Fresh Picks - The Lansdowne Farmers Market Newsletter

Market News for This Saturday, September 6

The Friendly Competition
Although the whole reason this newsletter exists is to try to entice you to the Lansdowne Farmers Market each week, a nearby farmers market is having a special event this Saturday, and we encourage you to head there right away (ie, as soon as you're done shopping in Lansdowne). The Clark Park Farmers' Market at 43rd Street and Baltimore Avenue in West Philly is 10 years old this summer, and they're throwing themselves a much-earned anniversary party between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm Saturday, featuring local food and a free outdoor concert, the very coolly named Farmers Rock show. Not only has the Clark Park market has been around for quite a while, it's twice a week (Saturdays mornings and Thursday afternoons) and it continues throughout the winter (showoffs). It's also really close (only about 12 minutes east on Baltimore Avenue), so be sure to acquaint yourself with it.

While we're talking about other markets, make a note that the Oakmont Farmers Market's hours change starting this week and continuing till it closes at the end of November. That market is now open 2:00 to 6:00 pm every Wednesday, and it's also only about 12 minutes away, north on Lansdowne Avenue in Havertown. (Without even going, we're going to guess that the Saturday morning Swarthmore Farmers Market is likewise 12 minutes away, give or take 8 minutes.)

Demand the Supply
Okay, back to Lansdowne. As the crowd seems to grow regularly at our own market, we're trying to ensure that the vendors carry enough product to meet the increasing demand. One way you can help us do this is by actually mentioning it to the vendor when they're out of something you're looking for -- eggs, grapes, cheese, bread, cider, etc. Cluing them in on additional sales they could have made can help them adjust their inventories for the future. We're not advocating complaining, but rather giving some verbal feedback to help our vendors know what Market customers want, even those who like to sleep in a bit on a Saturday morning.

Small Changes
John's Minicakes has added little rice puddings and chocolate pound cakes to its regular fare. Those meatball-esque dog treats he developed for Dog Day are now routinely available also. John wants you to know that they're made with fresh eggs and beef stock, so keep them refrigerated, and if you don't "serve" them within a few days stick them in the freezer. Thaw them or don't before doling them out.

First Apple Recipe
Thanks to Chris Anderson of Lansdowne, who contributed this time-tested favorite to our apple recipe search:
Peanut Butter on Apple Slices
Cut an apple, any apple, into slices. Smear slices with creamy Jif (and only creamy Jif). Eat.
See how easy that was, people? And for that, Chris got a Market Buck. Two more apple recipes coming up in future Fresh Picks. Stay tuned.

Gift Basket Update
Three more additions to the Growing Gift Basket -- a pin from SpotyDoty, a necklace from Cathy Pregman, and a CD from Lisamarie McGrath -- have brought the value to over $1250. Tickets are now $2 each or three for $5, and they're available exclusively at the Market Manager tent at the Market.

Arts Fest Looming
We continue to be excited about and ramping up for the Lansdowne Arts Festival next Saturday and Sunday, September 13 and 14, at the Twentieth Century Club. If you'd like to provide a hand at the Farmers Market that Saturday, we'd much appreciate it, as we'll be short-handed there. Drop us an email if you could help at the Market for an hour or so, and we'll let you know how. Meanwhile, we're offering a Market Buck again this week to anyone who wears a Lansdowne Arts Festival tee shirt to the Market Manager tent, so long as you didn't get one last week.

Correction: As a result of writing and editing and proofreading errors, two words were omitted from last week's Fresh Picks – "they" and "you." We apologize for that losing trifecta.

MAP

The Lansdowne Farmers Market takes place every Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm in the parking lot next to 28 North Lansdowne Avenue, rain or shine.

Visit our sister market, the Oakmont Farmers Market, Wednesday afternoons in Havertown for more local produce, bread, meat, and other products.