MATT'S AMAZING SMOKEHOUSE

Corporate Attorney turned Fish Smoking entrepreneur; Matt of Matt's Amazing Smoke House is truly a genius when it comes to smoking fish.

Matt and his brother Ben (co-owners of Matt's Amazing Smoke House) opened for business this past June; only 5 months ago! The idea came to the two brothers on a trip back to their home state of Michigan where the brothers gave their parents a smoker and a vacuum sealer. That night the family made smoked fish with some Salmon they bought from Costco and a simple brine; they were so surprised by how easy it was to make and well the dish turned out that Ben, who had previous experience with start-ups, suggested they go into business together. The rest is history.

Matt uses only the freshest and best ingredients for his products including Wild Alaskan Coho Salmon, Faroe Islands Salmon, locally caught Blue Fish, and spices grown in his back yard. The facility is an FDA approved converted Lama barn just 550 square feet across. All of Matt's fish is cooked using a process called hot smoking where the fish is thickly cut, brined for a short period of time, then thrown in the smoker for 2-3 hours. The results are a delicious and moist piece of fish with none of the fishy flavor you sometimes find in other commercially smoked fish from the grocery store. Matt also strives to separate his product from others by using original ingredients in his brine which you don't find in his competitor's products.

Matt's Amazing Smokehouse is the only fish we've found locally that compares to the smoked fish at farmers markets on the West Coast! Come on over to the Davis Square Farmers Market, or one of the other three markets Matt sells his products at weekly, and take a taste of one of his three varieties (Taryaki Smoked, Cajun Smoked, or Coho).

Are you already a fan of Matt's Amazing Smokehouse? Please share your opinion in the comment section below!   

    

SPECIAL EVENTS COMING UP AT THE FARMERS MARKETS

Are you interested in learning more about energy efficient cars and the changing world of health care? Then keep reading and make sure you pay one of the following farmers markets a visit on these dates!

Ford C-Max Energi:

Newton Farmers Market (Today!! Tuesday 10/15) and Davis Square Farmers Market (Wednesday 10/16)

    

This unique event is designed to help you learn about the many benefits of the Ford Plug-In Hybrid and their Electric Vehicle lineup; determine whether or not a hybrid or electric vehicle could fit your needs! 

You'll have the opportunity to test drive the Ford C-Max Energi or Fusion Energi vehicles against their top market competitor. A Ford Product Specialist will also be available to answer your questions about the benefits of a plug-in hybrid vehicle.

Everyone who attends the farmers markets and drives will be able to enter for a chance to win a 2 year lease on a C-Max Energi! Visit www.FordPowerUp.com to learn more. If you'd like to join the conversation on social media, simply search the hashtag #FordPowerUp or visit one of our pages.

So come enjoy one of these beautiful farmers markets, buy some fresh produce, and test drive a Ford C-Max Energi while your there!

 

CeltiCare Health:  

Central Farmers Market (Monday 10/21) and Davis Farmers Market (Wednesday 10/23)

CeltiCare Health Plan of Massachusetts, Inc. helps Massachusetts residents achieve better physical and mental health.  They offer quality health insurance at affordable prices including Commonwealth Care Plans, Commonwealth Choice, and CeltiCare Direct.

Founded in 2009, Boston-based CeltiCare offers a new form of local managed care that is tailored to both the needs of Massachusetts' progressive healthcare system and the needs of the local community. Celticare also partners with other healthcare organizations to provide specialty services including behavioral health, disease management, managed vision, nurse triage, dental benefits, pharmacy benefit management, and health coaching.

They will be at our farmers markets on Monday and Wednesday to provide answers to your most pressing questions about your health care! Learn about healthy fall eating habits, the Affordable Care Act, and much more.

APPLES ARE RIPE FOR THE PICKIN'!

The air is getting crisp... fall boots are coming out of the closet... and the time is ripe to visit your favorite farmers market and bring home a peck of fresh-picked apples!

We are so lucky to have an abundance in apple varieties here in Massachusetts. Buy your favorite or explore new varieties! There are plenty of them out there.

Take a gander at our list below for best uses or, even better, ask your farmer!

McIntosh: This two-toned succulent apple is great for eating fresh or cooking up into applesauce and apple pies or crisps as it breaks down easily. Try 'em in the Falmouth Farmers Market's recipe for Oven-Roasted Apple Sauce! 

Empire: A relatively new variety, whose flavor is sweeter than McIntosh and more tart than Red Delicious. The complex flavors make it a culinary hit.

