Tag Archives: Strawberries

Sensitive In Seattle Likes Our Market!

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This week we are sharing excerpts from a post by Marla, a wonderful blogger who writes about living with food sensitivities in Sensitive in Seattle (Better living through better eating | Sensitive In Seattle).

Gluten-free Strawberry Apricot Muffins: A Taste of Summer

Posted on July 22, 2012

This weekend was the first time I was able to check out the Mercer Island Farmers Market.  It’s a pretty cool little market!  About half of the vendors are organic and there are TWO organic berry vendors.  There’s also smoked salmon, Maninis Gluten Free, fresh made gluten-free soup, and Abu-Eden Hummus, who also makes gluten-free falafel.  I spent way more than I had planned but I came home with a full market bag: falafel & babaganoush, organic red bell peppers, smoked salmon, a flat of organic strawberries & raspberries, and organic apricots and cherries.  Maninis had apricot muffins at their booth today and I got inspired.  I was so excited to have time to bake this weekend that I went straight to the kitchen and baked up these beauties.  They taste like a summer pool party in my mouth and I think you’ll enjoy them just as much as I do.

This recipe is very versatile, so feel free to use any combination of fruit that you have on hand.  Makes 6 jumbo, 8 medium or 12 small muffins.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, preferably on the convection setting.  Grease or line your muffin tin of choice with paper liners.

6 oz gluten-free baking mix of choice (a blend of flour and starch)
2 oz quinoa hot cereal flakes
1.5 oz blanched almond meal
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp xanthan gum
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 cup pure maple syrup (or 1/2 cup and omit the agave nectar)
1/4 cup agave nectar (or 1/2 cup and omit the maple syrup)
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 heaping cup chopped strawberries, patted dry
1/2 heaping cup chopped apricots, patted dry

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the almond meal, quinoa flakes, flour, baking powder, xanthan gum, sea salt, and cinnamon.

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat on low the maple syrup, agave, beaten eggs, and vanilla. Once combined, add the oil.  Mix well and then add the dry ingredients.  Beat the batter until it is smooth.  Stir in the berries and apricots.

Spoon the batter into 8 or all 12 muffin cups.  Bake in the center of your preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, until the tops are golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Cool in the muffin tin on a wire rack for a few minutes before turning them out to cool completely.

Soy-free, dairy-free, corn-free, peanut-free

September 4th Mercer Island Farmers Market Vendor News

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We heard from several of the Mercer Island Farmers Market farmers, who have specials or first-of-the-season produce for this holiday weekend’s market day on Sunday.

Collins Family Orchard, Selah, WA

Nick helping out customers with his usual good humor and smile at the Collins Family Orchard booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on August 28, 2011.

Nick helping out customers with his usual good humor and smile at the Collins Family Orchard booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on August 28, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Nick let us know that Collins will have the first honey crisp apples of the season this Sunday. He told us that “the honey crisps are [Collins'] most popular apple with both a satisfying crunch and not-too-tart flavor for eating fresh and a solid, not-too-sweet flavor for cooking.”

In addition, Collins will also have a second round of strawberries.

Those Mercer Island Farmers Market customers now almost addicted to Collins’ sweet and succulent peaches and nectarines need have no fear as both will be back on Sunday with new varieties. Nick’s personal favorite peach, the Diamond Princess— “especially for cooking and canning with a very strong flavor”—should be available along with Suncrest peaches. The Grand Sweet nectarines should also be ready on Sunday.

Nick left us with one last tantalizing thought… “You should have your fingers crossed for pluots to ripe by Sunday. Right now, I’d give them an 80% chance of being ripe enough.” Well, let’s all keep our fingers crossed so the pluots will ripen and be at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on Sunday.

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 customer's joke at the Crown S Ranch booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on August 14, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

In honor of the Labor Day holiday weekend—and all of the barbecuing that many us will be doing, Crown S Ranch is having a 25%-off special on their top sirloin steaks.

They also sent along two recipes for their top sirloin steaks: Pepper-Grilled Steak with Chopped Summer Salad (Bon Appétit, August 2009); and Sirloin Steak with Tomato and Cilantro Sauce (Bon Appétit, June 2001).

In addition to their steaks and other cuts of beef, Crown S Ranch will have their sausages, chicken, pork, and eggs.

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 writes, “I’ve been experimenting again, and the result is Blueberry Jam with Ginger. These are the best canning blueberries I’ve found (they’re from Whitehorse Meadows Farm) and the ginger fits really well. Also this week more Peach Butter, and, by popular demand, Strawberry, Basil and Balsamic [Jam].”

For the past several weeks, the “magic” word to get a dollar off of our your first jar of jam from Farmers Market Preserves has been scientific or somewhat-obscure cultural references (“drupe,” “theobromine,” “Chekhov,”…). Well, this week Rome went in a completely different direction—popular culture—and picked “Domino,” no doubt due to Fats Domino‘s famous song and the blueberries that have been occupying his thoughts and time this past week.

So, all those customers out there interested in a discount on delicious jam made from fresh, local ingredients should try to work “Domino” into their conversation with Rome on Sunday. It might also be that singing a few lines from “Blueberry Hill” will get the discount as well.

