March 2011 Archives

Dear Shopper,

Did you know that if you shop at a farmers’ market you are considered a major player in the new “food movement?” Bryan Walsh declared that for all to read in Time magazine Feb. 15. Which, as you can imagine by now, really makes my teeth hurt. Now they’re telling us that if we choose to eat as most people in this world eat and have eaten for centuries — if we eat what comes out of or feeds off of the earth — we are doing something so radical that we are part of a movement! How did that happen?

Of course we know the answer to that, and we have lots of voices including Eric Schlosser, Alice Waters, Michael Pollan and all of those disgusting documentary movies reminding us that we need to change our ways and eat better to save ourselves and our planet. You and I know that, but how did such a sensible notion become a rallying cry for what that Time article described as “progressive change?” How did wanting to be as healthy as possible, to avoid doctor’s offices at minimal cost to ourselves and our society, and to make it easier for others to do that too become a political activity?

I have seen already in our own state that wedge politics are at work here; a theory is being trumpeted that environmentalists are the enemies of farmers. Another theory is that the “food movement” is competing with environmentalism — which would of course lead to a nearly logical conclusion that the food movement is an enemy of the farmer. Mr. Walsh and others are trying to see conflict and politics where none exists, and the politicians are trying to paint all of us into four corners so that we can come out fighting at the drop of a red, ripe tomato.

And all of this kind of discussion ignores the only real point here: It is not that we need to eat organic or vegetarian or sustainable foods, it’s that we just need to eat food. And I am guessing that even in your homes, there are items in your cupboards and your refrigerator that even 30 years ago would not have been called food because they had to be invented before we could eat them. Inventions are not food. It’s as simple as that. And when you take chemicals and create something to eat, you don’t end up with food. You end up with chemicals that look and maybe taste like food, but that doesn’t make them food.

I am just as angry, as most of you probably are, that we can’t seem to get food into our schools or that we have somehow been convinced as a nation that eating at the nearest fast-food joint saves anything. When we eat anything other than food, someone is going to pay. And boy can we see that happening now.

So please enjoy the food in all its variations at the farmers’ market — it may not make you free, but it will keep you healthy. And if that leads you to want to help others do the same thing, it might get you labeled as a progressive, but how can it be anything other than just common sense to promote food for life?

See you at the market!

We’ve welcomed new vendors to some of our markets—Cherry Glen Goat Cheese has joined us at both Oakton and Gainesville. We’ve assigned them a spot next to Loudoun Valley Vineyards so you can get the full benefit of a sampling. And I am sure that our French bakery will contribute a baguette or two. Check out Cherry Glen’s website—read it and drool!

Lothar’s Gourmet Sausages has also joined us at Gainesville. Please welcome him with open arms—he will give you a big hug in return. Lothar and June are such fun and really get “the spirit of the market” that I have worked so hard to promote.

Lothar left a high-level position in another business to return home to Germany to learn his trade the old-fashioned way, and he is now the sausage-meister at Fauquier’s Finest butchering facility, where he makes the sausages that many of our meat vendors sell. On his own time he makes traditional European sausages and cured and marinated meats—and according to my German husband, they are all really authentic and really tasty!

Robert Medina is now at Oakton and Gainesville with herbs, early produce and bedding plants for your own gardens—flowers and veggies. Our very own resident plant expert, Joe Belsan, will also come soon to advise on planting in a tilled garden and in pots and smaller, landscaped areas of your yard. If you can adjust your thinking about what a vegetable garden looks like, he can help you visualize an entirely different animal—or plant as the case may be.

Dear Shoppers,

We are keeping our fingers crossed for two really nice days this weekend not just for us shoppers but for the farmers who are outstanding in their fields, literally, planting everything they can at this time of year. The rain and warmer weather has been great for them, and they are excited about getting another soaking rain this week. And another weekend brings us that much closer to spring veggies in the market! As far as I’m concerned, asparagus can’t come soon enough!

This e-mail goes out to all of our shoppers, including those who normally come to our summer markets, so I am going to let a few cats out of the bag as a teaser of sorts about programming and fun times for the summer. We have already lined up Annie Sidley for four cooking demos on Saturdays at Oakton in April and May: April 9th and 23rd and May 14th and 28th.

The church has located an outdoor electrical outlet for us, so she will set up in the market to shop the market with you and cook some great food that you can make for your own families. Wait till you see what Annie can do with local produce on a cooktop!

Annie will also come to Reston to regale us with her talents and samples the first Wednesday of every month beginning in May and hopefully to Fairfax Corner as part of a partnership with the Fairfax County Partners in Prevention Program for their employees. They want to do walking tours of the market followed by cooking demonstrations with both their staff and ours. The Fairfax Corner dates will be announced later.

We will also host our in-house, award-winning Rodney Richardson Trio at Reston, Fairfax Corner and, this year for the first time, Oakton throughout the season. They have committed to the the third Wednesday of every month at Reston and the first Tuesday at Fairfax Corner. They will also join us for a series of Jazz Brunches at Oakton — more information on those later.

I have just learned that I must wait another week to let the really big cat out of the bag — so all of you will just have to hold your breath or your horses or something while I explode. Never hurts to have something to look forward to but if your curiosity overcomes you, you will just have to come to market to try to wring it out of me in person.

And watch for new vendors coming soon to all of our markets.

See you at the market!