More Vendors Coming to the MIFM Harvest Market, Sunday November 18

We have tents! We have warm things to drink! So don’t miss the last Mercer Island Farmers Market of the season, enhanced with Arts & Crafts!

More Things to Eat (In addition to the Vendors listed in previous post)

New for Harvest Market:                 

Returning Friends

Arts & Crafts

  • Joan Jevnikar – Jewelry (MIVAL Table)
  • Lillian Broekhoven- Aprons & Wreaths (MIVAL Table)
  • Marianne Bond – Hats (MIVAL Table)
  • Mary Chalker – Gift Boxes (MIVAL Table)
  • Susanne Foster – Fiber scarves, straw stars, gift bags, calendars (MIVAL Table)
  • Pia Messina – Paintings, dishes & scarves (MIVAL Table)
  • Joan Johnson – Glass Art
  • Leslie West – Studio Adlib- Found stuff creations
  • Wish Poosh Designs- Wood & glass art, indoor & garden

Sunday September 9th at the Mercer Island Farmers Market, Caspar Baby Pants & Yammba Conga Drums

At 11:00 AM bring the small kids to sing and dance with Caspar Baby Pants. Caspar Babypants has another identify, Chris Ballew of The Presidents of the United States of America.  He is a charming and imaginative performer who engages children with simple, almost melodies and clever lyrics.  His influences range from Beethoven to The Beatles, to  traditional children’s tunes. THANKS TO THE MERCER ISLAND COMMUNITY FUND FOR SUPPORTING HIS APPEARANCE!  Listen here for a sample:

On the Music Stage lively rhythms continue with Yaamba Marimba Group playing Zimbabwean dance music Read more about Yaamba !

Visit the Children’s Booth to make Flower Prints & Collages

Enjoy great produce from Alvarez Organic Farms, Collins Family Orchard, Hedlin Family Farm, Kittitas Valley Greenhouse, Martins Family Orchard and Tonnemaker Family Orchard. Meet your friends for lunch and celebrate the summer.

November 20th Mercer Island Farmers Market Vendor News

Winter squash from Hand-Farmed Organics at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on September 18, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Winter squash from Hand-Farmed Organics at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on September 18, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Our annual pre-Thanksgiving Harvest Market is this Sunday, November 20th at our usual time—10 am to 3 pm—at our usual location—SE 32nd Street between 77th Avenue SE and 78th Avenue SE at the northern end of Mercerdale Park.

Most of our regular-season vendors will be be returning for this final market day of 2011.  In addition to these familiar faces, the MI Farmers Market is thrilled that our Harvest Market will also have  several new vendors including:

  • Sign announcing that the vendor will be at the Mercer Island Farmers Market's pre-Thanksgiving Harvest Market. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

    Sign announcing that the vendor will be at the Mercer Island Farmers Market's pre-Thanksgiving Harvest Market. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

    Farmboy Baking Company, Medina, WA, who are bringing homemade pies, caramel apples, cookies, and cake pops

  • Middlefork Coffee Roasters, Seattle, WA, who will be offering hot cups of brewed coffee free as well as nine different varieties of fair trade, organic arabica coffee
  • Rainer Mountain Cranberry Farm, Eatonville, WA, who are coming with their local fresh cranberries
  • Theo Dorres Aromatics, Renton, WA, who will have available hot cups of tea plus several varieties of fresh lose-leaf tea

Our market manager, Edee Philips, has been working overtime putting together the detailed list below of all of the expected vendors and the products that they are bringing to this Sunday’s Harvest Market.

  • Honey Crisp apples from Collins Family Orchards at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on September 11, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

    Honey Crisp apples from Collins Family Orchards at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on September 11, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

    Collins Family Orchard, Selah, WA are planning to bring pink lady, fuji, honey crisp, gala, jazz apples, asian, bosc, packham pears, and angelo plums

  • Crown S Ranch, Winthrop, WA, will not only be featuring fifty organic-pasture-raised heritage turkeys—perfect for everyone’s Thanksgiving feast, but will also be offering 20% off holiday roasts, stew meat, and soup bones.  In addition, Jennifer Argraves and her family will have available their sustainably raised tenderloin roast, standing rib roast and ham roast as well as chickens and heritage stewing roosters and limited cuts of beef and pork.
  • Farmboy Baking Company, Medina, WA will have fresh pumpkin pies, both ready-to-eat and “take and bake,” apple pies, berry pies, snowflake gingerbread cookies, caramel apples, caramel pretzels, and cake pops
  • Rome Doherty, owner of Farmers Market Preserves, speaking with customers at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on August 21, 2011.

