September 11th Mercer Island Farmers Market Event Highlights: Chef Demo by Kurt Daimmeier

Posted on 2011/09/13 by mifarmersmarket

Kurt Daimmeier demonstrating the proper technique for cutting corn kernels from the cob at a chef demo at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on September 11, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

This past Sunday, Kurt Daimmeier, chef, owner of Bennett’s Pure Food Bistro, and Mercer Islander, came to the Mercer Island Farmers Market to do a chef demo. Last year, his chef demo was one of our most popular. This year was no different with such a large crowd gathering that there was standing room only.

Kurt chose a recipe that features sweet corn and peppers, which are both now showing up in abundance at the MI Farmers Market.

On Sunday, Crown S Ranch, Winthrop, WA featured boxes and boxes of freshly harvested organic sweet corn.

And Billy’s Organic Garden, Tonasket, WA, Hedlin Family Farms, La Conner, WA, and Tonnemaker Family Orchards, Royal City, WA all featured an enormous variety of fresh peppers ranging from mild bell peppers to hot jalapeño peppers.

In addition to sweet corn and peppers, the dish, Aztec Trinity Salad (the recipe is below at the end of the post), features two other key ingredients: yams and black beans. Another ingredient in the salad’s dressing, honey, can be purchased at the Mercer Island Farmers Market from Island Apiaries, Freeland, WA.

Kurt Daimmeier discussing how to roast peppers and remove their skins at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on September 11, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Kurt is a natural teacher and so the crowd learned a wide range of things from him, from basic cooking techniques—the importance of chopping vegetables into similar-sized pieces to ensure even roasting and how to roast a pepper and remove the skin easily—to more complicated cooking questions—the substituting of ingredients and what kinds of oils to use in different dishes—to basic botany—the differences between the varieties of peppers: bell, poblano, jalapeño, Fresno…

The chef demo was a big success with our community excited to try a new recipe armed with new knowledge and cooking techniques.

An appreciative audience gathers to try samples of Kurt Daimmeier's Aztec Trinity Salad at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on September 11, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

We want to give Kurt our thanks for coming out on a beautiful Sunday afternoon (perhaps the last one this year) to do the chef demo. We hope that Kurt enjoyed himself as much as we all did and will come back to the MI Farmers Market next season for another one.

Kurt Daimmeier displaying the finished Aztec Trinity salad at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on September 11, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Aztec Trinity

1 ½ lbs. approx. of yams, peeled, cut in 3/4″ dice
1 T of lime juice
1 T of neutral-flavored cooking oil
1 T of chili powder
1 t of cumin
2 t of Kosher salt

Combine the lime juice, canola oil, chili powder, cumin, and kosher salt in a large bowl. Mix well to coat the yams. Spread onto a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer and roast at 400°F with the fan on high. Check after 12 minutes. Rotate the pans and continue to cook for a couple more minutes, until the yams are easily pierced with a knife. Do not overcook. Cool in the refrigerator.

1 green bell pepper (2 poblano if you desire more heat), roasted, skinned, seeded, cut in ¾” dice
1 can of black beans, rinsed and drained
2 ears of fresh corn, cut kernels from cob

Dressing

¼ cup of lime juice
1/3 cup of canola oil
1 t of Kosher salt
1 T of honey
1 Fresno peppers (red jalapeño, can be omitted), sliced 1/8″ strips
1 T of chopped cilantro

Add salt and black pepper to taste after mixing salad

Salad assembly: combine roasted yams, dressing, peppers, black beans, corn, cilantro, and salt. Mix well. Taste for seasoning.

Source: Kurt Dammeier

August 21st Mercer Island Farmers Market Highlights

Posted on 2011/08/23 by mifarmersmarket

Sunday was a great day at the Mercer Island Farmers Market: beautiful weather; lively music; plenty of activities and community events; and, most importantly, tables overflowing with our state’s fresh produce.

Music

Young customers dancing to live music by Patrick Daughtery at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on August 21, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Patrick Daughtery has been a popular musician at the Mercer Island Farmers Market since its first season. His music always helps to establish a festive mood for our customers and vendors always commenting on how much they enjoy listening to him throughout the market day.

Patrick’s music always inspires some of customers to be in more than a good mood; often they spontaneously begin to dance. At Sunday’s market, one of our volunteers captured just such a moment in the photo above.

We want to thank Patrick for playing—and inspiring—at the MI Farmers Market.

Community Sing-Along

Singers at the first community sing-along at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on August 21, 2011. (Photo by Cecilia Finnegan)

In addition to his regular music duties during the market day, Patrick also helped to organize the MIFM’s first-ever community sing-along. With the strong leadership of our colleagues at Transition Initiative Mercer Island (TIMI), community members gathered at 1 p.m. on Sunday to join their friends and neighbors in singing.

Patrick says, “…the community sing-along was a definite success. In addition to the local choir and TIMI folks up front with me, I could see lots of shoppers walking through the market singing along.”

Farm Day

Young shoppers examining chickens up close as well as admiring from a safe distance at the Mercer Island Farmers Market's annual Farm Day on August 21, 2011.

