Return to Clark Park

On Saturday afternoon, Sarah, Ethan, and I returned to Clark Park for our upcoming week’s fruit and vegetable haul. And quite a haul it was! We came home with Strawberries, Lettuce, Radishes, Potatoes, Sugar Snap Peas, Tomatoes, Red Onions, and Asparagus. As usual, the vendors were friendly and informative and we left with smiles on our faces, especially Ethan who was unabashedly flirting with an Amish woman selling us our Asparagus. Not bad for an 8 month old, I must say.

We finally had the pleasure of meeting in person Clark Park Manager Jon Glyn from the Food Trust. What an awesome person. He and I have kept in touch throughout this season thus far, but this was actually our first face-to-face encounter. He actually recognized me as I was walking by. Put your face on a blog and what do you expect? We chatted about the market and such and he introduced me to Keystone Farm’s Phylann Russell. It turns out that Keystone Farm travels the longest distance to the park at 180 miles one way. We purchased our potatoes from their stand; while 180 miles is a long trip, it still beats getting your potatoes from Idaho. This wasn't our first time purchasing from Keystone either. Last time we were at the market, we purchased some grass-fed ground beef and for some Feta Burgers. Dee-lish! Come check out their wide selection of meats and vegetables next time you come to the market. You will not be disappointed!

While last week was the record week for Lem Christophel’s strawberries, we couldn't’t get to the market to partake in that sweet red bounty. We decided to make up for that this week with the purchase of two pints. It was nice to meet Lem in person and it turns out his brother (who Lem made sure to note is 6 years his senior) has a stand at the Overbrook Farmers’ Market on Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., with the same strawberries. So if you can’t make to Clark Park, the Overbrook Market is right off of City Ave and 63rd Street. I highly recommend you try these strawberries before the season is over. Sarah and I just finished off the first pint. They adorned our ice cream and my helping is the picture you are seeing up top. And for all of you strict locavores - the ice cream is Vanilla Bean from Turkey Hill - right out of Lancaster County!

Collingswood Farmers' Market News

To all my New Jersey friends, or anybody who doesn't mind taking a little ride - here is some information about this Saturday's fare at the Collingswood Farmers' Market -

What's in season?

Sugar snap peas appeared last week. You will see more snaps, snow peas and english shellin' varieties in weeks ahead. Pea season is short, enjoy now!

Strawberries and asparagus. Woo hoo!

DanLynn Farms will bring certified organic: Arugula. Bok Choy ("adult" and baby). Collards. Kale. Romaine, Red Leaf, Bib, Curly Green, Curly Red and variagated Lettuces, and mixed bags. Italian Parsley.

Lamb, beef, pork, and chicken are well-stocked at Hillacres Pride's table. New: Whole chicken breast (bone-in) and Chive Cream Cheese. Swing by to check out fromage flavors of the week.

Specials

Hillacres Pride: Pasture-raised Ground Beef stock-up sale: 5 packs (1 pound each) for $20.00. Pre-ordering suggested. Featured cheese: Hickory Smoked Cheddar, 50¢ off per lb. this Saturday.

Kinda like quiche. But better -

Springdale Farms is now baking BOTH 6" and 8" versions of their savory Spinach-cheese, Broccoli-cheese, and Asparagus-cheese pies.
Springdale still carries Griggstown Quail Farm's Pot Pies, made in N.J. with Griggstown's free-range birds, own-make pastry dough and natural ingredients.

These pies sounds tasty. I would like to get to this place on Saturday. I'll keep you posted.

News From The Food Trust

Here are some things from the The Food Trust that I wanted to pass on -

On Saturday, June 13th, The Food Trust will be holding a Pancake Breakfast fundraiser at the Headhouse Farmers' Market. The event will be catered by chef Mitch Prensky and the staff at Supper restaurant and Global Dish caterers.

Here is what's on the menu:

• Pancakes
• Local Strawberries
• Whipped Cream
• Local Maple Syrup
• Juice and Coffee

Here are the details

Headhouse Farmers' Market Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser

Sunday, June 13th, at 2nd and Lombard streets

Breakfast served 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Tickets: Adults $20, kids $5

Buy your tickets now!

This Week's Farmers' Markets -

New! Broad & South Farmers' Market
Broad and South streets
Wednesday, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Opening Day!

Clark Park Farmers' Market
43rd Street and Baltimore Avenue
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Collingswood Farmers' Market
Between Collings Ave and Irvin Ave
Collingswood, New Jersey
Saturday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

East Lancaster
Historic Eastern Market
308 East King Street
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Opening Day!

Fairmount Farmers' Market
22nd Street and Fairmount Avenue
Thursday, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Fitler Square Farmers' Market
23rd and Pine Streets
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Germantown Farmers' Market
Germantown Avenue and Walnut Lane
Friday, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Glenside Farmers' Market
Easton Rd. and Glenside Ave
Glenside, Pennsylvania
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Headhouse Farmers' Market

2nd and Lombard streets

Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Lansdowne Farmers' Market

Lansdowne Avenue Parking Lot

between Baltimore Pike and Stewart Avenue

Saturday, 9 a.m to 2 p.m.

