By Jack Moffitt

Bell Rings at 8a.m., last sale at noon!

Last Market Until October

This is it. It is time to concede to the blistering sun. It all works out. We can spend some time improving our soils, our farms and fix those things that have been getting put off until market closes. It kind of feels like the last day of school.

Vendors will still have farms and homegrown product. Save a copy of this email – their names and numbers, email addresses, etc. may come in handy.

The product mix the rest of summer will have a lot of melons, squash, okra, etc. If you are entertaining a good-sized bunch of people, you might want to make it a real treat with some local grown veggies, melons, or a cabrito.

Economic and Social Impact

Last Saturday at noon, the Brownsville Farmers Market vendors hurriedly took down their tables of veggies, foods and wares. Vendors who were finished packing, returned to help those who had a greater burden. No storm loomed, no deadline was imposed. The occasion was the first assembly of the leadership of the Market, it’s sponsors, and the vendors. You gotta love an organization that pulls off 3 dozen Saturday events with only one mass meeting!

Dr. Rose Gowen served as the master of ceremonies, and the event was attended by the Mayor and at least 3 other Brownsville City Commissioners. I think the attendance by the city’s leadership evidences the tipping point reached during the past year. The city, and surrounding areas, now have a real Farmer’s Market. Dr. Gowen cited a number of statistics that reflect a strong first-year record. Reported sales averaged just over $3000 each week. Foot traffic ranged from 200 to 400 visitors per week. While I’m sure not every meal eaten from Market food displaced a heart-attack-in-a-sack, I would think some of the good food from the Market displaced some thousands of fast food and imported foods that can dominate the average person’s diet.

Dr. Gowen spent a lot of time getting this market up and running. We will be in her debt for this, all her days. I would say that Dr. Gowen is going on to bigger and better things, but city politics being as they have, I’ll just say she’s going where she is needed more. In the wings, is Joe Lee Rubio. Dr. Gowen came from a medical background. Joe Lee is coming with a gardener and all-round good guy background. We anticipate continued success under his guidance.

You can help Brownsville Farmers’ Market win $5,000.

Send an email to your friends and family, copy and paste this link into your email or website:

http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket

We have gotten a lot of votes and it’s got some great comments posted by the voters. I didn’t realize how appreciative our community is!

Carrots in the news

You may have heard or read some recent research findings about carrots. A reputable study concluded that cooking carrots whole before slicing preserves the falcarinol found in carrots. So make the caldo or the pot roast with whole carrots, then slice them before you serve. It makes sense – less surface exposed during cooking. Falcarinol is believed to be an “anti-cancer” compound. Carrots are a veggie that withstands cooking quite well.

Boil a banana

A friend of ours alerted me to a taste treat from some bananas I have grown. My plants are from a grove I was able to rescue some clumps from, years ago in Port Isabel, and have the short stumpy bananas that are fairly common on this end of the valley. Boil that banana in a saucepan for 10-15 minutes, with water deep enough to cover it. Let it cool and put it in the refrigerator. When it is chilled out, peel it and eat it like a banana. Tastes like an applesauce cold dessert!

Harvest and Vendor Reports

Last market – thanks for your support!

Market Overview : Those traditional market favorites like sweet corn, melons and tomatoes are coming on strong. Eat what’s in season, eat local , bring a friend, and enjoy! This is the first time for a “last market”. Possibly some great bargains as producers clear beds for renovation!

Alaniz Produce –Fresh fruits and vegetables with an emphasis on local varieties

Beautiful veggies on the table every week! These folks bring “camera quality” veggies week in – week out.

Alice’s Kountry Kitchen –Nutritious whole grain baked goods made from original recipes

Goodies that are on the guilt-free side. Quit eatin’ that white bread! Get yourself some of Alice’s whole wheat bread

Bayview Veggies –Totally naturally grown, handpicked gourmet quality veggies and fruit bayviewveggies@gmail.com Jack Moffitt & Rhonda Recio 956-466-9308

• Watermelon – sugarbabies, small personal size
• Garlic Braids – handcrafted with totally chemical and pesticide free Early California White variety
• Loose garlic – Early California White and Red Chesnok
• Arugula – nice banded bunches (small harvest)
• Anaheim peppers – young pods, salad quality
• Bell peppers – babies, salad quality
• Jalapeno peppers – still young and tender, starting to get a burn on
• Sprouts – Alfalfa, broccoli, Daikon and French Garden mix – $2/box
• Tomatoes – Roma, some Fox Cherry
• Estefiate – sun dried, natural grown
• Cucumbers
• Chantenay type carrots
• Okra

Dave’s ‘maters and more –David McCommas , 956-497-4457

• Canteloupes – $1
• Watermelons – some sweet ones
• Tatuma Squash
• Tomato, Roma and round
• Okra
• Yellow squash
• Zuchinni squash
• Calabaza

Gracia Farms Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Senora Gracia makes it every week with a table full of her handgrown favorites!

The Graybill Family – Honey! –grybill@aol.com Erin Graybill

The Graybill family brings you local honey straight from the hive to the market! It is raw, unpasteurized, with nothing added. The bee hives are taken into the orchards of our valley home to bring you our Orange Blossom honey made from the citrus tree blossoms. Our Ranch Wildflower comes from literally every other bloomin’ thing, giving you a very mellow, deep golden honey. Honey is a healthful superfood, which may help with seasonal allergies and other ailments. It is also a great substitute for refined, white sugar. You can use as much as half the amount of honey than sugar in all your recipes. Come on by and try a sample!

Jam Making Rose specializes in locally grown, harvested and processed sweet-hot pepper jams from her gardens. msrosemarytriano@yahoo.com

• Aztec Spice Tomato Jam….My newest line
• Chilpequin Jam
• Habenero
• Mango with a hint of habenero
• Cranberry Pequin
• Papaya with a hint of habenero

Roses’ Hand Milled Castille Herbal Soaps:

• Aloevera…..for relief of wind and sunburn
• Medicinal Soaps…for dry, oily, normal skin types mild to moderate skin inflamations
• Acne Soaps for Teens
• Olive Oil Body Soap…Rosemary, Lavendar-Rose, Mango, Lemongrass, and Rose Petal Scents

Kettle Korn

Leticia’s Fruit Bowls -

Leticia never misses a market with her fabulous fruitbowls! Eat one while you shop and take a couple home!

Perennial Favorites – Specializing in large selection of herb and vegetable plants. –Debbie Cox – dcox2@vtxb.com

Debbie’s tables have got to be the most interesting to check every week!

Rivers End Nursery – Specializing in Exotic Fruits and Farm-fresh Eggs!

Shrimp

shrimp this week!

Yahweh’s Farm and Garden – All natural farm and garden products –dianapg1@sbcglobal.net Diana Padilla 956-412-4916

• We still have a few watermelons left
• cantalope
• green peppers
• okra
• egg plant
• figs
• tatuma sqash

See you at the Market, where good food and good people come together every Saturday morning!

Jack Moffitt , Bayview Veggies,
Your humble correspondent.

The Brownsville Farmers’ Market

Saturdays from 8am – Noon
Linear Park
Harrison St. between E. 6th and E. 7th