This past Sunday, in addition to the presence of our local farmers, the MI Farmers Market also had farm animals. There were goats, rabbits, bees, and chickens for our customers to pet, examine up close, or admire from a safe distance.

A big “thank you” to our friends and neighbors for bringing out their animals for the Mercer Island Farmers Market’s annual Farm Day.

Jones Creek Farm, Sedro-Woolley, WA

Les Price and a customer discussing the different varieties of fresh garlic from Jones Creek Farm at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on August 21, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Farmer Les Price and his famous garlic finally arrived at the Mercer Island Farmers Market. Les is an orchardist and so most of his produce doesn’t ripen until midway into the MIFM’s market season.

Les does grow other crops including garlic. At this Sunday’s MIFM, Les brought two varieties—Korean Rocambole and Asian Tempest. These rare varieties attract customers from around the region not just Islanders. Some of the MI Farmers Market volunteers have reported being actually stopped by customers who just want to let them know that they have come from several towns away for Les’ garlic.

Jones Creek Farm’s tree fruit isn’t quite ripe yet, so Les brought several varieties of heirloom tomatoes. He told us to expect his apples and plums either next week or the week after.

Les and Jones Creek Farm are not the last of the farmers and farms to arrive this year at the Mercer Island Farmers Market. We are still looking forward to the arrival in a few weeks of Booth Canyon Orchards, Carlton, WA, and their tree fruit.

Tonnemaker Family Orchard, Royal City, WA

Pepper display at the Tonnemaker Family Orchard Booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on August 21, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

One of the many interesting displays of vegetables that we saw on Sunday was one of over a dozen varieties of peppers at the Tonnemaker Family Orchard booth.

The peppers were arranged left to right based on how spicy they are. The mildest were on the left, while the hottest were on the right. In this photo, the peppers—going from left to right—are Spanish Spice, Kapellos, Bell, Whitney, Greek Pepperoncini, Mariachi, Astry, Fushimi, Anaheim, Sandia, Banana, Jalapeño, Padron, and Cayenne.

July 17th Vendor News for the Mercer Island Farmers Market

Posted on 2011/07/16 by mifarmersmarket

For our Sunday, July 17th market, the Mercer Island Farmers Market is thrilled that three farmers will be joining the market for the first time this market season: Billy’s Organic Garden, Tonasket, WA; the River Farm Organic Produce, Ellensburg, WA; and Tonnemaker Family Orchard, Royal City, WA. All three farms have been working hard through this difficult growing season to have enough quality produce to supply our farmers market as well as others. As of this week they finally do. Please welcome these three highly anticipated farms to the the MI Farmers Market: stop by their booths; talk with the farmers; and buy some of their fresh, local produce.

Billy’s Organic Garden, Tonasket, WA

Many of our customers have missed Billy’s this season and their wonderful organic produce. At last year’s market, the farm’s tomatoes and tree fruit were particular favorites. Well, after a long absence, they will finally be back. Billy’s is expecting to bring tomatoes tomorrow, but the full list of what they will have isn’t quite certain. So be sure to head over to see their full selection.

The River Farm Organic Produce, Ellensburg, WA

Jerry of the River Farm Organic Produce, Ellensburg, WA talking with a customer at the Bellevue Farmers Market earlier this year. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Tomorrow will be the first time that the River Farm will be at the Mercer Island Farmers Market. They are very popular at other farmers markets in the region, such as the University-District and the Bellevue Farmers Markets. Just as with Billy’s Organic Garden, the farm’s final product mix for our market tomorrow isn’t 100% certain yet, but they definitely plan to bring to the MI Farmers Market zucchini, zucchini blossoms, and cucumbers. Our customers should have a great time meeting Jerry, the owner of the River Farm, and checking out his wonderful organic produce.

Tonnemaker Family Orchard, Royal City, WA

Tonnemaker is also a new farm for the Mercer Island Farmers Market. They grow a large variety of different fruits and vegetables, including over 100 different varieties of tree fruit. The farm expects to bring to the MIFM tomorrow three varieties of cherries: Bing; Sonata; and maybe Sandra Rose. In addition, they will be bringing summer squash, zucchini and maybe some cucumbers. We know that their produce will be a big hit with the Mercer Island Farmers Market customers.

We are no less thrilled about the many farms and other vendors that have been with us since the beginning of this market season. Below are some specials and highlights from many of them, including “Amazing” cauliflower and chocolate-ripe bell peppers.

Crown S Ranch, Winthrop, WA

Jennifer Argraves of Crown S Ranch, Winthrop, WA and her daughter at the Mercer Island Farmers Market earlier this season. (Photo by Alyssa Hatsukami)

This week, in addition, to their wonderful eggs and wide selection of organic, pastured beef cuts (T-bone steaks, ribeye steaks, top sirloin steaks, New York steaks, ground beef patties, chuck roasts, round roasts, and short ribs), Crown S Ranch has a special on freshly harvested, pastured chickens, which are $4.95 per pound, as well as a special for their pastured pork chops, which are 10% off at tomorrow’s market.

Farmers Market Preserves, Seattle, WA

Rome Doherty of Farmers Market Preserves has two new jams this week. After “scoring” some Montmorency cherries last week, he make “Pie Cherry” jam. In addition, Rome also will have the first raspberry jam of the season.

