New Vendors, Compost Drop-Off Begins and Recipe from McGolrick Park Farmers Market

(Sponsored) Dear Greenpointers,

First and foremost, on behalf of Down to Earth Markets, the crew behind your Sunday farmers market at McGolrick Park: Thank you! This market keeps growing and it’s because of your enthusiastic support. Every week, you come out to the corner of Russell Street and Nassau Avenue and buy fresh from the farmers, as well as the makers of breads, pies, popsicles, pickles, tempeh, and charcuterie, locally-roasted nuts and coffees, and more.

This market also features delicious fish and pasture-raised meat and poultry. In the past few weeks, we’ve added three wonderful new vendors: Sohha Yogurt, MoMo Dressings, and Vulto Creamery.

Momo Dressings was founded by newlyweds who have also teamed up to create a line of Japanese-influenced dressings and spreads, including edamame hummus.

Sohha Yogurt makes savory yogurt and sources their milk from Hudson Valley dairies. The company’s founder, Angela Fout, is from Lebanon, and the word Sohha means “health” in Arabic.

Vulto Creamery is the newest addition to the market and he brings much-solicited cheese to your weekly neighborhood market.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Compost drop-off at the farmers market has started! We now collect household compost every Sunday from 11 am-1 pm.

Yet we still need your help to assure this site is a huge success:

We are seeking volunteers to help monitor the drop-off site during weekly open hours, 11am-1pm. If you’d like to volunteer for a quick and easy shift at the composting bin, please tell the market manager. She will connect you with our partner in this project, BIG! Compost.

TOMATO TASTING AT THE MARKET THIS SUNDAY:

And last but not least, August brings in the best of summer: the tomato harvest!

This Sunday, August 25th, from 11 am to 1pm, join us for the Annual Tomato Tasting. Stop by the market manager’s tent and sample bites of all the tomatoes available at the market. (See this photo of heirlooms by Great Road Farm to get tempted…)

Last year during the Tomato Tasting at the McGolrick market, an older gentleman shopper come by to sample. He tried a tomato, relished it, and said, “This is what tomatoes tasted like when I was a boy.” For those of us who grew up on the tomato varieties best groomed for shipping, the taste of a true tomato will be a revelation for us, too.

For a simple way to enjoy this fresh taste, we turn to local food maven, Deborah Madison, and her book Vegetable Literacy. In it, she writes, “Tomatoes’ short and sweet season is a time for heady indulgence. Experience the real thing and going back to anything less becomes unthinkable.” AGREED. To enjoy “the real thing,” we recommend stopping by the market this weekend for the FREE tomato tasting. And to try Deborah Madison’s simple recipe below – enjoy!

A Fresh Tomato Relish

Even with a few tomatoes, you can make a relish to spoon over something when a fresh accent is appreciated. For example, you can spoon this over the ricotta that covers griddled eggplant rounds, over toast, or toss them with spaghetti for a room temperature pasta.

1 large shallot, finely diced
Vinegar, such as a good quality balsamic, aged sherry vinegar, or a Cabernet or Merlot varietal
2 pint various mixed fruit tomatoes, such as Sweet 100s, red and golden currant tomatoes, Sun Golds, pear, Jaune Flamme, black cherries, etc.
Your favorite olive oil
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Cover the diced shallot with a few teaspoons of vinegar to moisten well. Set them aside to mascerate while you cut the tomatoes into halves and quarters. Leave very tiny ones whole.

Add the shallot and its juices; pour enough olive oil to moisten well, then season with a pinch or two of salt and some freshly ground pepper. Gently turn the tomatoes into the oil and vinegar. Taste one for salt. If you’re not planning to use them right away, don’t salt them until the last minute, as the salt will draw out their liquid.

Sponsored Post Courtesy of Down To Earth Markets.