Edible Education

Farmers Market merchants teach cooking techniques for their produce

says. If you'd rather cut up your peach or cook with it, you can slice into a peach with a sharp knife and twist off the seed, unless it’s a cling peach. Living up to its name, the cling peach flesh clings to the seed, requiring you to cut the seed out.

Some of Branstool’s serving suggestions for his peaches: pies, peach crisps, jams, jellies or over ice cream.

Also coming into their own in July are tomatoes, says Trish Mumme of Garden Patch Produce. Garden Patch, located in Alexandria, specializes in heirloom vegetables and carries a wide variety of tomatoes, including cherry tomatoes that inspired weeks of repeat business and green zebra tomatoes, which are striped just as their name implies.

“We don’t just sell red tomatoes. People shouldn’t be color prejudiced when it comes to tomatoes,” Mumme says. “Most of our tomatoes are heirloom variety, especially the odd-colored varieties.”

Mumme’s personal favorites are the beefsteak tomatoes, which she uses to top her hamburgers. “It’s not a burger unless you’ve got sweet onion, Batavian lettuce and beefsteak tomatoes. I don’t even eat burgers until they’re ready,” Mumme says with a laugh.

As for storage, Mumme echoes Branstool in advising against storing tomatoes in the fridge. “Never put a tomato in the refrigerator. It loses its flavor. Keep it out and eat it all at once so you don’t have to put it in the refrigerator,” she says.

When slicing tomatoes, cut against the grain with a serrated knife, Mumme says. “Serrated will give you a cleaner cut.”

Garden Patch also sells a lot of fresh basil, and because it pairs so well with tomato, Mumme also includes basil in the tomato recipes she hands out to customers.

If you’re not a tomato fan, perhaps you’d like to experiment with Garden Patch’s potatoes. The farm offers German butterball and Desiree potatoes, neither of which Mumme has ever spotted in an American supermarket. “They’re the best-tasting potatoes in the world,” she says.

Once you’ve cooked up a masterpiece with your fresh fruits and veggies, consider topping it off with some microgreens from Swainway Urban Farm.

Joseph Swain grows his microgreens, which are similar to sprouts, in Clintonville and transports them to market in plastic baggies. “I recommend people keep them cold in the fridge,” Swain says. To extend their shelf life, stick a paper towel inside the bag to absorb excess moisture.

He offers several varieties of greens and each has its own flavor profile. For example, sunflower shoots are delicate and mild, and kale is fresh and vibrant.

“They’re pretty universal,” Swain says. “They go awesome on sandwiches and tacos. They’re a fantastic salad ingredient.”

His final suggestion: Use them as a colorful and tasty topper for meat dishes or bowls of soup.

“They melt right in,” Swain says.

Lisa Aurand is editor of Healthy New Albany Magazine. Feedback welcome at laurand@pubgroupltd.com.

New Albany Farmers Market

The New Albany Farmers Market held its inagural season in 2011 and has quickly earned a reputation for topnotch merchants, fresh produce and a buzzing atmosphere.

The 2012 market, held in New Albany’s Market Square, runs Thursdays from 4-7 p.m. June 28-Sept. 13, increased to 12 weeks from 10 based on popular demand.

It will also be a bigger market. This year, organizers are expecting 65 merchants – almost twice as many as last year. About 35 merchants are returning, with the rest selected from a lengthy waiting list.

In addition to the traditional fare of fresh produce, the market will also feature cheese, iced tea, fresh herbs, herbal soaps, granola, vinegars and herbal infused oils, herbal teas, glutenfree baked goods, raw food snacks, pasta, alpaca wool, and gourmet ice cream.

Live music and food trucks will also be on hand so visitors can make an evening of their trip to the market. Market Street businesses stay open late during the market and many have Market Day specials.

All overstock is donated weekly to the local food pantry, Village Coalition Against Hunger.

Market organizers would like to remind patrons to please bring their own bags, as well as cash since few merchants accept credit cards.

The market is kid-friendly. Live music can be heard at the McCoy Center music tent, so bring a blanket and enjoy the atmosphere.

By Stephan Reed