    Rome Doherty, owner of Farmers Market Preserves, speaking with customers at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on August 21, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

    Farmers Market Preserve, Seattle, WA, will be featuring several Thanksgiving-themed jams and jellies, including cranberry-jalapeño jam, crabapple jelly, spiced crabapple jelly, crabapple with mint and black pepper jelly, and crabapple with star anise jelly. Rome Doherty will also have on had several fruit butters, including apple, apple with ancho-chili, pear, peach and plum. He will be have free gift boxes available for those wanting to give his delicious, locally sourced products to those unable to get them themselves. As always, Rome will be offering a dollar off of your first jar of jam if you use the secret phrase. This week’s phrase—in honor of the Harvard-Yale game—is ”Bulldog, bulldog, bow, wow, wow”

  • Fishing Vessel St. Jude, Seattle, WA, will have their justly famous locally caught tuna, including several flavors of canned tuna, sashimi-grade albacore steaks, and five flavors of albacore jerky
  • Full Circle Farm, Carnation, WA, will be offering potatoes, beets, cabbage, carrots, celery and celery root, kales, chards, greens, and winter squash
  • Got Soup? owner Jerry Baxter handing a sample to a customer at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 24, 2011.

    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)

    Got Soup, Seattle, WA, will have several cold-weather soups, including caramelized onion & apple braised cabbage, potato & leek with chantarellas, thai pumpkin with coconut, crab bisque, and asparagus with truffled marscapone

  • Hand-Farmed Organics, Fall City, WA, will have on hand many of the vegetables needed for your Thanksgiving meal, including brussel sprouts, sunchokes, potatoes, greens, kales, carrots, parsnips, squashes, pumpkins, garlic, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, and celery root
  • Farmer Kai Ottoson of Hedlin Family Farm, Mount Vernon, WA hard at work setting up tables of produce at the Mercer Island Farmers Market in 2009.

    Farmer Kai Ottoson of Hedlin Family Farm, LaConner, WA hard at work setting up tables of produce at the Mercer Island Farmers Market in 2009. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

    Hedlin Farm, LaConner, WA, tomatoes, bell peppers, hot peppers, basil, beets, cabbage, carrots, swiss chard, fennel, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, shallots, potatoes, spinach, winter squash. In addition to these vegetables, Hedlin will also be bringing their own certified-organic, whole wheat flour

  • Island Apiaries, Freeland, WA, will be offering honey from Whidbey Island in many flavors such as blackberry, raspberry, buckwheat, and fireweed plus  cinnamon-infused.  Be sure to stock up for the winter
  • Jacobs Creamery, Doty, WA, will be returning to the MIFM will their wonderful eggs, European-style cultured butter, crème fraîche, cheddar, gouda, italian-grating cheese, eggnog pudding (chocolate and vanilla too), cranberry pizazz (cranberry-with-orange-zest-flavored fromage blanc), herbed and original fromage blanc, and fresh natural Greek, honey Greek, and european-style yogurts
  • Kittitas Valley Greenhouse, Ellensburg, WA, will be coming to the MI Farmers Market with their greenhouse-grown, heirloom tomatoes
  • Fresh, hand-made pasta from La Pasta, Seattle, WA at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on June 12, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

    Fresh, hand-made pasta from La Pasta, Seattle, WA at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on June 12, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

    La Pasta, Seattle, WA, will have their hand-made pastas including egg, spinach, lemon pepper, spinach, beet, tricolore, black squid ink, four-cheese ravioli, three-mushroom ravioli, pumpkin ravioli, spinach-and-roasted-garlic ravioli, and potato gnocchi

  • Martin Family Orchard, Orondo, WA, will be coming to the Harvest Market with Fuji and Gala apples, Bartlett, D’Anjou, and Hosui Asian pears
  • Middlefork Coffee Roasters, Seattle, WA, will be at the MI Farmers market with free, freshed-brewed cups of coffee to keep everyone warm and lively. They will also be selling nine varieties of fair-trade, organic, Arabica coffee beans –fair trade and organic
  • Molly Moon Ice Cream, Seattle, WA, will be back with their wonderful ice cream featuring such Thanksgiving-themed flavors as pumpkin clove, spiced cider sorbet, pear sorbet, & cranberry-ginger sorbet. Molly Moon will also have several of their usual popular flavors, including Theo chocolate, Vivace coffee, and salted caramel
  • Parfait Organic Artisan Ice Cream, Seattle, WA, will also be back with several seasonal flavors, including pumpkin spice, cinnamon stick, and toasted hazelnut, plus many of their usual favorite flavors. They will have a special sale for their pints: buy four or more pints and get for free a jar of organic dark chocolate sauce
  • The folks at Patty Pan Grill cooking up veggies at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 31, 2011. (Photo by Alyssa Hatsukami)

