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Just Picked
Just Picked
I’ve been eagerly anticipating the beginning of the local farmers’ markets and today, at last, the first one started.
East Tennessee is largely rural — and should be. It has wonderfully fertile valleys, lots of rain and plenty of sun, and a fairly mild climate. It’s great farming country. Given this, I am baffled by the dearth of locally grown produce and places to buy it.
One supermarket claims to offer local produce, but the offerings are sparse and not much better than the stuff from Florida or California. There are a few produce markets around offering local veggies, but none convenient to me and the variety is poor. And then there are four small farmers’ markets during the summer. Each consists of six to a dozen trucks/tents so, although the quality at these is excellent, the variety is only fair. They are the best bet, but they’re only open once a week, during the week, for very limited hours. In fact, if I had a real job with standard hours there would only be one I could shop at.
Ah well. I don’t have a real job so at 3:00 this afternoon I showed up to see what they had.
Not much.
But I expected that. It’s still too early for almost everything and all but one of the vendors were selling tomato, pepper, and other seedlings for planting instead of eating. Fortunately the exception had some beautiful lettuce and spinach picked within the hour.
I bought some baby lettuce and had it for dinner dressed with a bright Spanish olive oil and a light drizzle of pear vinegar.
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I’ve got to figure out something to do about the food situation here in Knoxville. The community is relatively affluent and well-educated and should be able to support a decent farmers’ market on the weekend. And I’ve got to do something to help the only butcher shop in town survive.
Come, Sancho, I see a giant.
9 Responses to “Just Picked”
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Disclaimer: Most quantities in recipes are approximate. Adjust as needed according to your taste and experience. Unless otherwise specified, eggs are large and butter is unsalted.
I’m going to Detroit’s Farmers Market tomorrow, I can hardly wait! You wouldn’t think so, but Detroit actually has a very good one on Saturdays called Eastern Market. Good luck with your Farmer’s Market venture!Butchers, true Butchers, in the Detroit area are non-existant (except at Eastern Market). They’ve been replaced with disgruntled grocery store employees in my area. It’s a shame, I would even pay more per pound if I could find a true Butcher that did special cuts and what-not.I dig your site!-DannoNew Orleans Cuisine
Danno,“They’ve been replaced with disgruntled grocery store employees in my area.”Same here. In fact most groceries around here get _all_ their meat precut and packaged. The folks behid the counter know less about cutting meat than I do.Kevin
We are lucky to still have a couple of old time grocery stores. The meat counter guys are ALWAYS happy – ALWAYS. We decided it was because they are the modern equivalent of the hunter – they’ve got the meat and they are going to feed you.and the stuff in those plastic wrapped styrofoam things? Closer to going off than the meat sitting in the case waiting for the man to cut you off a slab.and the farm veggies thing?Try a CSA – here are the Tennessee ones…. Avalon Acres FarmTim & Jennifer Bodnar750 Piney Creek RoadHohenwald, TN 38462Phone 1: 931-796-2462j_bodnar@bellsouth.nethttp://www.avalon-acres.comNachville, Franklin, Colmbia, LawrenceburgBon Aqua FarmsJohn Drury9407 McFarlin RoadBon Aqua, TN 37025-1422Phone 1: 931-670-1141Fax: 931-670-1138jbd3@earthlink.netNashville, Franklin, Columbia, Summertown and nearby communitiesBountiful Blessings FarmJohn Dysinger654 Dry Prong RoadWilliamsport, TN 38487Phone 1: 931-583-2701Fax: 