Locally produced cider vinegar from Anderson Orchard. The floatie is the "mother," or the bacteria which allows the vinegar to ferment.
Wow - my first market report of 2008! I finally made it to one the Worthington's winter farmer's markets, and I have to say I was impressed with the turnout. I made it just after 10am, and it was packed. As a matter of fact, I won't be having any all-local meals this week because the one stand selling onions, garlic, greens and the like was swamped, and after waiting in line for about 10 minutes, I was cut by a group of 5 greedy woman. When did we un-learn lining up and waiting our turn. To make matters worse, a few of these women began huffing and puffing when they thought the farmer was taking too long with the previous customer. Should I begin adopting this behavior? Is it the new standard? Are these people really more important than I am? It happened again, when I was buying eggs. A women came up and stood beside me. The farmer looked at me, because I had been waiting, and I placed my order while this woman began stamping and huffing. Am I invisible? I really can't figure this out, and it gets worse and worse every year (which is why I do my best to get to the markets as early as humanly possible, and why I love love love those people at Gilogly Orchards, who staunchly guard their always-long lines and scold those who try to jump to the front).
So, enough with the line-jumping whining. I stopped by summer market favorites Up the Lane Cattle to purchase some nice beef shanks, and was also encouraged to buy a bone-in chuck roast (which I did). A friend gave me her slow cooker recently and I need an excuse to break it in, so I'll have some more braising to do this week. The folks from Up the Lane Cattle have even begun selling some great mugs and market totes with "Locavore" on them, and a definition. It is a great idea, so you should buy some! I was pleased to hear that they are really doing well at these winter markets.
I also picked up some tarragon flavored cider vinegar from Anderson Orchard, which I thought was really cool - I haven't seen anyone making vinegar locally, so I was pleased to see it. The vinegar is very cider-y and slightly sweet. It will make a great vinaigrette sometime soon.
Lastly, I stopped by Raven Rocks farm to pick up some eggs. It is so nice to be shopping locally again, and I am encouraged by the turnout at the Worthington market, although it was, as some have noted, incredibly crowded, even right at opening time. Hopefully by next year they will have to find a larger space; as it seems, there are more vendors than space, which is certainly the problem you'd like to have! Also, with the success of this year's market, perhaps more farmers will begin cold-weather farming, so by next winter there will be more than just a couple of produce vendors.
