September 6th: Ginger-Apple Pie, Anyone?

Hello Friends,

All the most up-to-date info on next week's Pie Contest is available here. We can't wait! If you haven't been stocking up on delicious fruit all summer (I know some of you have a freezer full already), this week's market is your chance to find apples, peaches, and berries for that perfect pie. And don't forget that honey from Red Barn Honey and maple syrup from Justamere Tree Farm will sweeten up those pies just beautifully.

THIS WEEK we welcome The Farewells for a great set between 3:30 & 5:30.

There will also be wooden bowls from Spencer Peterman, mead and other elixirs from Green River Ambrosia, delicious prepared food from Karma, and all your other usual finds.

Crabapple Farm has RADICCHIO and other varieties of chicory including a very cool green that looks like a giant cigar. If you did not know that radicchio was in the chicory family, you're not alone. It was news to me as well. Rob will be happy to fill you in, including great advice on how to best prepare the different varieties.

Old Friends Farm's ginger is back! I'll say more about Missy, Casey, & Philip's New England-grown ginger in a couple weeks, but for now the most important thing to do is go find some at their stand (ginger-apple pie, anyone?)

Here's some sad news:  Green Meadows Farm – located in the Northampton Meadows – got almost totally washed out by last week's storm and will be closing up shop early this season. Bill's a neighbor of mine – I've watched him work his ass off all season long – so to see all his planning and money and labor sog down into nothing is a hard sight. I wish him speed with his clean-up, a relaxing winter, and I look forward to seeing him back here next year.

Here's a Times article about the effects of the flooding on the farmers markets in New York.

Soon I'll tell you all about our success this year with the FoodStampsX2 program, including the fact that we've helped to double the value of at least 40 customer's SNAP benefits at every market throughout the whole season! This has made a huge difference to many families struggling with food insecurity in these most challenging economic times. The Pie Contest is our last fundraiser of the season to benefit FoodStampsX2, but you don't have to wait until next week's contest to donate. All you need to do is click here.

We'll see you at market!

These apples from Apex Orchard are just hankering to be in your pie –