This Week at Smart Markets Oakton Farmers' Market

This Week at Our Oakton Market
Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Hosted by Unity of Fairfax Church
2854 Hunter Mill Rd.
Oakton, VA 22124
Map

I have missed seeing you the last few weeks; I have been opening a new market in Springfield and then took a little vacation to the beach last week. One more week at Springfield and Diane and I will restart our weekly rotation. Please let all my little friends know I have missed seeing them.

I have also missed seeing the vendors and all the good stuff they are bringing to market now. Heritage Farm had to break out the big tent this week at our Reston market. They have so much produce now that I cannot remember it all, but in addition to meats and dairy they are bringing all kinds of greens and lettuces, green beans, shelled peas, garlic scapes, new potatoes, and Mrs. Martin’s Mint Tea mix, which actually brews up a minty tisane that is very refreshing. I also want to remind you that they are bringing fresh half-chickens, and we will have some grilling ideas for them at the Smart Markets tent. They are easy to grill and a good way to enjoy both the white and dark meat in the summertime.

Ignacio and Tyson’s are dueling it out to see who can bring more new items. Max Tyson now has loads of strawberries just as Ignacio has run out, and Max may be bringing cherries again this week along with broccoli and cauliflower. Ignacio is bringing summer squash, beautiful kohlrabi and fennel, and fresh squash blossoms. Wait till you see the recipe we have for those at the Smart Markets tent!

Nyall of Celtic Pasties will be out of town next weekend, so stock up this weekend. He will have Beef & Guinness, Cottage Pie Style, Greek Chicken, Mango Chicken, Colcannon, Cheese & Onion, and All Day Breakfast.

And weather permitting, Joe Belsan will give a short but informative class in organic gardening for children. It will start at 11 a.m. Just bring the kids and he will provide everything else, including a plant that they can take home with them.

Enjoy the produce and check out the new recipes we have this week for putting it to good use.

See you at the market!

From the Market Master

My family spent a lovely week at Wrightsville Beach, N.C., last week, where we enjoyed six days of perfect weather and great food. Yes, even in the remote reaches of the Eastern seaboard, there is good food to be enjoyed at a variety of restaurants and people at the grassiest of grass roots who are supporting farmers and promoting locally sourced meats and produce. In fact, if you subscribe to Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution newsletter, you know how widely this movement has spread, not just across the country but around the world.

Big Food is continuing to foist unhealthy processed foods upon us with no regard for science or our good health, all because they can and because no governmental agency is authorized to stop them — though The Washington Post reports that the Food and Drug Administration is getting “jittery.”

There has also been positive movement on the Farm Bill. In a state such as Virginia with few major corporate farms but lots of small, family-owned farms, our representatives in Congress do not get a lot of calls, emails, or petitions about the issues being addressed in the Farm Bill. They need to hear from us because they won’t hear from small farmers.The average size of a Virginia farm is around 40 acres, and these farmers are not organized, nor do they have the time or inclination to participate in a process that they see as deaf to their interests.

It was once suggested to me that I organize Virginia farmers just to raise and protect their own interests in the General Assembly. And it is an intriguing idea, except that I connect that concept to the idea of herding cats. But we can help, and you can learn more if you are interested. Here is a Post article with more information.

In other news, read this article about myths and truths regarding antioxidants. It is a good analysis of what these do in and for your body and a good prescription for what you should be eating to take best advantage of antioxidants in nature. When you see all of the good things arriving at the market over the next few weeks, you will know why I encourage you to read this now. It’s always a good time to learn something new about what real food contributes to your real health, but now is the best time to practice what you learn and what I preach.

There is a lot to learn and a lot going on. Who knew what shopping at a farmers’ market could mean for you, your family, and the world?