Got Soup?, Seattle, WA

Jerry Baxter, owner Got Soup?, filling up a quart container with fresh soup for a customer at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 31, 2011.

Jerry Baxter, owner Got Soup?, filling up a quart container with fresh soup for a customer at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 31, 2011. (Photo by Alyssa Hatsukami)

Jerry writes, “As we are into another three-season weather week, this might change what we sell this weekend, meaning more cold soups.”

So, subject to a change in the weather, this week’s soups at the Mercer Island Farmers Market will be:

  • Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho (cold, vegan, and 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.
  • Jerk Chicken with Black-Eyed Peas & Greens: chicken stock (water, chicken, onions, carrot, celery, tomato, parsley), black-eyed peas, onion, celery, peppers, chicken, collard greens, garlic, ginger, citrus juice, cilantro, thyme, tamari, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg
  • Crab Bisque: water, Dungeness crab, onion, carrots, celery, tomato, bay leaf, tarragon, butter, flour, sherry, heavy cream, milk
  • Cauliflower and Brie with Roasted Red Pepper (vegetarian): vegetable stock (onion, carrot, celery, tomato, parsley), cauliflower, onions, celery, garlic, brie, thyme, parsley, rice milk, red peppers, olive oil, chives

As he always does, Jerry sources much of the produce for his soups from the vendors at the Mercer Island Farmers Market. This week’s ingredients come from (among other local farms):

Two If By Seafood, Bristol Bay, Alaska and Seattle, WA

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—"holding down the fort" while his daughter was in Alaska fishing—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)

After a long absence, Shannon Ford, captain of the Fishing Vessel Paul Revere and owner of Two If By Seafood, will be back at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on Sunday. Shannon has spent the past several months in Alaska catching all of the salmon that she sells at our farmers market, so she not only has lots of great fishing stories to tell, but also is eager to reconnect with her long-time customers. As aside, she jokingly related that she can’t wait to begin eating her fill of fresh fruits and vegetables, which are not easily available or reasonably priced in Bristol Bay. Well, at the Mercer Island Farmers Market we are sure that her fellow vendors will be able to satisfy her fresh veggie and fruit cravings.

In addition, Shannon dropped some hints that in the coming weeks she is planning to introduce a new product: smoked, candied salmon bellies, which are a delicacy in Alaska and not easily available here in the Lower 48.

(NOTE: Updated at 3:25 p.m. on Friday, September 2, 2011 with information about Shannon Ford and Two If By Seafood.)

July 24th Mercer Island Farmers Market Event News

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The Mercer Island Farmers Market has another day of exciting events and activities planned for this Sunday’s market.

Chef Demo

Cover of "Tender: Farmers, Cooks, Eaters" cookbook.

Cover of "Tender: Farmers, Cooks, Eaters" cookbook. (Courtesy of Shin Shin Chez)

At noon, Chef Tom French will be doing a chef demonstration. Chef Tom plans to make dishes using ingredients from the vendors at our farmers market based on recipes from the cookbook “TENDER: Farmers, Cooks, Eaters.” “TENDER” was written by chef, restauranteur, and James-Beard-award-winner Tamara Murphy (the Elliott Bay Cafe, the Reading Room, and Terra Plata, opening in September). Chef Tom is the director of the Experience Food Project, which is dedicated to educating children about food and cooking as well as changing the meals available at public schools.

Copies of the cookbook “TENDER” will be available for purchase at the Mercer Island Farmers Market just after the chef demo. Part of the proceeds will go to support the Experience Food Project. Copies of this cookbook are also available for purchase at Mercer Island’s Island Books.

Music

Two Mercer Islanders, Audrey Miller and Eddie Bond, will be performing this Sunday at the MI Farmers Market.

Audrey Miller from 10 a.m. to noon

Ms. Miller, who just returned from performing in Belgium, is spending the summer teaching clarinet and performing around the Seattle area. She is a graduate of Mercer Island High School and has an undergraduate degree in clarinet performance from Western Washington University. Ms. Miller is currently a masters student at Florida State University, where she studies with internationally renowned clarinetist Frank Kowalsky.

Eddie Bond and Friends from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Mr. Bond, like Ms. Miller, is from Mercer Island. He began playing piano at age 7, but picked up the guitar after hearing the space-age sound effects of Jimi Hendrix. He is now a Jazz Studies major at the University of Oregon. Mr. Bond has performed with a wide array of different musicians, in venues across the world, and has recorded two albums.  Eddie is also a visual artist and writer and is working on ways to incorporate these different skills into one unified project.

Sampling Table

Sign at the Sampling Table at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 3, 2011.

Sign at the Sampling Table at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 3, 2011. (Photo by Alyssa Hatsukami)

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., MIFM board members and long-time volunteers, Tanya Bednarski and Kari Fisher, will be sampling fresh, local raspberries and blueberries from our farmers. Be sure to stop by to get a taste of the many different varieties that are available at the Mercer Island Farmers Market. At last week’s market, our farmers brought several varieties of raspberries, including Cascade Dawn and Coho, as well as several varieties of strawberries including Rainier and Puget Summer. Here’s a chance to find your new favorite kind.