    The folks at Patty Pan Grill cooking up veggies at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 31, 2011. (Photo by Alyssa Hatsukami)

    Patty Pan Grill, Seattle, WA, will be cooking up their popular grilled veggie quesadillas, veggie and beef tamales (sourced from the MIFM’s Crown S Ranch)

  • Rainier Mountain Cranberry Farm, Eatonville, WA, will have the one of the key ingredients for your Thanksgiving meal: cranberries. Be sure to stop by their booth to find out about their farm and their fresh, locally grown cranberries
  • Snohomish Bakery, Snohomish, WA, will be coming to the market with their amazing artisan breads and pastries. For the holiday season they will also be bringing stollen, the traditional German Christmas cake
  • Theo Dorres Aromatics, Renton, WA, cups of hot tea, packaged loose-leaf teas blended from local certified organic ingredients, including a limited edition holiday tea & tisane gift tin, gluten-free & kosher
  • Trevani Truffles, Seattle, WA, will be at the Harvest Market with several holiday-themed treats, including egg nog and cranberry orange dark chocolate plus several other flavors of truffle including scotch & honey with turmeric, white chocolate marzipan with pistachios, classic dark chocolate, raspberry, caramel with sea salt, rosemary olive oil,  and white chocolate lemon with anise
  • Shannon's dad, Ernie, talking with a customer at the Two If By Seafoods booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 24, 2011.

    Shannon's dad, Ernie, talking with a customer at the Two If By Seafoods booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 24, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

    Two if by Seafoods, Seattle, WA, have have on hand their Alaska-caught sockeye and coho salmon, available in fillets and steaks, as well as the most amazing smoked salmon around

  • Veraci Pizza, Seattle, WA, will be at the MI Farmers Market baking pizzas including luna rossa italian dry salami, cascioppo bros italian sausage, fresh mozzarella, roasted peppers on savory red sauce with our three cheese blend wild chanterelle fresh wild chanterelles, beecher’s flagship cheese on garlic olive oil with our three cheese blend
  • Willapa Hills Cheese, Doty, WA, will be offering market favorites, including Big Boy Blue, Two-Faced Blue, Pluvius, and You-Moon (pure sheep’s milk blue cheese)
  • Pizza dough being tossed at the Zaw Pizza booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 24, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

    Pizza dough being tossed at the Zaw Pizza booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 24, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

    Zaw Pizza, Seattle, WA, will be making from scratch, made-to-order handcrafted bake-at-home pizzas

September 11th Mercer Island Farmers Market Vendor News

We have some news from our vendors for this Sunday’s Mercer Island Farmers Market.

Crown S Ranch, Winthrop, WA

Jennifer Argraves and her daughter, Icel, laughing at a customers joke at the Crown S Ranch booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on August 14, 2011.

Jennifer Argraves and her daughter, Icel, laughing at a customers joke at the Crown S Ranch booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on August 14, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Most of the MI Farmers Market customers are familiar Jennifer Argraves, her wonderful family, and their pastured eggs and sustainably raised beef, chicken, and pork.

During the past few weeks, Jennifer has started to bring vegetables that they have been grown on the ranch. Some of our customers might have briefly caught sight of the ears of sweet corn before they disappeared before noon after selling out in an hour. The lucky few who got to purchase a few ears tried not to rub it into to neighbors and friends who missed out.

Well, this week, Jennifer tells us that she will be bringing corn in larger quantities so more of us will get to purchase this always-looked-for late summer favorite.

Farmers Market Preserves, Seattle, WA

Rome Doherty, owner of Farmers Market Preserves, speaking with customers at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on August 21, 2011.

Rome Doherty, owner of Farmers Market Preserves, speaking with customers at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on August 21, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Rome Doherty, owner of Farmers Market Preserves, writes, “School is in, fresh corn is in the markets, and it’s the last couple of weeks for fresh berries of any sort. I have a new Blueberry Jam with Maple Syrup this weekend, also a limited quantity of Fig with vanilla.

“Also I’ve finally got the ‘gals of the farmers market‘ gallery up on my blog. So check it out.”

For those customers interested in a dollar off of their first jar of jam, this week’s “magic” word is “jukebox,” which Rome explains is in honor of last weekend’s word, “Domino,” which Rome thought a surprisingly large number of customer got the reference for.  (Hint: it has something to do with blueberries.)

