Month: October 2018

Join us for our annual Vendor Halloween Costume Contest on Saturday, October 27!

We hope you and your families are looking forward to Halloween! Our vendors are ready and excited to participate in our annual costume contest. Every year we host this contest as a fundraiser for our Double Bucks program, which matches SNAP/EBT transactions up to $10. You can purchase tickets to vote for your favorite vendor(s) at our Info Table. Tickets are $1 each or you can buy a bundle of 8 tickets for $5. It’s the perfect way to show your support for our vendors while also benefiting Double Bucks, which is one of our market’s most important programs. We encourage you and your kiddos to come dressed in your favorite Halloween outfits, too! And be sure to save your leftover Halloween candy for our annual trade-in event with Bull City Fit on Saturday, November 3. Your kids will be able to swap handfuls of candy for a gift certificate to the farmers’ market.

This Saturday we’ll also have special bouquets of marigolds for everyone celebrating Dia de los Muertos. Martha and Mario at Meadow Lane Farm planted special flowers for this celebration and are excited to share them with you. Why are marigolds used on this holiday? The vibrant colors and strong scent help guide the spirits to the altars set-up by families. What better way to honor your ancestors than with locally grown flowers?

Please mark your calendars for Saturday, November 10 when we’ll host our first annual Silent Auction to raise funds for some of your favorite market programs, including the Sprouts Kid’s Club, Double Bucks, and more. We’re collecting auction items right now and, trust us, there are some incredible items up for bid. Save the date and come prepared to complete your holiday shopping while also supporting the market that you love.

Finally, as a reminder, below is our market schedule:

  • The Wednesday Market is closed for the season. Thank you for your support!
  • Saturday Main Season Market runs through November 17 from 8:00 am-12:00 pm.
  • Pre-Thanksgiving Holiday Market will be held on Tuesday, November 20 from 3:00-5:00 pm. The Saturday Market will be closed on November 24.
  • Saturday Winter Market begins on December 1 from 10:00 am-12:00 pm.

Want to learn more?

Read the rest of the October 26, 2018 newsletter or sign up to receive the next newsletter in your inbox.

Celebrate Fall produce at the market on Saturday, October 20!

Fall colors are popping up at the market and we’re all enjoying the transition to different produce. Peppers and eggplant are hanging on, but we know their days are limited as cooler night temperatures become more frequent. As the days get shorter, our bodies will start seeking the nourishment of root veggies and deep greens. Check out our blog post for a reflection on this transition and a recipe for Curried Butternut Squash Soup.

Also, we’re excited for two upcoming events at the market! Next Saturday, October 27, we’ll host our annual Vendor Halloween Costume Contest. We encourage you and your kiddos to come dressed in your favorite Halloween outfits, too! And on November 10, we’re hosting our first annual Silent Auction to raise funds for some of your favorite market programs, including the Sprouts Kid’s Club, Double Bucks, and more. Save the date and come prepared to complete your holiday shopping while also supporting the market that you love.

Finally, as a reminder, below is our market schedule:

  • The Wednesday Market is closed for the season. Thank you for your support!
  • Saturday Main Season Market runs through November 17 from 8:00 am-12:00 pm.
  • Pre-Thanksgiving Holiday Market will be held on Tuesday, November 20 from 3:00-5:00 pm. The Saturday Market will be closed on November 24.
  • Saturday Winter Market begins on December 1 from 10:00 am-12:00 pm.

PS – If you visit the State Fair this weekend, don’t forget to look for our vendors. Several won ribbons for their delicious products and we couldn’t be happier for them!

Want to learn more?

Read the rest of the October 19, 2018 newsletter or sign up to receive the next newsletter in your inbox.

Cooking with Fall produce at the farmers’ market!

Fall is an amazing time of the year – the weather cools and the leaves transition to beautiful deep reds, yellows, and oranges. The colors of the vegetables at the market undergo the same color transition. Deep orange sweet potatoes and beautiful red beets fill the market tables.