Kids Table

This week the theme of the kids table will be “Little Red Hen’s Wheat.” We can’t wait to see what educational activitity volunteer Judy Witmer has developed for our youngest customers.

Master Gardeners

The Master Gardeners answering a question at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on June 19, 2011.

The Master Gardeners answering a question at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on June 19, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

The Master Gardeners will be back for another week of expertly answering your questions about your plants, garden, and lawn.

July 17th Vendor News for the Mercer Island Farmers Market

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Highlights from the July 3rd Mercer Island Farmers Market

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Happy 4th of July!

For our Independence-Day-Weekend market, we had some great weather to help bring out the crowds.

Blue Skies above the Mercer Island Farmers Market.

Blue Skies above the Mercer Island Farmers Market. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Below are some highlights from the vendors and events from the market.

Vendors Highlights from the July 3rd Mercer Island Farmers Market

Collins Family Orchard of Selah, WA brought apriums and two kinds of cherries–Titan and Rainier. But Nick explained that the asparagus at the market yesterday was probably the last of this season for them.

Last of the asparagus from Collins Family Orchard for 2011.

Last of the asparagus from Collins Family Orchard for 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Ryan Lichttenegger of Hand Farmed Organics, Fall City, WA had his usual great selection of greens, radishes, turnips, and broccoli. He also brought the first carrots of the season from the farm. They are very sweet; you should definitely get some at our next market on July 17th (remember, no market on July 10th due to Summer Celebration). But what really caught my eye–and according to Ryan several other customers–was the Flashy Trout lettuce, a red-speckled variety with beautiful full leaves.

Ryan Lichttenegger of Hand Farmed Organics, Fall City, WA holding a head of Flashy Trout lettuce at the Mercer Island Farmers Market.

Ryan Lichttenegger of Hand Farmed Organics, Fall City, WA holding a head of Flashy Trout lettuce at the Mercer Island Farmers Market. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Moua’s Garden of Woodinville, WA had tables filled with fat sugar snap peas and buckets filled with mint and flowers. For Independence Day, Moua created special “4th of July” bouquets of red, white, and blue flowers, which were very popular. By the time, we were finally able to get a picture of one, Moua was running out of white and was putting in stems of mint to fill out the bouquets.

"Red, White, and Blue" Bouquets from Moua's Garden, Woodinville, WA.

"Red, White, and Blue" Bouquets from Moua's Garden, Woodinville, WA. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

We were thrilled to welcome back to the MI Farmers Market Martin Family Orchard of Orondo, WA, who due to the bad growing season didn’t have enough fruit to be at our market until now. Martin Family Orchard has been a vendor–and an extremely popular one at that–at our market since our market began in 2008. We know that our customers were excited to see them and their tables filled with Bing cherries.

Shoppers at the Martin Family Orchard booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market.

Shoppers at the Martin Family Orchard booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Event Highlights at the July 3rd Mercer Island Farmers Market

In addition to our wonderful vendors, we had several community members volunteer their time for some special events at the market.

Nutrionist Susan Kleiner lead a group of shoppers on the first-ever “Shop with a Nutritionist” tour. Susan stopped at nearly every vendor to talk about the value of the products that each was selling. Susan is editing a video of the tour and we hope to post it here soon for those who missed the tour. Thank you Susan for volunteering your time for the Mercer Island Farmers Market and educating its shoppers.

Susan Kleiner leading MIFM customers on the first-ever "Shop with a Nutritionist" tour.

Susan Kleiner leading MIFM customers on the first-ever "Shop with a Nutritionist" tour. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

At our tasting table, volunteers and MI Farmers Market board members Susie Rosenstein and Tanya Bednarski featured strawberries and cherries. Susie and Tanya had a great time having customers sample the delicious fruit and discussing the differences between the varieties…some juicier than others, some sweeter… Thank you to Collins Family Orchard, Martin Family Orchard, and Skagit Sun for contributing the strawberries and cherries for the sampling. And a big thank you to Susie and Tanya for organizing the tasting table and creating such a valuable educational opportunity.

A child and her mother enjoying a strawberry from the tasting table.

A child and her mother enjoying a strawberry from the tasting table. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

At our kids’ table, our dedicated volunteers worked with children on painting. The children produced dozens of paintings that decorated the kid’s table canopy while they dried. You can see some volunteers, two busy painters, and a few drying paintings in the photo below. Thank you to all of the kids’ table volunteers.

Children painting flowers at the kid's table at the Mercer Island Farmers Market.

Children painting flowers at the kid's table at the Mercer Island Farmers Market. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Plus Joe Ross of the Haggis Brothers, our market’s musician on Sunday, unexpectedly, but very welcomely, found himself in a duo midafternoon. Musician Patrick Daugherty, after finishing his market shopping, sang a few songs with Joe. A big thank you to Joe and to Patrick for some great music.

Patrick Doherty joined Joe Ross to perform at the Mercer Island Farmers Market.

Patrick Doherty joined Joe Ross to perform at the Mercer Island Farmers Market. (Photo by Joel Wachs)