FARMER’S MARKET MUSINGS

In the space between the Navajo blackberries and the Gerbera
daisies, Bill Harris was telling Sharon Vyborny about his big crop
of tomatillos. “We harvested them, but I am not even going to
bother to put them on the table…nobody buys them.” Sharon offered
that it’s too bad more people don’t know how to cook with them.
Salsa verde is so delicious.
Hey, that’s why we need a cooking demonstration…so people can
learn how to cook with our fresh, local, seasonal produce. And it
just so happens, there is one coming up on Tuesday, September 6:
The first ¡Salsa Gigante! Tuesday Taste Off. Many volunteers from
Relish Culinary Adventures, Community Foundation Sonoma County, and
Farm to Pantry are partnering with the Farmers’ Market to host the
salsa taste-off.
The Opening Bell will ring at the usual 4 p.m. start time on
Tuesday, but at 4:30 the chefs from Taqueria Guadalajara, Agave, El
Farolito, and El Sombrero will begin shopping from the variety of
produce available at the farmers’ stalls. The chefs will also bring
three of their own secret ingredients, and limes, salt, and chips
will be provided. Then, with the assistance of the Healdsburg High
School Culinary Students, the chefs will make their own salsa. At
5:30, a team of judges, which will include students from Club H,
will begin sampling the salsa. Everyone is welcome to try the
salsas at that time, as well. The winners will be announced at 6
p.m.
The market will also be raffling a Farmers’ Market Tote bag,
filled with Veggie Rx Tokens, and many other items. Be sure to be
at the market at 6 p.m., since the winner must be present to
win.
We are looking forward to hearing the wonderful traditional
Mexican Ballads played by Carlos Molina and the Trio Nuevo Amanace
(New Dawn). Carlos studied music in Mexico City, and he has been
singing and sharing his joyful spirit with Healdsburg for many
decades.
¡Salsa Gigante! comes at a critical time for our markets.
Traditionally, after the beginning of the school year and after
Labor Day weekend, we often see a drop in the attendance of
customers, yet the farmers are at the peak of their late summer
harvest. We hope the ¡Salsa Gigante! will remind customers that the
Tuesday Market continues through October, and the Saturday Market
Continues through November.
Many thanks to the wonderful support from Relish Culinary
Adventures, Community Foundation Sonoma County, Farm to Pantry,
Sharon Vyborny, Dr. Bill Harris, Octavio Diaz, John Ford Ranch,
John Trull of Vino Vinegar, Silvia Hiles and Josephina Fregoso, and
many others.
Market volunteer Susan Rose will be there September 6 (and every
Saturday and Tuesday) to greet CalFresh EBT cardholders. Thanks to
donations from the community, we can provide a free $1 token
(ficha) for every token purchased, with a limit of $20. The
Community Foundation Sonoma County has been especially successful
in raising matching funds.
Zucchini Festival
We are ramping up for the Zucchini Festival this Saturday,
August 20. Remember to register your Giant Zucchinis and your
Zucchini Race Cars with Barbara Stewart and Erika McGuire between
8:30 and 9:30 a.m. The judging begins at 9:30 and the races begin
at 10 a.m. This year, Charlie Brown, and Dan de Serpa will be
helping Kip Miller and Supervisor Mike McGuire run the races. What
a team! For more information go to www.healdburgfarmersmarket.org
and find the link to Zucchini Festival.
Mary Kelley is the manager of the Healdsburg Farmers’
Market. The Saturday morning market continues through November. The
Tuesday afternoon market continues through October. For more
information go to www.healdsburgfarmersmarket.org.