Cortland: Is a great all-purpose apple. Moderately juicy and fairly sweet compared to McIntosh, it browns slowly once cut, making it one of the best choices for use in salads and sandwiches where you want to have a nice presentation. Perfect for the Bowdoin Geneva Farmers Market's Apple and Spinach Salad with Grated Beets recipe! It is also delicious in pies, sauces, and cider.

Granny Smith: For a more tart option, look no further than Granny Smith, this green apple is great for baking and eating fresh.  Looking for a good recipe? Check out the Belmont Farmers Market's recipe for Apple Cranberry Crisp.

Golden Delicious: Yellow in color and keeps well; good for use in desserts, salads and cider.

Pink Lady: Crisp, tart, and honey-sweet; this variety is ready later in the season around mid-October and great for eating fresh, cooking, and baking. Bake 'em up into this Apple Pie, recipe courtesy of the Hampden Farmers Market.

Fuji: Another late season variety, Fuji is a great fresh-eating apple that keeps well for months in the refrigerator!

Some Vendors to pay a visit: Nicewicz Family Farm, Kimball Fruit Farm, Dick's Market Garden, Cook's Farm Orchard (for some delicious apple pies), Foppema's Farm, Hamilton Orchards (for amazing apples and appley baked goods),  and MacArthur Farm
 

Pick up some of your favorite apples this week at your nearest farmers market and let us know how you decide to use them in the comments. Fresh eating? Pie making? Applesauce? We want to know!

MASS FARMERS MARKETS' 5TH ANNUAL URBAN BARN DANCE

Join Us This Weekend for the 5th Annual Urban Barn Dance!

Live Music by The Lonely Heartstrings Band

Culinary creations from two of Boston's award winning chefs, Chef/Owner team of Asta Alex Crabb and Shish Parsigian and Chef/Owner of Bondir Jason Bond

Produce donated by your favorite local farmers

Mouth watering desserts donated by Danish Pastry House and Cider Doughnuts from Hamilton Orchards

Adult Beverages donated by Sam Adams Brewery and Smuttynose Brewing Company

All wrapped up into a beautiful Sunday afternoon on the Charles River.

 You don't want to miss our 5th Annual Urban Barn Dance taking place this Sunday, October 6th 2-6PM at Community Rowing, Inc. in Brighton. Kick off the harvest season by celebrating Massachusetts' farms and farmers markets; come enjoy a breathtaking space, good company and delicious food as we celebrate the harvest season and support our local farmers and farmers markets.

Individual tickets are $75/person, food and drinks included with ticket.

Get Your Tickets Today!  

Become a sponsor and enjoy the VIP reception Cruise 1:00-2:00PM!

Sponsor the Urban Barn Dance and join MFM for a special VIP Charles River Cruise reception before the event with fellow sponsors, MFM's Board of Directors, and some of Massachusetts' most renowned restauranteurs and farmers.

Learn more about Sponsorship levels and benefits here 

Proceeds raised from the 5th Annual Urban Barn Dance support the continued work of Mass Farmers Markets to partner with farmers, consumers, and communities to foster, enhance, and sustain local farmers markets.

  

HELP US BRING FRESH LOCAL FOOD TO THE BIG E!

The Big E opens this Friday 9/13 and runs through 9/29 and is New England's oldest and largest agricultural fair. Activities include agricultural competitions and exhibits, entertainment, The Big E Circus, food from around New England, and much more!




It is also Mass Farmers Markets' biggest fundraiser - raising over $13,000 each year. For 2013 we have a goal to raise $20,000 - help us reach our goal by becoming a volunteer for one or two shifts!

Each day there are two 6 hour shifts available, 9:00AM-3:00PM or 3:00PM-9:00PM. Each shift volunteered is an in-kind donation of $75. If 100% of shifts are volunteered, Mass Farmers Markets will raise an extra $8,000! By volunteering, you are helping Mass Farmers Markets continue to ensure farmers markets in your community are robust and sustainable, enhancing your community!

*Currently we need help for the 9AM-3PM shift on Friday 9/20 and the 3PM-9PM shift on Sunday 9/29. There are more shifts available, these are the most important for us to fill at the moment.

To say thank you for volunteering for Mass Farmers Markets you will receive free parking and admittance to The Big E!