931-583-2795johnandpamdysinger@juno.combountifulblessingsfarm.orgColumbia, Centerville, Dickson, FranklinCrabtree Farms of ChattanoogaVanessa Mercer1000 East 30th StreetPO Box 2250Chattanooga, TN 37409Phone 1: 423-493-9155 ext 10Fax: 423-624-7439vmercer@crabtreefarms.orghttp://www.crabtreefarms.orgChattanooga Metro area, Hamilton County, TN; Catoosa County, GACrabtree Farms of ChattanoogaVanessa Mercer1000 East 30th StreetPO Box 2250Chattanooga, TN 37409Phone 1: 423-493-9155 ext 10Fax: 423-624-7439vmercer@crabtreefarms.orgww.crabtreefarms.orgChattanooga Metro area, Hamilton County, TN; Catoosa County, GADelvin FarmsHank and Cindy Delvin6655 Noiensville Rd.Brentwood, TN 37027Phone 1: 615-941-1280Fax: 615-941-2490chdelvin@aol.comhttp://www.delvinfarms.comNashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Ashland City, Hermitage, Bellvue, Nolensville, and SmyrnaDW FarmsDanny or Wanda Lindsey1507 Crooked Hill Rd.Pulaski, TN 38478Phone 1: 931-424-0209lindsey@surfmore.nethttp://www.dwfarms.comGiles County, TN; Huntsville and Madison, ALFernvale Valley CSAChristopner M. Durai7716 Caney ForkFairview, TN 37062Phone 1: 615-799-5856farmerchris@fernvalevalleycsa.orghttp://www.fernvalevalleycsa.orgNashville, Franklin, Bellvue, Fairview, Fervale, Leiper’s Fork, Davidson County, and Williamson CountyKatuah Farm CooperativeAubrey BaldwinP.O. Box 1461Knoxville, TN 37901Phone 1: 865-556-3648, cellPhone 2: 865-497-2297, farmurbanfarm@ntown.netKnoxville Metro AreaLong Hungry Creek FarmJeff PoppenP.O. Box 163Red Boiling Springs, TN 37150Phone 1: 615-699-3312Phone 2: 615-298-2699barefootfarmer@barefootfarmer.comhttp://www.barefootfarmer.comNashville, TN and Cookeville TNNew Harvest CSAJD Dimick1902 Liberty Hill Rd.Washburn, TN 37888Phone 1: 865-497-2297CSAKnoxville@yahoo.comhttp://www.newharvestcsa.comKnoxville, Oak Ridge, Maryville/AlcoaPeaceful Mountain Organic FarmDanielle White565 Stone Mountain RoadBulls Gap, TN 37711Phone 1: 423-235-3161dsomer996@msn.comHawkins, Greene, and Hamblin CountiesPeaceful PasturesJenny I. Drake69 Cowan Valley LaneHickman, TN 38578Phone 1: 615-683-4291Fax: 615-683-5559naturalmeat@aol.comhttp://www.peacefulpastures.comState of TN with deliveries to Nashville, Triune, Cookeville, Lebanon, Memphis. WE ALSO SHIP NATIONWIDE!Red Gates Sustainable FarmDan KotarskiRt. 1, McWilliams Rd.Dunalp, TN 37327Phone 1: 423-554-4025Phone 2: 423-554-5015Fax: 423-554-4025dgkotarski@aol.comChattanooga metro areaSweet Hollow FarmCheri Shelnutt140 Ward LaneBulls Gap, TN 37711Phone 1: 423-235-7288Phone 2: 423-552-3109 (cell)cshel4@adelphia.netGreene, Hamblin, and Hawkins CountiesWalden FarmAlex McGregor840 Murrell Rd.Signal Mountain, TN 37377Phone 1: 432-886-6743waldenfarm@sprintmail.comChatanooga
Owen,“…and the farm veggies thing?”Thanks for the list. I’ll check out the local ones out.Kevin
All it takes is 10 likeminded families to convince a farmer to set up a delivery schedule – 20, and he’ll take requests.
I am here in Knoxville and am DESPERATE to find an organic CSA – bummed that Nashville is the closest it seems – and I agree – the produce here is very dissappointing.
I don’t know of a source for local organic produce, but the veggies are good (if not tremendously varied) at the farmers’ markets. Check out http://www.earthandhearth.com.
Moved from Detriot suburb Eastern Market is good Colasantis in Milford better with great meat and veggie market. Looking for a fresh meat and fish market near Crossville area vegetable market would be a plus. Using the farmer market now tired of SUPER WALMART!
Re: DW Farm, Pulaski, TN:We signed up for DW Farm’s CSA in April, 2008. Apparently they had a “poor year” in 2007, “due to the drought,” and did not complete their contracts. They failed to complete their contract this year as well (2008), with no explanations or compensation given. We paid a full annual fee of $650 and have not received the number of weeks’ produce agreed. Caveat Emptor!