The “magic” word this week for a dollar off of your first jar of jam is “peleton.” Rome didn’t explain, but our guess is that this market’s word-of-the-week is in honor of the Tour de France. So, stop by Rome’s booth to buy some of his delicious jams, jellies, and preserves as well as to talk about cycling.

Full Circle Farm, Carnation, WA

Customers at the Full Circle Farm, Carnation, WA booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market in June, 2011. (Photo by Alyssa Hatsukami)

Full Circle will be bringing two varieties of cauliflower: Romanesco and “Amazing,” which they swear is really the name of the variety. Check it out yourself to see if it really is as amazing as the name indicates. In addition to the cauliflower, Full Circle will also have both green and red dandelion greens, sugar-snap peas, English-shelling peas, rainbow carrots (orange, while, yellow & purple) and red and white currents.

Got Soup?, Seattle, WA

Jerry Baxter as always has four great new soups for the market tomorrow:

Green Pea with Mint and Tarragon
Curried Lentil with Spinach and Tomato
Italian Broccoli with White Bean and Sausage
Watermelon Gazpacho

This week’s soups include fresh fruit and vegetables from many of our farmers, including Full Circle Farm (onions, fennel, and spinach), Tonnemaker Orchards (peppers and dried chilies), and Kittitas Valley Greenhouse, Ellensburg, WA (tomatoes and cucumbers).

Hand-Farmed Organics, Fall City, WA

Spicy arugula, sweet carrots, and Easter-egg radishes from Hand-Farmed Organics, Fall City, WA at the Mercer Island Farmers Market at the July 3, 2011 market. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

New this week from Hand-Farmed Organics will be romanesco cauliflower. They will also be bringing more of their wonderful greens and delicious broccoli and carrots. Last market day, their Flashy Trout lettuce with its large, dark green leaves with purple patches was a particular hit. Stop by the booth and talk with Ryan and Casey to learn more about the farm and its produce.

Hedlin Family Farm, Mount Vernon, WA

Cute sign announcing "Slightly late, but worth the wait" berries at the Hedlin Family Farm booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 3, 2011.

Cute sign at the Hedlin Family Farm booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 3, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Hedlin Family Farm will be bringing sugar-snap peas, English and salad (aka Persian) cucumbers, and red-ripe, orange-ripe, yellow-ripe, and chocolate-ripe (yes, that is the name of the variety, really) rainbow bell peppers. According to Kai Ottesen, one of the owners of the farm, this will be the last and the best week for the farm’s ‘June’-bearing strawberries. He writes, “So it’s a good week to stock up for the winter.” In addition, the first of Hedlin’s Tulameen raspberries are on. Kai writes, “Tulameens are to raspberries what Shuksans are to strawberries and if you haven’t had either, start asking for them.”

Molly Moon Ice Cream, Seattle, WA

Customers at the Mercer Island Farmers Market getting ice cream at Molly Moon's ice cream truck. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Molly Moon has two new additions to their menu this week: Cherry Chunk Ice Cream and Strawberry Lemonade Sorbet.

Parfait Artisan Organic Ice Cream, Seattle, WA and Molly Moon Ice Cream, Seattle, WA

Parfait Artisan Organic Ice Cream truck at the Mercer Island Farmers Market in June, 2011. (Photo by Alyssa Hatsukami)

Congratulations to Parfait and Molly Moon! They are currently featured as the editors’ picks in the July food issue of Sunset Magazine. We love it when our vendors get much deserved recognition like this. We are all certain that the editors didn’t get a chance to try to Whidbey Island Ice Cream, otherwise it would have been a three-way tie. Starting this week, Parfait will be at the market beginning at noon. So remember if you need an ice cream fix on Sunday, the Mercer Island Farmers Market features both of Sunset Magazine’s editors’ picks for the best ice cream in the region.

Overland Enterprises, Seattle, WA

Mark Overholt of Overland Enterprises tending his plants at the Mercer Island Farmers Market in July, 2011. (Photo by Alyssa Hatsukami)

Overland Enterprises plant-of-the-week is Hydrangea Bluebird-A, which is a “stunning blue and white lace-cap variety for part sun to shade that can fit in almost any garden due to its compact nature (four-foot-square size at maturity). The plant is extremely cold hard, requires little pruning, and blooms for months.” Mark and Susan Overholt will be bringing these hydrangeas in full bloom. So stop by their booth to check out these beautiful plants.

Snohomish Bakery, Snohomish, WA

Chocolate babka from Snohomish Bakery, Snohomish, WA. (Photo by Andy Papadatos)

This week Snohomish Bakery is introducing a new product: chocolate babka. We can’t wait to try some as Snohomish has yet to make something that we didn’t love. They will also be bringing their ever-popular, wide selection of artisan breads, croissants, muffins, and cookies.

Highlights from the July 17th Market

Check back here on the Mercer Island Farmers Market blog for photos and highlights from the July 17th market.

See you all tomorrow at the market.

Mercer Island Farmers Market

Cultivating community around Washington State farmers

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