Peak Melon Season and a New Vendor

 Not only is it peak melon season, the variety of mouth watering produce available at this time of the year is amazing! Every Sunday I go to the market and dream of all of the things that I'll make out of the wonderful fresh food in front of me, even if I sometimes overestimate how much time I'll have to do so. I snap some pictures this week, you won't believe how beautiful the cucumbers and tomatoes are!

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Help us welcome our new vendor, Carrington Farm. From their flyer:

Locallyg Grown and Veteran Owned

From our farm to your table

Our mission is to bring you fresh, high-quality, locally raised beef and pork. We have partnered with local family farms to provide our customers with the highest quality natural beef and pork. This quality is achieved by focusing on the humane and ethical treatment of the animals and through sustainable farming practices.

Our beef is grass-fed and grain-fed mashed using a unique blend of corn and other small grains. This blend results in a bold flavor and the highest quality tenderness and marbling.

Our pork is fed all natural corn and small grain silage.

There are no additives are growth hormones used in our beef or pork at any time. The quality of our meat reflects these practices and commitment in every bite!

Visit their website for more information, Carrington Farm.

Watermelons are in!

They're late this year because of the cool spring, but they're in and they're wonderful! Sadly I forgot to take pictures, but the bounty this time of year is a beautiful thing too behold. You can pre-order at https://www.francoproducefamily.com.

2020 Market Starts Tomorrow

I'm so excited about the market starting tomorrow!  I can't wait for fresh produce and I'm excited about getting some new plants as well, especially flowers to brighten up my deck.  Our wonderful vendor, Ochoa Produce, has passed the market to the owner's daughter's family, although Hilo will still be there on Sundays helping out.

I was afraid it wouldn't happen because of the COVID-19 restrictions but I've been working with Franco Produce and I think we have a plan in place that will keep everyone safe and not risk violating the requirements put in place by VDACS.  Please look for signs indicating the new rules and if you have one, please wear a mask.  Even if it's just a bandanna it will help stop the spread of infection.

As a result of the changes, Franco Produce is offering pre-orders!  Please see their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/FranceProduceFamily to learn how you can order your produce ahead of time.  There's also a designated area where you can pick up your pre-order without leaving your vehicle, please look for signs.  It's especially helpful if you print your name on a sheet of paper and hold it up so that your order can be brought to your car.

Please note there can only be ten people gathered in the market area to stay within the guidelines, so please wait in your car until the last customer finishes shopping and we ask that family groups be less than five people.   I really appreciate everyone being willing to follow the necessary rules so that our market doesn't get closed down!

I also have great news, we're going to have a new vendor next week!  Mountain Meadow Farms will be joining us with bath products, bread, beef, and pork for sale.  Watch here for more information, I'm looking forward to trying Mountain Meadow Farm's products.

It's been five years?!

Clearly my forte isn't keeping up with blogs!  The market is still going strong and I can't want for the season to start, the last month or two are torture as I wait for the 16 mile drive to discover what delicious produce Ochoa Produce has this spring.  I look forward to it immensely and will do my best to offer recipes that I prepare with the delectable things I bring home, and I may even buy a couple of plants for my little raised bed garden.  Last year I bought some flower plants for pots on my deck as well and they grew wonderfully!

A New Season Approaches

I don't know about you, but I can't wait for the market to begin this year!  The thought of delicious spring greens and peas makes my mouth water.  This year Ochoa Produce is returning and a new vendor will be joining us.  New to market gardening, I hope everyone will make Two Good Acres feel welcome.

The market will begin the first Sunday in May and will run 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., like last year.  I look forward to seeing everyone there for another great year! :D

Melon Season!

It's my husband's favorite time of year, melon season!  This week we got my favorite, orange watermelons, not to mention delicious little French cantalopes that are perfect for lunch; I just pop one into my lunch bag with a spoon.  There's plenty to choose from at the market at this time of year and Ochoa Produce offers fresh, flavorful varieties of watermelons, cantaloupes, casaba melons, tomatoes (many sizes and colors), squash (from zucchini to patty pan), cucumbers (salad, pickling, green and yellow), beans (many varieties), onions, greens, herbs... and I'm sure I've missed some things! 

Check back next week for pictures of Hilo's wonderful bounty.  I hope you're enjoying your summer.

Flowers, Onions, Salad, Greens and Herbs

I didn't realize how much I'd missed Ochoa Produce until I pulled up and saw the beautiful array of flowers in pots and flats and spied my very favorite onions on the table!  I bought a bag of mixed salad greens and two heads of red-leaf lettuce as well.  Unfortunately I forgot my camera, but I'll be sure to bring it along next week so you can see the early bounty.

It's been a cold, late spring that's even got the trees blooming a couple of weeks late, so look for an increasing variety of produce as the plants catch up.

The Market Begins This Sunday

After a cold, wet spring, the Eastern Orange Farmer's Market will begin for the season this Sunday, May 4th.  I can't wait to see what fresh delights are in store!

Spring has sprung!

I don't know about you, but I can't wait for the beginning of Farmer's Market season!  Ochoa Produce will be returning this year and I look forward to seeing what spring treats and seedlings they have to offer.  I'm looking forward to seeing everyone.

Another Wonderful Year

Thank you for helping us to have another wonderful year at the Eastern Orange Farmer's Market.  I hope you'll join us next year.  If you're interested in becoming a vendor please don't hesitate to contact easternorangefarmersmarket@gmail.com.

Have a wonderful fall!