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.

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, “Well summer is here this week, looks like 80 to 85 till Monday. So it will be cold soups this week. If anyone does want a hot soup we can bring them to the market for you. Just call or e-mail me.”

This week’s soups are:

  • Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho (cold, vegan, raw): tomato, cucumber, onion, fennel, yellow pepper, zucchini, tarragon, parsley, sherry wine vinegar, cayenne, paprika, olive oil
  • Watermelon Gazpacho (cold and vegan): watermelon, tomato, cucumber, onion, yellow pepper, green pepper, celery, cilantro, basil, jalapeno, white balsamic vinegar, orange juice
  • Cool Cucumber & Melon (cold and vegan): honeydew melon, cucumber, coconut milk, yogurt, mint, salt, white pepper. Garnish-chili oil
  • Potato Vichyssoise (vegetarian): vegetable stock (onion, carrot, celery, tomato, parsley), yukon potatoes, onions, leeks, celery, fennel, milk, butter, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme
  • Peach & Apricot Gazpacho (vegan and raw): white peaches, peaches, apricots, grapes, onions, cucumbers, garlic, olive oil, almond milk, white grape juice chervil, parsley, champagne vinegar, white pepper

As he always does, Jerry has sourced much of the produce for his soups from farmers at the Mercer Island Farmers Market. This week’s ingredients come from, among many other local farms:

Patty Pan Grill, Seattle, WA

The folks at Patty Pan Grill cooking up veggies at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 31, 2011. (Photo by Alyssa Hatsukami)

The folks at Patty Pan Grill cooking up veggies at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 31, 2011. (Photo by Alyssa Hatsukami)

Many of the customers at the Mercer Island Farmers Market will have heard the news that a few weeks ago Patty Pan Grill added a completely different product to their menu: beef tamales.

After over a decade of being vegetarian, this was a big change. Patty Pan is already in the process of refining their new product and beginning this week will be using Crown S Ranch beef in their beef tamales.

This is great chance for those of you who haven’t yet tried either Patty Pan Grill’s or Crown S Ranch’s products to do so in just one bite. As the marketers say, “it only takes one bite…”

August 28th Mercer Island Farmers Market Vendor News

We have received updates from some of the vendors at the Mercer Island Farmers Market.

Crown S Ranch, Winthrop, WA

Jennifer Argraves of Crown S Ranch, Winthop, WA talking with customers at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on Opening Day 2011

Jennifer Argraves of Crown S Ranch, Winthop, WA talking with customers at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on Opening Day 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Earlier this week, the folks at Crown S Ranch sent out an email to their customers saying, “We unfortunately are not able to attend the MIFM this Sunday the 28th due to an unseasonal cold floating around here.  We will be at the market the following Labor Day weekend, Sunday the 4th.  Sorry for the inconvenience.  Let us know if we can bring anything special for you.”

We wish them all a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing them next weekend.

Farmers Market Preserves, Seattle, WA

Rome Doherty, owner of Farmers Market Preserves, talking with customers at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on June 26, 2011.

Rome Doherty, owner of Farmers Market Preserves, talking with customers at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on June 26, 2011. (Photo by Alyssa Hatsukami)

Rome Doherty, owner of Farmers Market Preserves, wrote: “This must be close to the height of the jam making season and I’ve got the stuff—plum, blueberry, cherry, blackberry, raspberry and variations of all them.” Rome also has a new Apricot Chutney as well as a new batch of Blackberry with Chili jam that he describes as “‘mas pequeno’ than the last batch.”

The “magic” word this Sunday is “drupe.” We’re guessing that that Rome has plums and apricots and peaches and nectarines and cherries on his mind. So anyone interested in getting a dollar off of their first jar of jam should use the word-of-the-week in conversation with Rome.

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.

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 writes, “So with the weather dictating what soups we are making these weeks, we are trying a new strategy. You will probably see 6 soups, 3 hot and 3 cold. I think this may work; it is about choices isn’t it? So with our summer winding down and school starting, there’s a lot going on in the Family world. Here is something you do not have to worry about, dinner. Just take home one of our frozen soups, maybe pick up some salad stuff or some bread, easy dinner, go help the kids with their homework, or relax.”

