties of tomatoes sold at the farmers’ market by chatting with growers.
Pick up a contest entry form at the information table at the market or email: eileennichols@sbcglobal.
Sentinel column - July 25
It’s almost August, and inquiring minds are asking – will the Saturday markets continue? YES. We had originally planned to just do June and July, but the response to the Saturday market has been much good to give it up now. We have many new customers who could not come on Tuesday or Friday because of other commitments (working can sure get in the way sometimes) and our vendors have been pleased with sales.
With harvest running a good three weeks late because of the cold wet spring, our farmers are just now hitting their high season. And since many increased their plantings by at least 50% to accommodate an additional market day, we should have plenty of produce, probably all the way through fall. The key question now is – will our customers continue coming on Saturdays once the dog days of August pass. We are hoping you will.
This Saturday Pack 29 will have an activity table where boys and girls can buy a model kit of a birdhouse for $2 and construct and paint it. The whole project takes about an hour, but the painting can be done at home if you’ve got a busy morning. It will also be a good opportunity to meet some of the cub scouts and their leaders. Scouting, whether for girls or boys, can have a profoundly beneficial effect on a child. You may know someone who’s ready to be a scout. Bring them to the market on Saturday and introduce them to scouting.
The Webb City Band Boosters will host a bake sale on Saturday. They’re a big group so we’re expecting a lot of baked goods. Be sure to stop by to support their efforts (it’s a sacrifice, but I’ll try to eat a few brownies for the cause).
We have a couple of new vendors coming on Saturday. Lone Star Farm from Anderson will be at the market for the first time with green beans and cucumbers.
D & J Lemonade will have lemonade and tea. You may have noticed the lemonade kids Tuesday. Dalton and Jocelyn set up under their mother’s watchful eye in the far parking lot. When I discovered them, I invited the kids to be market vendors. We didn’t have a lemonade vendor and we try to encourage young entrepreneurs by waiving their season fee. And, of course, we couldn’t have them selling in the parking lot. It’s way too dangerous, plus we’re obligated by our lease with the Park Board to manage all vendors. So they filled out an application, their mom called the health department to make sure they were using good food safety practices and complying with health department rules, and now their ready to officially go into business at the market. (We invited them to start on Friday, but that’s their little sister’s birthday and family comes before business.
Lunch today is all-you-can-eat ham and beans, plus cornbread, brownie and drink for $5. Hymn and I will play from 11 to 1.
On Saturday, we’ll have a full breakfast for $5 until 11 (unless we run out earlier like last week). Jamie Smith will be back with his pizza, specialty sandwiches and stuffed mushrooms. He’ll serve until noon. Jamie was away last week at a festival on a parking lot that measured at 130 degrees HOT. You can imagine how hot it was in his food wagon with the oven blazing. I think he’s done with summer festivals unless they’re under shady trees.
Stonebrook will play bluegrass from 9:30 to 11:30.
Next Tuesday, Cooking for a Cause supports the Chert Glades Master Naturalists.
Next Saturday is TomatoFest with tomato contests, tomato sampling and a gazpacho demonstration at 9:30 and 10:30. Details are on our blog (webbcityfarmersmarket.blogspot.com). You can also email for entry forms in the tomato contest from there.
With harvest running a good three weeks late because of the cold wet spring, our farmers are just now hitting their high season. And since many increased their plantings by at least 50% to accommodate an additional market day, we should have plenty of produce, probably all the way through fall. The key question now is – will our customers continue coming on Saturdays once the dog days of August pass. We are hoping you will.
This Saturday Pack 29 will have an activity table where boys and girls can buy a model kit of a birdhouse for $2 and construct and paint it. The whole project takes about an hour, but the painting can be done at home if you’ve got a busy morning. It will also be a good opportunity to meet some of the cub scouts and their leaders. Scouting, whether for girls or boys, can have a profoundly beneficial effect on a child. You may know someone who’s ready to be a scout. Bring them to the market on Saturday and introduce them to scouting.
The Webb City Band Boosters will host a bake sale on Saturday. They’re a big group so we’re expecting a lot of baked goods. Be sure to stop by to support their efforts (it’s a sacrifice, but I’ll try to eat a few brownies for the cause).
We have a couple of new vendors coming on Saturday. Lone Star Farm from Anderson will be at the market for the first time with green beans and cucumbers.
D & J Lemonade will have lemonade and tea. You may have noticed the lemonade kids Tuesday. Dalton and Jocelyn set up under their mother’s watchful eye in the far parking lot. When I discovered them, I invited the kids to be market vendors. We didn’t have a lemonade vendor and we try to encourage young entrepreneurs by waiving their season fee. And, of course, we couldn’t have them selling in the parking lot. It’s way too dangerous, plus we’re obligated by our lease with the Park Board to manage all vendors. So they filled out an application, their mom called the health department to make sure they were using good food safety practices and complying with health department rules, and now their ready to officially go into business at the market. (We invited them to start on Friday, but that’s their little sister’s birthday and family comes before business.
Lunch today is all-you-can-eat ham and beans, plus cornbread, brownie and drink for $5. Hymn and I will play from 11 to 1.
On Saturday, we’ll have a full breakfast for $5 until 11 (unless we run out earlier like last week). Jamie Smith will be back with his pizza, specialty sandwiches and stuffed mushrooms. He’ll serve until noon. Jamie was away last week at a festival on a parking lot that measured at 130 degrees HOT. You can imagine how hot it was in his food wagon with the oven blazing. I think he’s done with summer festivals unless they’re under shady trees.
