Lula B's Frozen Yogurt for an After Market Treat!

Our market operates on Mondays 3-6 pm. and the summer heat takes a toll on shoppers!  Many have found the perfect way to cool off is to stop at Lula B's for frozen yogurt or sorbet when they leave the market.  Market will be closed on Monday, July 4, but Lula B's will be open.  When you need a break from barbecue, chill with yogurt for the holiday!  The holiday sorbet flavor will be watermelon.  Who can resist that flavor on the 4th?

Montevallo's Monday Market will resume on July 11 and continue on Mondays each week thru August 8. 

Recipe to Make Your Meal

Wondering what to do with the vegetables from Monday's Farmers' Market?  Here's an easy favorite to try.  Make the amounts work for the size group you're expecting and enjoy!

Layer peeled sliced potatoes, peeled sliced sweet potatoes, sliced purple onion, sliced summer squash, sliced zuchinni, and sliced tomatoes.  After each layer add salt, pepper, and olive oil.  Top the casserole with grated parmesan cheese, cover, and bake at 350 degrees until potatoes are done. 

Serve with grilled chicken or pork tenderloin and enjoy the happy faces at your table!

Dulcimer Music is a Great Market Soundtrack!

Thanks to Bob and Sallie Sutton of Montevallo, we had another tuneful Montevallo Monday Market.  The Dulcimer Band is a hit with our shoppers.  Music even makes the weather seem a little cooler!  This was the band's second appearance this season and their fan base is growing!

Here's some information about two of our growers:

Chris Knight posts this sign about the nutrition program to remind shoppers that they can redeem their vouchers at his booth.  Senior adults can qualify if they meet income requirements.  It's a perfect way to stretch your food budget and enjoy fresh locally grown produce.

Joyce Darby's products are grown organically on her farm near Montevallo on Highway 17.  She invites visitors to come see her farm on the first Saturday of every month.  In addition to gardening, Joyce has llamas, goats, and horses.  It's a fun field trip for all ages to see the work she does!  This Saturday is July 2, so you might want to consider adding the JDarby Farm to your holiday weekend plan.

Visit to the Lexington KY Farmers Market

Here are two photos from the Lexington KY Farmers Market on a rainy day!  This market has been in business since 1975.  The shed where they operate in downtown Lexington is just a couple of years old.  It offered great protection to vendors and shoppers on June 18!  In addition to fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables, this market had an activity space for children and a vendor selling made-on-the spot crepes.  Homemade dog treats, books by "locally grown" authors, and fresh pasta were also available.

Montevallo Monday Market's purpose is to connect farmers and their customers in Montevallo.  We'll offer other goods from time to time and BB's Bread every week, but it's really about the farmers.  Maybe when Montevallo has a little more history, it will have vendors with specialy goods like treats for your puppy!  In the meantime, if you go to Lexington take a break from touring horse farms and check out the Farmers Market.

Know the People Who Grow Your Food

When you shop at the Montevallo Farmers' Market, you get to know the growers.  You know that next week another variety of peaches will be available and you hear the story about the orange colored tomatoes that are in the current week's line up.  If you get an insect sting, Joan Pickett will have the remedy.  If you want to talk about fresh eggs or grandchildren, ask Annie Caver.  Rodney Dixon's young children are likely to be at the Dixon Family Farm booth.  They might be napping, but they are just as likely to be smiling at you while their aunt bags up your okra.  Bring your family to the market and meet the farmers and their families! 

Knight Farms and Knight's Farm are the Peach Sellers at this Market

Chris Knight is one of two peach farmers at our market.  He is back for a second season at Monday Market and it's fun to have him on board.  If you're wondering if the peaches are ripe, or a tomato is tasty, just ask.  Chris will slice and serve a sample on the spot!

Sunflowers

Joan and Mike Pickett's Honey Hill Farm is well known for delicious honey and their garden produce, but their sunflowers are also a hit at the Montevallo Monday Market!  At 3 for a $1 they are definitely a bargain.  These blooms make your Monday night supper table look like it's a party!

Peaches, Plums, and Nectarines

This farm is new to our market in 2011.  They brought us clear seed peaches this week and they have these same smiles for every customer!  The farmers say that Montevallo folks come to the market to shop!  Seeing friends and family is also an activity.  The dulcimer players will be back on 6/27, so the shopping and the visiting will have a soundtrack!

First Baptist Vacation Bible School will overlap with the last hour of the market on 7/11!  We'll make the parking for Bible School and the arrival of children happen safely.  Hope that some of the families will take a minute to shop when they bring children for VBS!  Bible School at First Baptist is 7/11-15 from 5-8 p.m.

Thanks to Montevallo Drug for the Green Bags!

Montevallo Drug got the season off to a great start with green reuseable shopping bags for everyone.  As shoppers visit with vendors, they can add their purchases to one bag and make the rounds more easily.  This photo from the Shelby County Reporter catches the spirit of the market.  BB's Bread has been a hit.  It's sourdough and is available plain or cinnamon/sugar.  Use it for making French Toast and add some honey from Mike and Joan Pickett's Honey Hill Farm for a breakfast treat!

Line-up of Vendors for 2011

Montevallo First Baptist Church has welcomed the 2011 Farmers' Market to their parking lot on Middle St.  This shady location has been a hit with vendors and shoppers!  The summer season is giving a full range of choices now with tomatoes, peaches, honey, watermelons, berries, and more!

Back from our 2010 season are the Dixons, the Cavers, Chris Knight, David Nichols, and the Picketts from Honey Hill Farm.  New to our group are Joyce Darby organically grown plants and produce, Knight's Farm from the Clanton area, and Brenda Scott with BB's Bread. 

Kona Ice helps keep shoppers cool with frozen treats and live music on selected Mondays creates a great atmosphere.  City of Montevallo workers set up the tents each week.  When it's time for the tents to come down after the market closes, there's a crew of volunteers to lend a hand.  Herschel Hale, Eddye Lawley, Stone Pritchett, David Pritchett, Mike Pickett, and market managers Leanne Reed and Mary Lou Williams have all helped with this chore.