Live Entertainment ~ Good Food ~ Produce and Plants ~ Arts & Crafts
We have so much to offer
May 28, 2005 Edition
Memorial Day weekend is the beginning of summer and the end of the school year. Your local farmers are hard at work expending hour upon sweaty hour out in the summer sun fighting pests, heat, weeds, drought and endless personal and mechanical challenges to bring you food that you can trust for a delicious meal. The local foods carry less "food miles" on them, using less petroleum that can never be replaced and emitting less pollution in the air. Choose meats, like pork chops, pastured chickens, bison burgers or beef steaks from hard working ranchers, vegetables and fruits. Also check out the breads, flowers, honey, jellies, salsas and desserts. Come get a bounty of local foods and celebrate this weekend!!!!
The month of May is designated as National Military Appreciation Month.
This very important month honors those Americans who have given their lives in defense of our nation’s freedom and the men and women now serving in uniform. It recognizes those on active duty in all branches of the services, the National Guard and Reserves plus retirees, veterans, and all of their families – well over 80 million Americans and more than 227 years of our nation’s history.
Each Saturday during the month of May, the Information Booth will be a collection point for items needed by the more than 2,000 Kansas Army National Guard personnel who are currently deployed.
Items needed:
Baby wipes, pipe cleaners, Q tips, international phone cards, microwave food items, toothbrushes, toothpaste, Band-Aids, first aid ointments, toilet paper
Listen for the latest market news on the Guy Bower radio show;
The Good Life - Saturday mornings at 9:00 a.m.
KNSS Newsradio 1330
Food, Wine & Fun...for your ears!
Chefs Table at Center Court 8:30
Chef: Jeremy Wade, current champ of the Old Town Farmers’
Market Iron Chef Competition, will be our guest chef for this
Memorial Day Weekend. Jeremy, part owner of the Uptown Bistro
in Old Town, long ago realized the value of locally produced foods.
When developing his menus or weekly specials, Jeremy consults his
local suppliers to determine what seasonal offerings he can prepare
for his restaurant’s guests. Jeremy will be returning to the Chef’s
Table in August to defend his Iron Chef title. What does he love
about the market? “The fact that I can go to the market and get
practically anything that I could get in a large city’s market.”
Kid’s Corner at Center Court 9:30 - 11:30
Musical Performance 10 - Noon on the Porch!
Musical Guest: Kanczyon
This spring marks the fifth year that Larry Hucke and Laurie
Michelle have combined his outstanding guitar lead work
with Laurie’s rhythm and finger picking styles to result in an
entertaining repertoire that includes a very cool blend of
blues, jazz, originals, classic rock hits of the 70’s, folk and
even a little country and bluegrass. They capture the attention
of audiences from a broad range of interests and ages. We
think you’ll agree when you come hear one of the market’s favorites.
Asparagusderived its name from the ancient Greeks, who used the word to refer to all tender shoots picked and savored while very young. Asparagus is a member of the Lily family. Widely cultivated for its tender, succulent, edible shoots, asparagus cultivation began more than 2,000 years ago in the eastern Mediterranean region. Greeks and Romans prized asparagus for its unique flavor, texture and alleged
medicinal qualities. They ate it fresh when in season and dried the vegetable for use in winter. Early American Indians dried asparagus for use later or to make medicine. A wholesome vegetable drink can be made from the cooled cooking water of asparagus as long as it is not salted too heavily.
As early as 200 B.C. the Romans had how-to-grow directions for asparagus. They enjoyed it in season and were the first to preserve it by freezing. In the 1st Century fast chariots and runners took asparagus from the Tiber River area to the snowline of the Alps where it was kept for six months until the Feast of Epicurus. Roman emperors
maintained special asparagus fleets to gather and carry the choicest spears to the empire. In the 16th Century, asparagus gained popularity in France and England. From there, the early colonists brought it to America. Asparagus is often called the “food of Kings.” King Louis XIV of France was so fond of this delicacy that he ordered special greenhouses built so he could enjoy asparagus all year-round! One could say asparagus is truly an international food.
•Small farm operators: Those with less than $250,000 in annual receipts who work and manage their own operations meet this definition (94 percent of all farms).
•Farmers and consumers: Farmers have direct access to markets to supplement farm income. Consumers have access to locally grown, farm-fresh produce and the opportunity to personally interact with the farmer who grows the produce.
•The Community: Many urban communities where fresh, nutritious foods are scarce gain easy access to food. Farmers markets also help to promote nutrition education, wholesome eating habits, and better food preparation, as well as boosting the community’s economy.
Contamination of air and water is greatly reduced when food is sold locally and grown ecologically. When you choose to buy produce from the Old Town Farmers Market, you reduce the amount of toxins that we breathe and drink.
