What's New at Kenton County Farmers Markets?

Our last message for this year

2008-10-06T08:33:00.000-07:00

Farmers Market season is quickly coming to an end, but there are still lots of goodies that can be found. If you have not enjoyed the various winter squash products in the past, now is a good time to try. These nutritious and delicious foods can add a new variety to your meal. In addition, remember that Kentucky sweet potatoes provide a different twist to your meal. Lastly, don't forget about the apples! Doesn't a big dish of apple brown betty sounds just great right now? Have a wonderful, safe fall and winter, and don't forget to contact us with any of your food safety, preparation and preservation needs.

2008-08-13T10:02:00.000-07:00

Week of August 11, 2008

Melons should be available this week. What is your choice? A canteloupe or a watermelon? Here is a fact sheet on Kentucky melons with a recipe.

Corn, tomatoes and beans. That is what summer is all about! Here are a couple of guides for canning the bounty: one on veggies and one on tomatoes. The bounty is here and the time is now to take advantage of it.

Can you find other types of tomatoes besides Celebrity, Better Boy and Roma? Try some other varieites just to see what the taste difference is. Same thing with corn and beans - go beyond Silver Queen and Tenderettes. Not that these aren't good, it's just that there is a great variety within each type of veggie.

2008-07-24T09:51:00.000-07:00

Week of July 21

Peaches are now available (you may have seen some last week). Is there anything much better than warm peach juice running down your chin? Maybe Cinnamon Peach Crisp!

Some melons may be ready, too. Like tomatoes, watermelons have lycopene and lots of other good nutrients. Try this smoothie with your first watermelon.

Potatoes are also appearing. If you are lucky, you might find a farmer who has some unique varieties besides new reds. Would you be able to amaze the little ones in the crowd with this recipe fixed with potatoes that are blue or pink inside?

If you have been thinking about undertaking a preservation project and are not sure if it is cost-effective, check out this publication on the cost/benefit analysis of canning. In previous weeks we have featured links for specific fruits and veggies, but here is a more basic primer on the subject of canning.

The Simon Kenton Market is having a Grand Opening Festival on 7/26! There will be some live bluegrass and other music starting at 10 a.m. There will be some cooking demos featuring produce from the market and crafters there for the occasion. We are sure a good time will be had by all who attend. See location info to the right of the page.

Get a bouquet of flowers and support 4-H at the Dixie market this week.

2008-07-17T10:32:00.000-07:00

Week of July 14

The bounty continues! Come get fresh, locally grown tomatoes, corn, beans, zucchini, onions, potatoes and lots of other items. We have been presenting recipes for theses veggies over the last few weeks. Here are a few more:

Cheese Cauliflower
Fried Corn
Garlic Green Beans

We go to a farmers market to get great tasting produce, but we also go to suppor our local farmers. Here is an interesting article that you might like to read on Kentucky Farms and Foods.

Most of the markets have a vendor selling locally produced honey.

A 4-H group called "Be the 'E'" (as in entrepreneur) is selling fresh cut flower bouquets created from flowers in Horticulture's cut flower trial going on here at the Durr Center on Marshall Rd. This 4-H group is raising money to take a trip to the Longaberger Basket Factory. A freshly cut flower bouguet really brightens up a table or some other spot in your home, or can bring a smile to someone's face. Get a bouquet today and support this group!

Drying is another preservation method that, once complete, consumes no electricity to retain. Reduce that carbon footprint!

You might be lucky enough to find some peaches this week. There were plums available last week, as well as blackberries. Raspberries will soon be here. Freezing these is a great way to preserve!

Stay cool and hope for a some rain. We need our fruits and veggies to keep coming on for us!

2008-07-09T06:58:00.000-07:00

Week of July 7, 2008

The growing season is getting into full swing! We will start seeing the first of the field grown tomatoes. See the previous weeks' entries for recipes. Try some of the other varieties and colors you might see. How pretty these are sliced and presented on a pretty plate!

Green peppers will start appearing as well as other varieties. Try this recipe to use the bounty. Eggplant can be used for a jambalya, which will also use banana peppers and tomatoes. Zucchini and yellow summer squash continue to be prolific, so here is another way to fix these gems while they are here. Follow these links for cabbage and broccoli for new ideas for your meal planning.

Green beans will start being avaliable in mass quantities! Here is another recipe, but this is the time to order that bushel so you can can (not dance!). A bushel weighs 30 pounds which will give you about 15 quarts (2 pounds per quart per this canning guide). Have lots of freezer space and no way to can? Try your hand at freezing.

And can it be? Corn will be there, too! You should be able to find both white and bi-color varieties. Use that zucchini with some of that corn in this recipe.

Blackberries are starting to get ripe, so get those cobbler recipes ready. Need something different? Check out this recipe for some muffins.

Of particular note are the fresh eggs available at the Simon Kenton Market. We don't think much about variety when it comes to eggs, but stop by this market to get your thinking changed. You will find chicken eggs with "normal" shells and green shells (you really can have green eggs and ham!), duck eggs and guinea eggs (smaller with harder shells).

And be sure to mark your calendars for the Kenton County Fair, July 14 through July 19. You can pick up your 2008 Kenton County Fair book at our office or check out the kentoncountyfair.com website. New this year is a Fresh Salsa Contest on July 18. See page 23 of the fair book.

2008-07-03T10:18:00.000-07:00

Week of June 30

Happy 4th of July! Are you gearing up for a picnic with friends and family? Then visit your local farmers market (see listing to the right) to see what is available to enhance the tastes (and the nutrition) of your celebration.

Cucumbers are really producing. Here are some additional ideas for preparing.

Tomatoes will be welcome addition to any burger or sandwich. How do you select and store tomatoes? To refrierate or not? What else can you do with tomatoes besides slice them for sandwiches or salads? Check out this bulletin for the lowdown.

What better way to put the blue into a red, white and blue patriotic dessert than with fresh blueberries? UK's bulletin on this fruit will give you some other ways to work these into your diet by using them fresh or preserving the bounty now.

Be safe until next week!

2008-06-26T12:20:00.000-07:00

Week of June 23

Zucchini are starting to be prolific! Break out those zucchini bread recipes. Need some new ideas? Follow this link for recipes. Cucumbers are a welcome sight in view of the heat. Try this recipe to cool you off. Greenhouse-based tomatoes are appearing, too. Follow this link for a way to use the bounty. Broccoli Cabbage, and Cauliflower are still around, but the heat is going to make these short-lived, so get them while you can. Here are some ideas: Broccoli Salad, Cauliflower Casserole or Cabbage Pecan Toss. Finally, the moment everyone seems to wait for - green beans are starting to produce! Try this recipe.

Oh, and there are still some flowers around in case you didn't get yours earlier in the season.

Want to make some pickles with the cucumbers? Here is a guide.

Week of June 16

2008-06-11T11:39:00.000-07:00

Plants continue to be available for landscaping and vegetable gardening.
We are starting to see the arrival of fresh onions, kale and strawberries. You may luck into some tender, fresh lettuce.
If you want to take advantage of the bounty of strawberries out there, check out these long term preservation ideas here.

Welcome!

2008-06-02T13:44:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the "What's New at Kenton County Farmers Markets" blog, provided by Kathy Byrnes and Kathy Yelton at the Kenton County Extension Office. Each week we wish to provide you with a list of the new goodies available at the market, along with information on storing, preserving, and cooking with these delicious local treats.