Market opening day is Monday, June 4, and we will be celebrating our new logo.  John Nicholson is the artist and his design is already a hit!  The market is on the lot behind 1st Baptist Church at the corner of Middle and Main Streets.  Be there each week 3-6 pm for fesh locally grown produce, pasture fed beef, free-range chicken, organic produce and herbs, local honey, and fresh bread.  Thanks to the generous support of presenting sponsor Montevallo Drug, we're adding some new tents and will have logo posters and shirts.  It's going to be a yummy summer at the Montevallo Farmers' Market!

Two of our farmers are from Pea Ridge near Montevallo.  This church sign is in Pea Ridge just up the road from the Pickett's Honey Hill Farm.  The more you know farmers' market vendors and shoppers, the more you realize that they are originals! 

If you work heavy equipment all night so that you can farm daytime, you're an original.  If you're a college student and planted acres of okra and tomatoes to sell at the farmers' market, you are an original.  If you're farming land that's been in your family since the 1920's, you are an original.  If you are fully certified organic raising animals and growing a garden, you are an original.  Come to think of it, only an original would brave the weather, the econormy, and big time food producers to farm for selling at the local farmers' market.  Giving their customers the opportunity to buy fresh locally grown products is a commitment that matters to the growers at Montevallo's Monday Market!

Shoppers at the market want to know the people who grow their food.  They appreciate the farmer who will  cut and sample the canteloupe for a customer who wants to know that the melon is sweet.  Market customers take the time to check all the booths and then purchase from several in order to support more than just one vendor.  A walk down the aisle at the market usually means time to talk to friends and enjoy the music being played by local talent.  When a customer becomes accustomed to using fresh eggs, they want to be sure they get to the market soon after opening so that the eggs aren't sold out!  For Montevallo Monday Market customers, food shopping is an original experience every week!

Music at the Market!

When you think about your favorite shopping days at Montevallo Farmers' Market, there is probably a soundtrack that goes along with the first ripe tomatoes and the juiciest peaches you discovered!  Music makes our warm market afternoons even better.  Doug Morris and friends, Dallas Perry, Oliver Stansell's band, the Pea Ridge Senior Singers, and the Nursing Home Quartet were some favorites.  With the cover provided at Montevallo 1st Baptist and the easy availability of electricity, music groups can set up and entertain rain or shine.  If you know a band that might come out on a Monday afternoon, email montevallocc@bellsouth.net and provide the contact information.  Montevallo loves music!  Especially while they shop at Montevallo Farmers' Market.

FFA Farm Day Coming to Montevallo on Saturday, March 31!

Matt Barton, MHS agri-business teacher, on the right is pictured with two leaders of Montevallo High School's FFA chapter.  This group promotes agri-business with their annual Farm Day celebration.  The fun begins with a parade of tractors on Main St. at 9 a.m. and continues until 2 p.m. at the high school.  Farming, gardening, and animal care are just some of the areas featured in displays.  There's a petting zoo for children and fun for the whole family.  Put it on your calendar and plan to be there!

Potato Soup to keep you warm in January!

This recipe from the Lexington Farmers Market sounds like a January supper that you might want to try!

Roasted Garlic Potato Soup
 

• 6 potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 onion, chopped
• 6 cloves garlic, peeled
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup whole milk
• salt to taste

  

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1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2. Place potatoes in a shallow roasting pan and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Sprinkle with pepper; stir to coat. Bake for 25 minutes, or until potatoes are browned. Reserve 1 cup of roasted potatoes.
3. In a 3 quart saucepan heat remaining oil; saute onions for 5 minutes. Add potatoes and garlic and stir in broth and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes.

Spoon half of broth mixture into a blender; blend until nearly smooth. Repeat with remaining mixture; return all to pot. Stir in milk and season with salt to taste. Ladle into bowls and top with reserved roasted potatoes.

Sweet Potatoes Are Everywhere!

If you want to consider sweet potatoes for your holiday meal, consider something beyond marshmallow-topped dishes this year.  EatingWell has some great suggestions for special day and any day sweet potatoes without a marshmallow in sight!  Take a look at some of the side dish and main dish uses they suggest at http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/healthy_sweet_potato_recipes.  Here's a suggestion to go with your Friday night supper:

Oven Sweet Potato Fries
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/oven_sweet_potato_fries.html
From EatingWell:  EatingWell Serves Two
Making oven fries out of sweet potatoes brings out their inherent sweetness.
2 servings | Active Time: 5 minutes | Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into wedges
• 2 teaspoons canola oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Pinch of cayenne pepper

Preparation
Preheat oven to 450°F. Toss sweet potato wedges with oil, salt and pepper. Spread the wedges out on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until browned and tender, turning once, about 20 minutes total.

Who's coming to Montevallo's Fall Market on Saturday, October 15?

BB's Bread, Dixon Family Farm, Honey Hill Farm, Dixie Homecrafters, Cheeky Maiden Soap, Karen Ross, Wanda Anderson, Inviting You Designs, Knight's Farm, Erin Rawson, and more will be there Saturday, October 15, 9 a.m.-noon.  Shop that day on the parking lot behind 1st Baptist Church and enjoy the music of the Dulcimer Band 9-10 a.m. and then Pea Ridge Senior Singers 10-11 a.m.  Honey, fresh eggs, produce, arts, and crafts for shopping and a cool morning to remember our summer at Montevallo's award winning farmer's market will be a great chance to see your friends downtown!