Our bodies need different nutrients throughout the year, such as water dense watermelons and cucumbers during the summer versus antioxidant rich beet greens and radishes in the fall. Fall vegetables are nature’s way of providing our body with power to fight the flu and colds that travel around during colder months.

Turmeric and ginger are also powerhouses in aiding our ability to stay healthy. Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory that has powerful medicinal properties. Ginger is also a powerful anti-inflammatory, high in antioxidants which also relieves muscle pain and nausea. Ginger can be added to so many tasty recipes, both sweet and savory. Both fresh turmeric and fresh ginger are easily added to so many recipes.

Here are a few (actually almost 50!) ways to add fresh turmeric into your cooking. To combine the benefits of both turmeric and ginger, try an amazing mug of Golden Milk.

And did you know that ginger and turmeric are both grown by Durham Farmers’ Market vendors and can be found now at the market?

Here is my new favorite butternut squash soup. It is so simple to make and while it is perfect as is, there are so many options of items that can be added, such as ginger, turmeric, goat cheese on top, crispy kale….

Curried Butternut Squash Soup

Creamy Curried Butternut Squash Soup infused with coconut milk and yellow curry powder. A savory, simple soup that’s perfect for the fall and winter months.

Author: Minimalist Baker

Ingredients

  • 1Tbsp coconut or grape seed oil
  • 2 medium shallots (thinly diced)
  • 2cloves garlic, minced (2 cloves yield ~1 Tbsp or 6 g)
  • 6 cups chopped butternut squash (1 small butternut squash yields ~6 cups)
  • 1 pinch each sea salt + black pepper (plus more to taste)
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp curry powder
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 14-ounce can light coconut milk
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • 2-3 Tbsp maple syrup
  • 1-2 tsp chili garlic paste (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat a large pot over medium heat.
  2. Once hot, add oil, shallots, and garlic. Sauté for 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
  3. Add butternut squash and season with a pinch each salt and pepper, curry powder, and ground cinnamon. Stir to coat. Then cover and cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Add coconut milk, vegetable broth, maple syrup or coconut sugar, and chili garlic paste (optional – for heat).
  5. Bring to a low boil over medium heat and then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until butternut squash is fork tender.
  6. Use an immersion blender, or transfer soup to a blender, and purée on high until creamy and smooth. If using a blender, return soup back to pot.
  7. Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more curry powder, salt, or sweetener as needed. Continue cooking for a few more minutes over medium heat.
  8. Serve as is or with garnishes of choice (options above). Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or in the freezer up to 1 month. Best when fresh.

Join us for our Silent Auction on Saturday, November 10

We’re excited to host our first Silent Auction and raffle on November 10! We have AMAZING items from the best local businesses that would make perfect holiday gifts (or just something special for you!).

For the raffle portion of our event, we have gift certificates from some of our favorite local restaurants, including Motorco, Pompieri Pizza, Bull City Burger & Brewery, Heirloom Restaurant (Roxboro) and more. The chefs at those restaurants shop at the market and use as many local products on their menus as possible. Our raffle will also include gifts from our very own farmers’ market vendors! There will be beautiful crafts and gift certificates for cheese, chips and salsa, and even a jar of strawberry jam that won first place at the 2018 State Fair! Raffle tickets will be $1 each or 7 tickets for $5.

The Silent Auction portion of our fundraiser will be held on Saturday, November 10 and begins at 8:00 am on the lawn. There are some incredible items to bid on that will make thoughtful holiday gifts for your loved ones! Below is a list of the items available and the closing times for bidding.

Table Closing at 9:00 am

Table Closing at 10:00 am

Table Closing at 11:00 am

You’ll also be able to pickup your favorite DFM merch at the event, in addition to gift certificates to the market. And don’t forget to ask us about our Friend of the Market Program. We’d love to chat with you about it!

