Farmers’ Market Musings

Zucchini Festival
Like many farmers this time of year, Heidi Herrmann brought dozens of zucchini to the market from her Strong Arm Farm. She also brought us one beautiful, oversized zucchini that had hidden itself from her harvesting hands until it was nearly two feet long. It was a noble specimen of the summer squash, well watered and well feed, so we placed it on a throne of a prune lug along with information about the Zucchini Fest and a bucket of zinnias.
Phil Lux was nearby, explaining how Community Foundation Sonoma County is providing matching funds for the Market’s Food Stamp program. He noticed many people stopped to take a picture of Heidi’s zucchini, and, you know, each and every zucchini deserves that kind of respect. The zucchini plants are beautiful, grow easily from direct seeding to the ground, do not require much water or fertilizer, and they give us an abundance of tasty, nutritious, and versatile fruit. We treat them like a vegetable and they are a staple of our summer time roasting, grilling, baking, and sautéing.
Next week we may be delighted by the adornments that people might wear to the market. Who can top Barbara Wollners’ zucchini necklace, or Lily Tomkovic’s zucchini earrings? And we will closely examine and be delighted by the cars decorated for the Best of Show Competition. We will cheer when the cars fly down the ramp, and laugh when they wipe out. But deep down, we have the greatest regard for the plant that gives so generously. If we could airlift the abundance to people who need food, we would. But for two days at the market, during the Zucchini and Pumpkin fest, the fruit is a prop for our play.
I have noticed over the years that the zucchinis are never tossed in the trash at the market. I am pretty sure that most of them are taken home, and after the axels and costumes are removed, the zucchini finds its way to grateful chickens or compost. If you don’t have your own chickens or compost, the farmers can help you.
If you have your own extra zucchini, remember that the Food Pantry will help distribute the food to those in need. Claire Posson reminds us that the Pantry can help you reuse your plastic and paper bags. They are in disparate need of both for the distribution of food. If you bring the bags to the market, we will deliver them to Claire and the pantry.
Here is a schedule for this Saturday, August 18
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Registration: Giant Zucchini and Zucchini Racing Cars.
9:40 a.m. Giant Zucchini Winners Announced.
9:50 a.m. Creative Zucchini Car Winners Announced.
10 a.m. Zucchini Car Races Begin.
•    Register Zucchini Cars and Giants between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. on the day of the contest. No fee.
•    Racecars must be made of real zucchini squash.
•    The squash should be the vehicle, not a roller skate or Tonka Truck.
•    Axles must be inserted in the squash.
•    Wheels must be able to role down the track to be eligible for prizes, and can be made of wood, metal, vegetable, or plastic.
•    The width of one track is 11 inches, so the car must be no wider than that.
•    Giant Zucchinis must be grown by the entrant to be eligible for the competition.
There will be prizes for the Giant Zucchini, and Most Creative Zucchini Cars in both the Adults and Children Categories, and for all Zucchini Car racers. Hope to see you on the zany day this Saturday, made possible by our farmers of the market and the zucchini plant.
Mary Kelley is the manager of the Healdsburg Farmers’ Market. The Saturday morning market continues through November. The Tuesday afternoon market continues through October.