Don't Wait: Farmers Markets Are Around

This time of year I long for summer’s fresh produce from my weekly visit to our local Farmers Market.  Kale, swiss chard, cabbage, organic spring mix, jams, and strawberries, just to name a few. I recently found out that...
...the New Albany Farmers Market at the 4th and Market Street firehouse station is open every other Saturday throughout the winter.

I stopped by for a visit a few weeks ago. I had every intention of swinging by the grocery store after my visit to pick up items for dinner that night, but there was no need. I found everything I needed at the market!  The friendly people and atmosphere added to my shopping experience. Here is the menu I had planned for that night and a list of the vendors where I found all the ingredients to make a family feast for 6, with plenty of extra for leftovers. 

Saturday Night Family Feast Menu

~ Chips and homemade fresh salsa from Sancho Miguel’s Salsa.

~ CrockPot Pepper Steak served over brown rice. Sirloin steaks from 3D Valley Farm. Here is a link to make this delicious recipe.

~ Homemade bread with Val Russell’s Spiced Blueberry Jam. I didn’t make the jam but bought a jar of Val’s instead. Somehow we skipped the bread, but ate the delicious jam by the spoonfuls instead!

~ Lemon blueberry pound cake from "Winnie’s" owner Paula Cook

~ Hot Kurdish Mountain Chai Tea with local fresh honey from Shealy Farms

Next weekend, I will be picking up farm fresh eggs and swiss chard to try my hand at this scrumptious recipe.

A few of the New Albany Farmers Market vendors

- Kurdish Mountain Chai  (Delicious Kurdish-style Chai. Owned and sold locally in Louisville and surrounding areas, now shipping anywhere in the US. Funding life-saving heart surgeries to Iraqi children.)

- 3D Valley Farms : Pasture Raised All Natural Angus Beef and Pork

- Grass Corps Offers a variety of dairy products from 100% grass-fed Normande cows and a variety of other products including pastured chickens and turkeys, free-range eggs, grass-fed lamb, beef, and pork, and even homemade soap.

- Moonkist Gardens: Organically grown salad crops, herbs, greens, tomatoes and cut flowers.

- Russell Veggies: Local produce including Heirloom tomatoes, yellow squash, berries, potatoes, onions, garlic, kale, apples, beans, cucumbers, pickles, several types of pepper (from the mildest to the hottest).

- Sancho Miguel’s Salsa: Fresh, bold salsa and guacamole

- Shealy Farms Honey: Fresh, local honey from Starlight and Floyds Knobs, Ind.

- Simple Traditions Bulk Food and Mercantile: Offering a variety of dried grains and beans

- Sycamore Creek Herbs: All-natural culinary herbs from May through November. Year-round gourmet rice mixes, soup mixes, bean mixes, rubs, table seasonings and milk baths.

- Winnie's - Paula Cook: Homemade pies, cakes, muffins, and cookies. Custom catering available.

The winter market will continue for several more weeks. The summer market begins the second Saturday in May through October. Meet me on the trolley hop to visit the New Albany Farmers Market and other great local businesses, along with Uptown Art coming June 1!
by Shawn Neal