To become a volunteer or for more information, please email Alison Dagger, Outreach and Volunteer Manager alison@massfarmersmarkets.org or call 781.893.8222

All of us at Mass Farmers Markets appreciate the tremendous support we receive from farmers, vendors, market managers, and market shoppers throughout the year. See you at the market!

Join Mass Farmers Markets' Board of Directors and staff as we sell healthy, locally grown products in the Massachusetts State Building on The Avenue of States at The Big E! We can't wait to see you there!

CELEBRATE YOUR FARMER FOR LABOR DAY!

For many of us, Labor Day means little more than the end of summer and a day off from school or work. This year, take some time to appreciate the true meaning – a celebration of one of the biggest ethical achievements in America with the success of the original labor movement at the end of the 19th century.

This year, we want to celebrate some of America’s hardest workers – our farmers, especially those who maintain small family farms and sell their bounty at farmers markets throughout the state. These people work incredibly long and difficult days to ensure you have the best produce, meat, dairy and eggs to feed your families. Who better to celebrate this Labor Day?

The team at Mass Farmers Markets made picnic meals of our favorite farmers market fruits and vegetables. Sweet corn grilled on the cob, a fresh salad made with tomatoes and cucumbers, and colorful bell peppers and carrots that we dipped in hummus! You can throw in some of your favorite locally made cheese too.

What did you make to eat this Labor Day? Let us know in the comments!

FRUIT OR VEGETABLE?

When it’s time for dinner and the stress and chaos of the day sinks in, it’s all too easy to boil a big pot of pasta and pour some ready-made tomato sauce on top.

 

This is completely acceptable, especially if you’re using pasta from Valicenti Organico and sprinkling some fresh cheese from Narragansett Creamery, however there is a time and place for everything and the time for canned or jarred tomatoes is not when you can get fresh, local, juicy tomatoes in abundance. Right now, there are too many delicious options to choose from! Pay a visit to your closest farmers market.

Slice up some heirloom tomatoes from one of the many farms carrying them in abundance at the moment and drizzle them with olive oil, salt and pepper for an easy snack... or try one of these simple recipes from local bloggers and make the most of summer’s sweetest fruit that you didn’t realize was a fruit!

Looking for something simple and portable? Pick up some cherry tomatoes, fresh burrata from Fiore Di Nonno and a Hi-Rise Bread Company baguette for a picnic friendly afternoon snack – perfect with a bottle of wine from Turtle Creek or Westport Rivers. Get the recipe for Roasted Tomatoes with Burrata and Pesto from A Thought for Food.

Or highlight your cherry tomatoes and Crystal Brook Farm Goat Cheese in these adorable Tomato and Goat Cheese Wonton Cups from Fork it Over Boston!

Another great dinner party appetizer which is colorful, fresh, and delicious are these Tomato Salsa Crostinis from Tiny Urban Kitchen making the most out of your medium sized tomatoes.

Pick up some bacon, free-range chicken from Copicut, corn and grape/cherry tomatoes from your local farmers market and mix up this hearty blend of summer flavors. This Creamy Chicken with Corn, Tomatoes and Bacon is from Katie at the Kitchen Door.

Enjoy another summer favorite by picking up some fresh fish from C&C Lobster Co. or get creative with smoked fish from Matt's Amazing Smokehouse to serve atop fried heirloom tomatoes and avocado. Get the recipe for Crab Salad with Fried Tomato and Avocado from A Boston Food Diary.

 

Make the most of this year's tomato season! We promise you won't be sorry.

BAKING SEASON IS BACK! TRY MAKING A PIE

Scan your favorite market.... What do you see?

Lots of stone fruits (peaches, plums, apricots), berries (blueberries, raspberries, currants, etc.), and apples! It's the perfect time of the year to think about heating your stove back up and to begin baking! The weather has finally cooled down this week and pies, tarts, and galettes can go a long way in impressing your friends at a dinner party or making the most of your summer time produce. The differences among them are subtle and the possibilities are virtually endless.

A pie is a very American dessert and close to our hearts, often times made in a special pie dish handed down through the generations. We think of pie as a great kind of comfort food, flexible for sweet or savory dishes. You can make pies using any number of fruit fillings (perfect for using up those berries and peaches from the pick your own expedition you took last weekend), savory fillings, or by using heartier fillings such as pumpkin, banana cream, or nut around Thanksgiving. Tarts, on the other hand, are very European and can be made in a multitude of shapes and sizes; often featuring whole or sliced fruit over a creamy custard base. Galettes are free-form versions of pies or tarts that are made flat on a cookie sheet with the crust folded over the edges to contain the filling. Whatever your desire, they offer the perfect opportunity to highlight your farmers market finds!