Stonebrook will play bluegrass from 9:30 to 11:30.
Next Tuesday, Cooking for a Cause supports the Chert Glades Master Naturalists.
Next Saturday is TomatoFest with tomato contests, tomato sampling and a gazpacho demonstration at 9:30 and 10:30. Details are on our blog (webbcityfarmersmarket.blogspot.com). You can also email for entry forms in the tomato contest from there.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Paul Rowden & Friends
When Paul Rowden says he'll bring a few friends to play at the market, he means it. As you can see from the picture about 15 accomplished musicians played throughout the Saturday market today, having such a good time that they continued playing almost an hour past the advertised time. It was a real treat for all of us.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Sentinel Column 7/18
Unless you are one of the Sentinel’s out of state subscribers this is probably not news for you because you were probably at the market, but last Friday was the biggest day in the market’s history. By our estimates, about 1,300 folks came to the market. And it’s not even tomato season yet! Must be the power of sweet corn.
People were amazingly good-natured about the traffic and parking. They, like us, were surprised at the crowds but usually said they were happy the market’s doing well. I just encouraged our customers to think positive – not only can they get fresh, local produce at the market, but they can get their exercise for the day too if they chose to walk from their parking space.
Duane Hunt was busy shuttling customers and their produce back and forth for about two hours in the market cart. And for the one person who swore she’d never come back on a Friday, he suggested trying a Saturday morning when things are calmer. (We only had 700 customers last Saturday.)
The market cart has been a real help, both for the customers loaded with produce and for the volunteers setting up the market. So our thanks to the folks who underwrote the cart’s purchase last year – Cardinal Scale, Mid Missouri Bank, the Tri-State Water Resource Coalition, Stadler-LaMere, the Richardson Law Office and Amos Apiaries.
We still have a pretty good supply of sweet corn (it lasted until half an hour before closing on Saturday). As one planting is picked out, there may be a lull until the next field is ready. Our farmers hope to harvest off and one through September this year.
Blackberry season will fast be upon us. In fact, we’re having Blackberry Day tomorrow (Saturday). Tammy Roberts, an Extension nutritionist based in Barton County, will demonstrate blackberry smoothies at 9:30 and 10:30. (Yes, there will be a tasting after each.) We’ll serve small cups of blackberry cobbler with ice cream for $1 each (until we run out). Paul Rowden & Friends will play bluegrass, gospel and old style country throughout the morning. Hazel’s Bakery will serve a full breakfast from 9 to 11 and Ka Yang will have her Asian foods.
Today, lunch is meatloaf, green bean salad, braised baby carrots, watermelon/cantaloupe and a drink for $6. Gospel Strings will play.
Next Tuesday, Children’s Haven will benefit from Cooking for a Cause. This local non-profit provides a temporary home to children who might otherwise go into foster care because of the illness of a parent or other family difficulty.
Now, back to the first paragraph of this column – about it not being tomato season. Just between me and you, the field tomatoes are finally in! We had enough Tuesday to take care of every customer. So if you’ve been longing for the full flavored taste of a juicy homegrown tomato, come on down to the market. It’s tomato season.
People were amazingly good-natured about the traffic and parking. They, like us, were surprised at the crowds but usually said they were happy the market’s doing well. I just encouraged our customers to think positive – not only can they get fresh, local produce at the market, but they can get their exercise for the day too if they chose to walk from their parking space.
Duane Hunt was busy shuttling customers and their produce back and forth for about two hours in the market cart. And for the one person who swore she’d never come back on a Friday, he suggested trying a Saturday morning when things are calmer. (We only had 700 customers last Saturday.)
The market cart has been a real help, both for the customers loaded with produce and for the volunteers setting up the market. So our thanks to the folks who underwrote the cart’s purchase last year – Cardinal Scale, Mid Missouri Bank, the Tri-State Water Resource Coalition, Stadler-LaMere, the Richardson Law Office and Amos Apiaries.
We still have a pretty good supply of sweet corn (it lasted until half an hour before closing on Saturday). As one planting is picked out, there may be a lull until the next field is ready. Our farmers hope to harvest off and one through September this year.
Blackberry season will fast be upon us. In fact, we’re having Blackberry Day tomorrow (Saturday). Tammy Roberts, an Extension nutritionist based in Barton County, will demonstrate blackberry smoothies at 9:30 and 10:30. (Yes, there will be a tasting after each.) We’ll serve small cups of blackberry cobbler with ice cream for $1 each (until we run out). Paul Rowden & Friends will play bluegrass, gospel and old style country throughout the morning. Hazel’s Bakery will serve a full breakfast from 9 to 11 and Ka Yang will have her Asian foods.
Today, lunch is meatloaf, green bean salad, braised baby carrots, watermelon/cantaloupe and a drink for $6. Gospel Strings will play.
Next Tuesday, Children’s Haven will benefit from Cooking for a Cause. This local non-profit provides a temporary home to children who might otherwise go into foster care because of the illness of a parent or other family difficulty.
Now, back to the first paragraph of this column – about it not being tomato season. Just between me and you, the field tomatoes are finally in! We had enough Tuesday to take care of every customer. So if you’ve been longing for the full flavored taste of a juicy homegrown tomato, come on down to the market. It’s tomato season.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
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