Why are we having a silent auction? You may not know that the market operates primarily off of the weekly stall fees from our farmers and artisans. Despite this modest budget, we are constantly working to make fresh and healthy food accessible to our entire Durham community. We want to continue expanding the offerings of our market and need your help to make this happen. All of the money raised from this event will go toward market programs you love, such as the Sprouts Kid’s Club, the Double Bucks Program, cooking demos, and much, much more!

We hope you’ll join us on November 10 and complete your holiday shopping at the market! Until then, check out photos of a few of the auction items below.

 

 

Join us for a Hurricane Florence service project on Saturday, October 13 at 10 am

This has been a whirlwind of a week and our thoughts are with all of the families affected by Hurricane Michael across the southeast. Mother Nature sure has given us a crazy Fall season so far. The transition to cooler days is welcomed by everyone, especially our farmers. You’ll start seeing new produce appear on their tables, including a variety of greens, root veggies and much more. Be sure to enjoy peppers and eggplant before they’re gone for the season (although we hope the first frost is still a ways off).

Tomorrow we’re excited to join Durham County 4-H and NC WARN as we come together to assemble flood buckets and hygiene kits for our NC family affected by Hurricane Florence. The supplies will be taken to Wilmington, Lumberton and other areas in the Eastern part of our state. Cooperative Extension centers in those areas will distribute the supplies to families who are recovering from the storm. We will provide the 5 gallon buckets and Ziploc bags. We need YOU to provide the following NEW items in their original packaging to help fill our buckets:

  • Travel sized toiletries, including toothbrush/toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, shaving cream/razors, combs and washcloths
  • Scouring pads, scrub brushes and all-purpose sponges
  • Dish detergent
  • Household cleaners
  • 33 galloon trash bags
  • Heavy-duty gloves
  • Dust masks
  • Eyeglass protectors
  • Terry towels

Please bring your donations to the Info Table and join the teenagers from NC Warn and 4-H in assembling the buckets. Thank you in advance for your generosity!

If you’re looking for a fun family event next Tuesday, October 16, join us for Neighbors Feeding Neighbors 2018! This annual event is sponsored by the Durham CROP Hunger Walk and Durham Congregations in Action. The event raises money to help people in poverty through local and global relief programs by having the Durham community come together for an enjoyable meal on World Hunger Day. The Durham Farmers’ Market receives support for our Double Bucks program through this event so be sure to join us. Double Bucks matches SNAP/EBT transactions at the market up to $10, ensuring that community members have increased access to fresh, local food. For more information, check out this link.

Also, please mark your calendars for two exciting events! On October 27, we’ll host our annual Vendor Halloween Costume Contest. And on November 10, we’re hosting our first annual Silent Auction to raise funds for some of your favorite market programs, including the Sprouts Kid’s Club, Double Bucks, and more. Save the date and come prepared to complete your holiday shopping while also supporting the market that you love.

Finally, as a reminder, below is our market schedule:

  • The Wednesday Market is closed for the season. Thank you for your support!
  • Saturday Main Season Market runs through November 17 from 8:00 am-12:00 pm.
  • Pre-Thanksgiving Holiday Market will be held on Tuesday, November 20 from 3:00-5:00 pm. The Saturday Market will be closed on November 24.
  • Saturday Winter Market begins on December 1 from 10:00 am-12:00 pm.

Want to learn more?

Read the rest of the October 12, 2018 newsletter or sign up to receive the next newsletter in your inbox.

Join us for the Final Wellness Wednesday of the Season!

Happy Wednesday Market Community! Today marks the final Wednesday market of the 2018 season! Our Wednesday market started strong with juicy, bright strawberries and is ending with the signs of Fall bringing butternut squash and tasty kale. During the summer we invited out Master Gardeners and spent time with our youngest shoppers during Sprouts Kid’s Club! This really has been an amazing season and we are so grateful to our fantastic customers!

We look forward to seeing you today to celebrate the end of the Wednesday market season!

Want to learn more?

Read the rest of the October 10, 2018 newsletter or sign up to receive the next newsletter in your inbox.