This week’s soups are:

  • Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho (cold, vegan, and raw): tomato, cucumber, onion, fennel, yellow pepper, zucchini, tarragon, parsley, sherry wine vinegar, cayenne, paprika, olive oil
  • Cool Cucumber & Melon (cold and vegan): honeydew melon, cucumber, coconut milk, yogurt, mint, salt, white pepper. Garnish—chili oil
  • Sweet Corn and Cashew Chowder (cold and vegan): corn, onion, coconut milk, cashew, red pepper, basil, cilantro, parsley
  • 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
  • Coconut Curry with Chicken and Brown Rice: chicken stock (chicken, onion, celery, carrot, parsley) onion, carrots, mushroom, red pepper, brown rice, coconut milk, chicken, garlic, ginger, cilantro, lemon grass, gagangal, curry powder, red curry, paprika, turmeric

As always, Jerry has sourced many of his ingredients from farmers at the Mercer Island Farmers Market:

August 21st Mercer Island Farmers Market Vendor News

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

July 31st Mercer Island Farmers Market Vendor News

The Mercer Island Farmers Market is so pleased that we will have a new vendor, Jacobs Creamery, joining the market on Sunday, July 31st. In other vendor news: unfortunately, Molly Moon Ice Cream will not be at the market again, but Parfait Artisan Organic Ice Cream will be; plus, we have product updates from Farmers Market Preserves and Got Soup.

Jacobs Creamery, Doty, WA

Jacobs Creamery will be bringing eggs, European-style cultured butter, plus cheeses including Cheddar, Gouda, and Jarlsberg.

In addition, they will be bringing their famous chocolate and vanilla puddings. The folks at Jacobs have this to say about their puddings:

We’re quite proud of the ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ it elicits from those tasting it for the first (and sometimes second, third, or 40th) time. The vanilla version is made with cream and real Tahitian vanilla beans, and while we don’t want to brag, it’s equivalent to the best crème brûlée you’ve ever had. The chocolate has a rich, dreamy mousse-like texture that will have you licking the container clean. Please be forewarned that both flavors are highly addictive.

As the season develops, Jacobs will be bringing to the MIFM more of their product line, including cream cheese, crème fraîche, fromage blanc, crumbled mozzarella, ricotta, and yogurts.

Molly Moon Ice Cream, Seattle, WA

Customers at the Mercer Island Farmers Market getting ice cream at Parfait's ice cream truck.

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

Unfortunately, this Sunday Molly Moon will be missing another market day due to a scheduling conflict. They should be returning to our market on August 14th after the MI Farmers Market’s break on August 7th due to SeaFair weekend.

Ice-cream fans, no need to fear as Parfait Artisan Organic Ice Cream will be at the MIFM. If you haven’t already, be sure to try what the editors of Sunset Magazine have called one of the best ice creams on the West Coast.

Farmers Market Preserves, Seattle, WA

Rome Doherty, owner of Farmers Market Preserves, Seattle, WA at his booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market.

Rome Doherty, owner of Farmers Market Preserves, Seattle, WA at his booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Rome Doherty, owner of Farmers Market Preserves, clearly loves his work and his products.  He writes, “This is a great time of year to be a jam lover and I’ve got ‘em all. Last weekend, I had seven different strawberry jams, three or four [different] raspberries and a ton of Pie Cherry Jam. This week I’m adding blueberry from Skagit Sun farms and great organic blackberry from Hayton Farms. I have a few jars of loganberry as well.”

In honor of all of the different kinds of berry jams that Farmers Market Preserves has, Rome has selected “bramble“ as the “magic” word for this week. So, if customers would like a dollar off of their first jar of Farmers Market Preserves jam, they should be sure to work in the word-of-the-week into their conversation with Rome.

Got Soup?, Seattle, WA

A customer at the Got Soup? booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on June 26, 2011.

A customer at the Got Soup? booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on June 26, 2011. (Photo by Alyssa Hatsukami)

While most of the MI Farmers Market’s customers know that Jerry Baxter, owner of Got Soup?, changes the soups every week, what they might not know is that he might change the soups on market day depending on the weather. He writes, “So when the weather changes like it did last weekend I sometimes change the soups. I cannot sell hot soups on hot days, that’s why I changed over to cold soups…” So if Sunday turns out to be unexpectedly hot, Jerry will be bringing cold soups in place of this week’s soups. Either way, we always love his delicious soups, hot or cold.

This week’s soups are:

  • Orange & Cumin Sweet Potato (vegan)
  • Artichoke Paella (vegan)
  • Pork Pozole
  • North West Chowder
  • Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho (vegan & raw)

Got Soup? has sourced much of the produce in their soups from local farms including from such Mercer Island Farmers Market vendors as:

See you all at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on Sunday. We are open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.