Overbrook Farms Farmers' Market

63rd Street between Sherwood Road

and Overbrook Avenue

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Phoenixville Farmers' Market

Bridge Street and Taylor Alley

Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Schuylkill River Park Farmers' Market

25th and Spruce streets

Wednesday, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Wrightstown Farmers' Market

2203 2nd Street Pike (Rt. 232)

Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

If there are any I am missing or anybody wants to add a market, e-mail me at benjamin828@comcast.net

Fair Food Farmstand Fundraiser

I just wanted to pass this on:
When: Thursday, May 28th, 2009
6:30-9:30pm
Where: Reading Terminal Market
Entrance at 12th Street, between Filbert and Arch Streets
by the future location of the Farmstand.
For directions, visit www.readingterminalmarket.org

Tickets: Minimum of $15, sliding scale
Buy Online at www.fairfoodphilly.org
At the Farmstand in the Reading Terminal Market for only $10 (12th & Arch Streets).
***Tickets will be available at the door for $15***

Back to the Headhouse & Dana's Trip to Glenside

Baby Ethan and Mommy Sarah were both under the weather so we didn't end up visiting any markets on Saturday. When we woke up today we realized that we didn't have any veggies for the week so it was back to the Headhouse Farmers' Market to stock up. And stock up we did! Fresh Lettuce, Spinach, Radishes, Pastured Eggs, Strawberries picked this morning, Broccoli, Green Onions, Oyster Mushrooms, and Asparagus found their way into my canvas bag. It was totally awesome being recognized from the blog. Maybe next week somebody will ask me to autograph a turnip. Awesome.

I introduced myself to Headhouse Market manager Katy Wich. What an awesome person! While we were kibitzing she gave Clark Park Manager Jon Glyn a call to find out the final sale total of Lem Christophel's strawberries on Saturday. Turns out Lem sold 40 flats by 12:30 in the afternoon. Considering the market doesn't open until 10, that there is a whole lot of strawberries sold in a little bit of time. Speaking of strawberries, I picked up two pints from Blooming Glen Farm and they are earmarked for some pound cake and buttermilk pancakes tomorrow morning. I will keep you posted how those dishes come out.

My friend Dana decided to check out the Glenside Farmers' Market on Saturday. She detailed her trip to me via Facebook and from the way she described it, it sounds like she had a blast:

" They had a lot more there then what was on the harvest calendar. There was 5 booths... one was jewelery, another was honey and candles, one was baked goods (which I stay away from since my husband and I are "dieting", LOL), one was mostly plants (flowers, herbs, veggies) and asparagus, and the last table had a wide variety of veggies.At the veggie table she had red and green leaf lettuce (2.50 each or 2/$4), spinach (same price but for a qt sized Ziploc), fingerling potatoes, rhubarb, Swiss chard, onions, radish... and I think a few more things I can't remember... she also had raw cow and goat's milk, and frozen beef patties (they were on sale for 2/$10 for a 4 pattie pack). Some of the plants were going for good prices... I really wish I had more cash on me because I could have went to town with the plants... but there's always next week.OH, and there was another booth where I think they had market info, pretzel sale, and they had a woman reading books to kids. Since it was in the parking lot of the train station there was plenty of parking right next to the booths."

I already planned on visiting this market before the end of the summer and from Dana's description, I won't be disappointed. Thanks to Dana for contributing your experience to The Philly Food Feed!

Rittenhouse Farmers' Market

This information was forwarded me in an e-mail. Just wanted to pass it on -

Saturday Market Hours
Please remember that the market opens for purchases at 9:30 am. This allows all our producers a chance to set up and start selling at the same time.

Tuesday Market Open
The season for the weekday market in Rittenhouse Square has begun! The market is open on Tuesdays, morning to early afternoon (10 am - 1 pm); the farmers present on Tuesday are listed at the bottom of this email, after the list of farmers present on Saturday. This is a perfect opportunity to pick up those onions you forgot to buy on Saturday, re-stock your refrigerator with fresh asparagus, or find pastries and flowers to brighten your work week...

Returning Farmers
This week, our other two vegetable farmers are returning for the season! Many of you are looking forward to the delicious vegetables that Amos Stoltzfus of Hilltop Farm grows on his couple acres in Lancaster County. Also, Crawford Organics is making its eagerly-awaited return with beautiful, standard-setting certified organic vegetables.

"Unofficial Record" at Clark Park this Saturday

Jonathan Glyn from The Food Trust passed on to me an exciting tidbit of information about this Saturday's market at Clark Park. It seems that Lem Christophel, from Eden Garden Farm out in Dillsburg, PA, will be bringing 40 flats of strawberries to the park on Saturday. If he can sell close to 40, it will be an "unofficial record"! Jonathan broke it down to me like this:

"Think about this: a flat of strawberries is 12 pints. 12x40 = 480 pints. How many strawberries in a pint? The current wisdom is that one pint of strawberries contains 16-20 medium sized berries. Let's say 16. If Lem sells 40 flats, that's over 7500 strawberries hitting the Philly public..."

That's a lot of strawberries! With the vast amount of things you can do with a strawberry, I would expect that after Saturday, Philly will be inundated with strawberry smoothies, pies, pancake adornments, and the like. Come out to Clark Park this Saturday and help Clem get his record and you could be one of those lucky people having strawberries on their pancakes on Sunday morning. Yum!

Clark Park
43rd Street and Baltimore Ave.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.