Mix up your own flavors and ideas or try any of the recipes below, inspired by Massachusetts' local farmers markets and sourced from local bloggers! 

  

Peach Cherry Pie

Even though cherries are already out of season at the farmers markets, you can Mix up some fresh peaches from Kimball's Fruit Farm, Foppema's, or Nicewicz Family Farm and make a classic sweet pie Peach Cherry Pie with Crumb Topping from Beantown Baker.

Savory Farmers Market Tart

Pick up some heirloom tomatoes, zucchini, onions, and arugula from any number of the local farmers right now. Then, make the most of your savory vegetables with this Farmers Market Tart from Once Upon a Small Boston Kitchen.

Vanilla Plum Galette

Buy a pint of adorable plums at Nicewicz Family Farm or Dick's Market Garden and try this very easy and delicious Vanilla Plum Galette from Young Idealistic Baker.

Feeling a little lazy or don't have enough confidence in your baking skills? No worries! There is an option for that too. Pick up a pie from Cook's Farm at the Copley Square Farmers Market Tuesdays or Fridays! They have a variety of delicious pies to choose from. 

WELCOME GRASS ROOTS FARM!

Mass Farmers Markets welcomes Grass Roots Farm, our brand new grass fed beef and pork vendor, to the Central Square Farmers Market this season! Tom and Kristen, the husband and wife team at Grass Roots, cherish the lives of their animals and strive to give them a happy life before they go to slaughter.

At Grass Roots Farm, the animals roam and graze freely. Cows graze first, eating tops off the blades of grass, followed by chickens who graze on the remaining shorter grass and larva. This process helps fertilize their land. The pigs often graze on land that was formerly cornfields because they help tear up the ground, which helps bring back the topsoil. This is a natural cycle in which everyone enjoys new space and nutrients daily, keeping the land in top shape for seasons to come.

Tom and Kristen started their careers in the corporate world, but felt unfulfilled by this lifestyle and eventually turned to renovating multi-family homes instead. Neither thought they would one day be co-owners of a farm in New Braintree!  

As with many new parents, their lives completely changed when their first babies were born. Already heavily influenced by authors Michael Pollan and Joel Salatin as well as the movie Food Inc., Tom and Kristen decided to put the well being of their children first seeking organic alternatives and growing their own food. Eventually, they came across a farm for sale, too enticing to pass up. This farm, now Grass Roots, started out as an old building lacking heat and foundation with 212 acres of land that was used to grow corn by a neighboring farmer.

Tom and Kristen got to work fixing up the old farm house (built in 1742) and left their old home and lifestyle behind with two toddlers and a third baby on the way. They took back the land, bought 3 calves from a dairy farmer for $20 each, and started teaching themselves a new way of life in which they survived on their own food and nourishment. Now, Tom and Kristen sell their meat three times a week at our Copley Square and Central Square Farmers Markets. 

Life on the farm isn’t something to go into lightly, and the 12-hour market days tend to be the easiest on Tom and Kristen. Their children (now 8, 10 and 12) love farm life and often help take care of the chickens, piglets, and bunnies. 

Both Tom and Kristen agree on the importance of shopping at farmers markets. “It used to be that farming was a way of life," Kristen says. "Now, people are so removed from where things come from and take it for granted, people don’t understand everything has its season.”

Tom adds, “People complain so much about how things are, but spend money at Walmart and buy gas at BP. Their money is a vote and I don’t think they realize that. It doesn’t have to be us or this market, but just Farmers Markets in general. Go to the market, meet the farmer, look at his hands, see what he does.”

Last Monday, Tom and Kristen celebrated their 18^th wedding anniversary at the Central Square Farmers Market, which was exactly where they wanted to be!

Visit their website to learn more and come to the CentralSquare Farmers Market on Mondays, or visit the Copley Square Farmers Market Tuesdays and Fridays.

Live closer to New Braintree? Stop by the farm Thursdays or Saturdays with advanced notice. 

Beat The Heat with Mass Farmers Markets

Belmont Farmers Market shoppers enjoying their fresh popsicles!

Record temperatures...Heat warnings throughout Boston and much of Massachusetts... IT'S HOT.

 

Last week represented the longest stretch of heat since the 80s! Temperatures held steady in the 90s every day and it felt far worse in Boston and areas set away from the coast.

