Fresh from the farm produce this week at Ballston Farmers Market

Fresh from the farms this week will be apricots, nectarines, peaches, plums, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, gooseberries, baby artichokes, beets, cabbage, carrots, sweet corn, eggplants, garlic, green beans, salad mix, watermelons, cantaloupe, French melons, vine ripened heirloom and hybrid tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet and hot peppers, , okra, onions, radishes and more! While you are at the market, pick up a bouquet of lilies from LynnVale Studios. In addition to their beauty and spirit-lifting fragrance, these freshly cut lilies can last for a good two weeks – a great value for cut flowers.

Cherry season ends in July

Cherry lovers should hurry up to the market for the last chance of getting some sweet juicy cherries, as cherry season ends in July. Also fresh from the farms this week will be green beans, new potatoes, eggplant, beets, and vine ripened heirloom and hybrid tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet and hot peppers, lettuce mix, summer squash and zucchini, sweet corn, peaches, nectarines, plums, berries and raspberries, cherries, seedless watermelons, cantaloupe, apples and more!

Eat Local Recipe Contest

Got a recipe? Submit to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) the original recipes you used to prepare your favorite locally grown and produced fruits, vegetables, meats, poultry, and dairy products, along with a photo of you and/or your completed dish for a chance to win one of two Virginia Grown/Virginia’s Finest prize packages, one for adults and one for kids up to age 12. Eligible recipes and photos will be posted on the Virginia Grown Website.

The winners will be chosen by random drawing from all eligible recipe/photo entries received by VDACS no later than August 15, 2009. No purchase necessary to win.

Two prize packages of Virginia Grown produce and Virginia’s Finest products, each valued at $100, will be given away.

E-mail your recipes and photos to EatLocalVa@vdacs.virginia.gov or mail them to Eat Local Recipe Contest, VDACS, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond VA 23218. The drawings will be held no later than Friday, August 28, 2009. Read complete details in the accompanying rules here.

Red Apron Butcher Shop Considered "Best of Washington" by The Washingtonian's

First appeared in The Washingtonian's July 2009 Best of Washington issue, Red Apron Butcher Shop was recognized again in the July 6 Best Bites Blog of Washingtonian.com. Chef Nathan Anda's authentic hand cut and house cured meats are considered by the magazine one of the best Farmers Market Finds. Try their famous hot dogs, pastrami and bacon at the Ballston Farmers Market. Read more here.

Market is Open This Friday (July 3rd)

Tyson's Farms and Great Harvest Bread will bring farm fresh fruits and vegetables and artisan baked goods this Friday (July 3) to Ballston Farmers Market. Happy July 4th!

The Color Purple

Do you like purple? You should. At least when it comes to vegetables and fruits, because, believe it or not, they have high nutritional value. Anthocyanins, the pigments responsible for the purple color, are a potent phytonutrient in the flavonoids family that have potential disease-fighting benefits. The Ballston Farmers Market has a great selection of purple-hued items such as purple cabbage, purple cauliflowers, and blueberries (considered one of the most concentrated natural sources of anthocyanins). Soon it will also have purple corn on the cob! Visit us at Welburn Square in downtown Ballston (Arlington, VA) on Fridays from 11:00am-3:00pm.
Source: Farmers’ Markets Today, May/June 2009

Exquisite hand grown chocolate from Fleurir

How can you hand grow chocolate? Turns out Fleurir has a way to do just that and do it beautifully. A new vendor at the Ballston Farmers Market, Fleurir brings exquisite hand crafted confections made with the finest locally sourced ingredients coupled with artisan techniques to produce exciting, refreshing, and contemporary chocolates. It is not just food, it is also art!

Oven-Fried Pork Chops That You Can Easily Make At Home

I found this recipe at http://www.porkchoprecipes.net/ and tried it at home with the grass-fed pork I bought from Buffalo Ridge Farm on the Opening Day of the Ballston Farmers Market. The result is quite successful (as you can tell from the photo). One thing to keep in mind is, due to its lower fat content compared to conventional meat, grass-fed meat should be cooked for less time and at a lower temperature. I have adjusted the original recipe to reflect this healthy feature of all natural grass-fed pork. Try it and you will love it!

Ingredients:
4 trimmed pork chops.
1 medium egg.
1 cup of breadcrumbs.
3 tablespoons of soy sauce.
1 tablespoon of water.
½ teaspoon of garlic powder.
Pinch of ground ginger.

Preparation Instructions:
Beat the egg, soy sauce, water, ginger and garlic powder together in a pie plate.

Sprinkle breadcrumbs on waxed paper.

Dip the pork chops into the egg mixture, then breadcrumbs; coating evenly on each side.

Arrange in single layer on greased jelly roll pan.

Bake at 300°F (175°C) for 25 minutes.

Turn and bake for another 20 minutes until the chops are tender and no longer pink.

Ballston Farmers Market Opening Day This Friday!

Join us this Friday for the Opening Day of the Ballston Farmers Market. Sixteen vendors have signed up for the 2009 market season. Together they will bring seasonal fruits and vegetables, fresh-cut flowers and container herbs, all-natural fresh and cured meats, artisan baked goods, specialty foods including handmade chocolate, sparkling apple cider, apple butter and spreads, apple cider vinegar, and much more! Plus, live music from Noon to 2:00pm.

The preparation for the 2009 Ballston Farmers Market is coming along successfully. We already have a great line-up of vendors offering seasonal fruits and vegetables, fresh-cut flowers, artisan baked-goods and meats, and gourmet treats! View the full list of vendors on the right of the page.

All-time Favorites and New Vendors Bring Choices and Flavor to Ballston Farmers Market

We are excited to announce that over ten vendors have already signed up for the 2009 Ballston Farmers Market. It'll be another great year! The ever-popular Great Harvest Bread Co., Tyson's Farms and Grace's Pastries are returning for the new season. The LMS Farm, Walnut Hill Farm and organic tea producer Teaco will also be joining us again. Barajas Produce, a new vendor, will bring many additional produce choices including lettece, broccoli, spinach, salad mix, mustard green and much more. Bread lovers will find themselves indulge in the artisanal baguettes and pastries served up by Baguette Republic.

New Vendors Join Ballston Farmers Market

We are excited to announce that 2 new vendors have been accepted to the Ballston Farmers Market.

Red Apron Butcher Shop based on Arlington, VA specializes in artisan cured meats including soppressata, bresaola, salami, bacon and beef jerky as well as non-cured items including gourmet hot dogs and pastrami, patis and terrines. A core selection of roughly 10 products will be available at every market in addition to a rotating group of weekly specials!

Tuckey Mountain Grown from Biglerville, PA will supply a wide selection of seasonal fruits and vegetables including apples, apricots, cantaloupes, nectarines, peaches, berries, asparagus, beans, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, corn, eggplant, leeks, peppers, squash, turnip roots and much more! Herbs and cut flowers will also be available.

A big welcome to Red Apron and Tuckey Mountain Grown! Be sure to visit their booths and bring your taste buds!

2009 Farmers Market Rules and Application Form Available

The 2009 Farmers Market Call for Vendors is here! Market Rules and Application Form are available to download at http://www.ballstonvasquare.org/farmersmarket.html. Feel free to call our office at 703.528.3527 for questions. We look forward to another great season!

2009 Farmers Market Starting May 29

The Ballston Farmers Market will be back in Welburn Square in downtown Ballston May 29, 2009. Updated Application and Market Rules will be available soon on our Web site http://www.ballstonvasquare.org/farmersmarket.html. Stay tuned!