Kickoff a beautiful Fall weekend at the farmers’ market on Saturday, October 6!

We hope you all kick-off a beautiful Fall weekend with a visit to the farmers’ market with your families! We have several exciting upcoming events so be sure to market your calendars for the following:

  • Service Project with NC Warn and the Durham County 4-H Club on October 13
  • Vendor Halloween Costume Contest on October 27
  • Our First Annual Silent Auction on November 10. Trust us, this is an event that you don’t want to miss!

And don’t forget to check out Strong Arm Baking, our new Guest Vendor who will be joining us on Saturday mornings.

On October 13, join Durham County 4-H and NC WARN as we come together to assemble flood buckets and hygiene kits for our NC family affected by Hurricane Florence. The supplies will be taken to Wilmington, Lumberton and other areas in the Eastern part of our state. Cooperative Extension centers in those areas will distribute the supplies to families who are recovering from the storm. We will provide the 5 gallon buckets and Ziploc bags. We need YOU to provide the following NEW items in their original packaging to help fill our buckets:

  • Travel sized toiletries, including toothbrush/toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, shaving cream/razors, combs and washcloths
  • Scouring pads, scrub brushes and all-purpose sponges
  • Dish detergent
  • Household cleaners
  • 33 galloon trash bags
  • Heavy-duty gloves
  • Dust masks
  • Eyeglass protectors
  • Terry towels

Donations can be dropped off prior to October 13 at the Durham County Co-operative Extension Office, which is located at 721 Foster Street in downtown Durham. Or you can bring your donations to the Info Table at the market any time. Thank you for your generosity!

Finally, as a reminder, below is our market schedule:

  • Wednesday Market ends on October 10. Don’t miss your last chance to pick up your mid-week groceries!
  • Saturday Main Season Market runs through November 17 from 8:00 am-12:00 pm.
  • Pre-Thanksgiving Holiday Market will be held on Tuesday, November 20 from 3:00-5:00 pm. The Saturday Market will be closed on November 24.
  • Saturday Winter Market begins on December 1 from 10:00 am-12:00 pm.

Want to learn more?

Read the rest of the October 6, 2018 newsletter or sign up to receive the next newsletter in your inbox.

Hurricane Florence Donation Drive with NC WARN and Durham County 4-H

On October 13, join Durham County 4-H, NC WARN and the Durham Farmers’ Market as we come together to assemble flood buckets and hygiene kits for our NC family affected by Hurricane Florence. The supplies will be taken to Wilmington, Lumberton and other areas in the Eastern part of our state. Cooperative Extension centers in those areas will distribute the supplies to families who are recovering from the storm. We will provide the 5 gallon buckets and Ziploc bags. We need YOU to provide the following NEW items in their original packaging to help fill our buckets:

  • Travel sized toiletries, including toothbrush/toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, shaving cream/razors, combs, and washcloths
  • Scouring pads, scrub brushes and all-purpose sponges
  • Dish detergent
  • Household cleaners
  • 33 galloon trash bags
  • Heavy-duty gloves
  • Dust masks
  • Eyeglass protectors
  • Terry towels

Donations can be dropped off prior to October 13 at the Durham County Co-operative Extension Office, which is located at 721 Foster Street in downtown Durham. Or you can bring your donations to the Info Table at the Durham Farmers’ Market.  For more information, checkout our Facebook event.

Thank you for your generosity!

Wellness Wednesday Fall Grocery Time

The weather is finally starting to cool and show signs of the changing season!

This year, we will be hosting a Silent Auction on Saturday, November 10 during the entire market from 8 am – noon. We will have fabulous local gifts making the Silent Auction a great way to kick off any holiday shopping you may have to get done. Our Silent Auction will benefit our children’s programming and Double Bucks food program.

We look forward to seeing you at market today and don’t forget to ask your favorite farmers for Fall recipes and cooking tips!

Want to learn more?

Read the rest of the October 3, 2018 newsletter or sign up to receive the next newsletter in your inbox.