Text 1763, 78 rader
Skriven 2008-02-02 16:19:00 av JOAN MACDIARMID (1:123/140)
     Kommentar till en text av HAP NEWSOM
Ärende: 'Mater matters
======================
 Hi, Hap,

 ->  -> There are some varieties of tomatoes that can do well (here)
 ->
 ->  HN> I've grown early girl and all the "northwest" specific varieties
 ->  HN> and they don't hold a candle to good 'maters grown in the hot
 ->  HN> areas of the south.
 ->
 -> True. But they are still better than store bought.
 ->
 HN> Ok, I confess to the truth in that statement
 HN> though it's no great accomplishment to be better
 HN> than the bland pap they sell in stores these days!

 OK to cook with, though, and I think I grow my "Early
 Girls" almost more for the fun of it. What impresses
 me is how long these things "keep"! I still have two
 left from my garden, that I harvested green just
 before our first hard frost, probably in late October.
 I kept them in a basket in the kitchen, not near a
 window and not in the fridge, and slowly they ripened
 up and seem to just stand there waiting for me. One
 or two did spoil, but I tossed those quickly (or cut
 out a bad spot and used quickly). I just add these
 to stews like Chicken Paprikas, so they don't have to
 be luscious on thir own, just decent additions to
 the other vegetables. I will probably finish these off
 this week, then have to actually buy tomatoes again.

 I am disappointed that one stand I have used in past
 winters at my Farmers Market (yes, it operates year-
 round) doesn't seem to be coming this winter. For
 some years I had been able to get quart baskets of
 tomatoes (4-5) for $1, way better than the grocery
 prices. I don't know if they buy them wholesale and
 market them for a modest profit or if they run a
 greenhouse. I hope they show up again soon.

 The Farmers Market is limited in winter, but some
 regulars almost always show up. NY is another apple
 state, and apples store very well, so some
 orchards send a truck over with storage apples
 and fresh cider, and sometimes baked goods like pies.
 I find a few also retail stuff they got wholesale,
 also, as the grapefruits I got from Senek Farms
 Orchard certainly were not local! There is a stand
 from a potato farm with really good, fresh potatoes
 at good prices, and local cabbages seem to be
 available through most of the winter. Our local
 Farmers Markets seem to be regionally coordinated
 to ensure a variety of possibilities in all the
 markets, so that there are several in various areas
 of the county, with only one or two non-produce
 specialties in each. We now have only one cheese
 truck, from Tina the Cheese Lady, though there
 used to be two vendors. We have 2 purveyors of
 hand-made and smoked sausages now. Recently we
 got some guys offering coffee beans roasted on
 premises and ground on site. Those things are
 not seasonal, so can be offered through the
 winter by vendors, to customers, both willing to
 freeze their buns off for a great price savings!
 Oh, yeah, buns! There are a few baked goods stalls,
 too, and one at least is Mennonite (I think, they
 do use a truck) offering breads and pies and fresh
 eggs and chickens, and hand-made cheese. I really
 should pay the premium for one of those chickens.
 Glen and I did try one of the cheeses and liked
 it well, but nothing to write about.

 This is how I have fun in the Buffalo area, even in
 winter!

 Joan

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