We have lots of news from our vendors for this Sunday’s Mercer Island Farmers Market. The biggest news is that this Sunday one of the long-time vendors at the Mercer Island Farmers Market—Hooting Owl Granola—will have their last day at the MIFM for the rest of the season. While we are very sorry to see them go and look forward to their return next season, we are thrilled to welcome back long-time MI Farmers Market vendor Jones Creek Farm, who will be at the market for the first time this season.

Hooting Owl Granola, Issaquah, WA

Customers at the Hooting Owl Granola booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 31, 2011. (Photo by Alyssa Hatsukami)

This Sunday will be Hooting Owl Granola’s last day at the Mercer Island Farmers Market for this season.

After building their business to six Puget Sound farmers markets and retail sales at Metropolitan Markets, owners Beth and John will be taking a much-needed rest for the next several months.

Everyone at the Mercer Island Farmers Market wishes them the best and is looking forward to their return next season after they are refreshed and ready for new challenges.

Fans of Hooting Owl Granola should plan to stop by the booth to stock up on their favorite flavors.

Farmers Market Preserves, Seattle, WA

A customer at the Farmers Market Preserves booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 31, 2011. (Photo by Alyssa Hatsukami)

Farmers Market Preserves owner Rome Doherty continues his experiments with making spicy jam. This Sunday he will be bringing his latest creation—Blackberry with Thai Bird Chilies Jam. Rome like Jerry Baxter from Got Soup? always looks to source his ingredients from the MIFM vendors. For this jam, the blackberries are from Skagit Sun and the chili peppers are from Hedlin Family Farm.

The “magic” word this week to receive a dollar off of your first jar of jam is “theobromine,” which means that Rome must have spent a bit too much time in the kitchen making his popular Raspberry and Theo Chocolate Jam. So be sure to work “theobromine” somehow into your conversation with Rome this Sunday.

Got Soup?, Seattle, WA

Got Soup? owner Jerry Baxter handing a sample to a customer at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 24, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Jerry Baxter, owner of Got Soup?, writes:

Looks like a beautiful week coming, cool mornings and evenings with plenty of sun. Get out and enjoy the sunshine. I have a nice mix of soups this week, some are hot some are cold and some will work both ways. The asparagus can be eaten hot or cold. Etouffée can be easily changed to an entrée by adding a side of brown rice. The cauliflower can also be used as a sauce for a nice Thai dish. Hope you like.

This week’s soups are:

• Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho (cold, raw, and vegan): tomato, cucumber, onion, fennel, yellow pepper, zucchini, tarragon, parsley, sherry wine vinegar, cayenne, paprika, olive oil
• Shrimp Etouffée: onion, shrimp, shrimp and fish stock (water, shrimp, fish, onion, celery, carrot, parsley), green pepper, tomato, celery, mushroom, garlic, milk butter, flour, cayenne, parsley, oregano, thyme
• Asparagus with Meyer Lemon and Dill (vegan): vegetable stock (onion, carrot, celery, tomato, parsley), asparagus, onions, shallots, olive oil, lemon, dill, pepper
• Curried Cauliflower with Zucchini (vegan): vegetable stock (water, onion, carrot, celery, tomato, parsley), cauliflower, coconut milk (water & coconut extract), zucchini, onion, garlic, ginger, apple, garam masala, curry, cumin, coriander, turmeric, paprika, cayenne, mint, cilantro
• Cool Cucumber and Melon (vegan): honeydew melon, cucumber, coconut milk, yogurt, mint, lime, salt, white pepper. Garnish with chili oil

As always, Jerry has sourced much of his produce from the farmers at the Mercer Island Farmers Market. This week’s ingredients have from such MIFM farms as Full Circle Farm, Carnation, WA (onion, leek, fennel), Hedlin Family Farm, La Connor, WA  (cauliflower), Tonnemaker Family Orchard, Royal City, WA (dried chilies, peppers, zucchini), Kittitas Valley Greenhouse, Ellensburg, WA (tomatoes), and the River Farm Organic Produce, Ellensburg, WA (zucchini and melons), and Five Acre Farm, Coupeville, WA (zucchini).

Island Apiaries, Whidbey Island, WA

Kids searching for the queen bee in the bee hive at the Island Apiaries booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 31, 2011. (Photo by July 31, 2011)

David Neal and his bees will be back on Sunday for another MI Farmers Market. This week though the bees will not be located at his booth with their honey, but at “farm” next to the market that we are organizing for our youngest shoppers this weekend. The bees will be joining rabbits, goats, and hens that some of our neighbors keep here on Mercer Island.

For those interested in winning a free eight-ounce jar of honey, this week’s “secret” question is: “What means ‘rain’ when added to a clouds name?” Please remember that the question must be answered in person at the market and only the first correct answer wins the free jar of honey.

Jones Creek Farm, Sedro-Woolley, WA

Les Price holding a Mercer island Farmers Market cloth shopping bag at another area farmers market. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Les Price, owner of Jones Creek Farm, will be coming to the Mercer Island Farmers Market for the first time this season. While he has been away for a year, the MI Farmers Market has always been close to Les’s heart; we were able to capture a quick photo of him earlier this season with one of our farmers market’s cloth shopping bags at another farmers market. Les, you have been close to our hearts too and we look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Les will be bringing his world-famous garlic and for the first time tomatoes. Those fans of his tree fruit will have to be patient for another week or two.

Parfait Artisan Organic Ice Cream, Seattle, WA

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

Due to a last minute change in schedule, Parfait Artisan Ice Cream will not be at the MI Farmers Market on Sunday.

No need to fear ice cream fans, Parfait will return next Sunday and Molly Moon Ice Cream will be at the market this Sunday.

Patty Pan Grill, Seattle, WA

Patty pan squash at the Tonnemaker Family Orchard booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 31, 2011. (Photo by Alyssa Hatsukami)

Several customers have commented over the years to us about Patty Pan Grill’s name. For those unfamiliar with the patty pan squash, we have a photo of a basket full of them at the Tonnemaker Family Orchard’s booth earlier this season.

This Sunday, Patty Pan Grill is bringing a new product for our market and for them: beef tamales. This is a huge change for Patty Pan Grill; it is the first time that they are offering meat in their fifteen-year history. It is a big enough deal that the Seattle Times wrote an article about this momentous development.

Be sure to read the article about Patty Pan owner Dev Gartenstein’s change in thinking as well as to stop by their booth and try out their new beef tamales.