When it’s this hot outside, how do you deal with it? 

 

Ice cream, Frozen yogurt, Popsicles.... anything from a freezer sounds like a good plan to us!

Despite the high temperatures, Massachusetts Farmers Markets have held strong. Everyday vendors bring their fresh produce and homemade products to markets so that you can still enjoy the spoils. Now more than ever, take the time to visit your favorite market or vendor to thank them for their dedication. Then buy some fresh fruit, because we have just the thing for you...

Homemade Popsicles!

You can make popsicles quickly and easily with just a few items and even fewer steps. All you’ll need is fresh fruit of your choice (Raspberries,blueberries or peaches are in abundance at the markets for the next few weeks!), sugar, optional lemon juice, and molds of some sort (you don’t need fancy molds either, small cups and popsicle sticks will yield perfect single serving fresh fruit popsicles). 

 It's Super Easy to Make Your Own Popsicles: 

1. Prep your fruit: If you’re using fresh berries, just wash and remove any stems. Stone fruits, remove the pit and consider removing the skin too if you want to ensure a very smooth consistency. For any kind of melon, remove the seeds. 
2. Fill a blender with all of your fruit and blend until smooth.
3. Add about a tablespoon or two of sugar to sweeten and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to enhance the flavor, then blend again.
4. Fill your molds with the fruit mixture and freeze until frozen solid. Note: If you’re using small cups with popsicle sticks, freeze for about 45-60 minutes to allow the fruit to begin to set before placing a popsicle stick in the middle.

 

Who's selling Fruits at MFM's Farmers Markets This Month?

• Dick's Market Garden: peaches, raspberries, and blueberries
• Farmer Al: blueberries (both pints and humungous buckets full)
• Kimball Fruit Farm: raspberries and stone fruits
• Hamilton Orchard: blackberries, blueberries, stone fruits, pears, and apples
• Cook's Farm: blueberries, currants, gooseberries, peaches, and raspberries
• Foppema: apples, apricots, currants, gooseberries, stone fruits, raspberries
• Hanson Farm: blueberries, melons, peaches, raspberries
• Nicewicz Family Farm: apples, stone fruits, blueberries
• Bug Hill: currants and raspberries

 

What’s your favorite kind of popsicle? Let us know in the comments!

BLUEBERRIES 10 WAYS

What's hot at the farmers market?

This week, it's blueberries! These sweet berries are packed with antioxidants, delicious, and readily available at the market closest to you. Grab a pint (or 5) the next time you go and come up with a creative way to use them. Or, try one of our suggestions below!

10 ways to prepare your blueberries

1. Make a smoothie. Blend up one plane yogurt, milk, blueberries and bananas for a healthy and flavorful breakfast or snack.
2. Bake a pie. Summer and pie go together like macaroni and cheese — the second makes the first so much tastier! Try a classic blueberry pie with a sweet crumble topping or mix in some stone fruit or cherries from Kimball's Farm for a twist.
3. Top a pizza. Surprise your friends with a sweeter than average pizza pie. Skip the tomato sauce base and top the pie with a creamy soft cheese from Crystal Brook Farm, fresh berries and basil from your garden for a fresh farmers market feel.
4. Toss in a salad. Get some farmers market fresh lettuce from Dick's Market Garden and toss it with grilled fish from C&C Lobster, toasted nuts from Fastachi, a lemon poppy seed dressing and of course, fresh blueberries.
5. Make muffins: Blueberry muffins are a tried and true breakfast favorite! Spice up a traditional recipe with some fresh lemon zest or chia seeds. 
6. Get in the jam. Making your own preserves or jam is a great way to utilize an abundance of berries and it's easier than you'd think. Since most recipes make very large batches, share with friends and freeze a few jars of jam for those dreary winter months.
7. Pour some syrup! It's even easier to make than preserves, blueberry syrup can be in a single pot with just blueberries, water and sugar. When you've made a bottle, pour it over pancakes, sweet breads, cakes, really anything you want!
8. Pancake it up. Wake up to some blueberry pancakes. Mix some flour-coated blueberries into your favorite pancake batter and fire up the griddle. Top with blueberry syrup and more fresh blueberries. 
9. Scream for Ice Cream. Blueberries and cream? White chocolate and blueberry? Blueberry Lemon? Get creative and add fresh berries to any ice cream recipe, or if you don't want to take the time to make your own ice cream, toss fresh berries on top of your favorite local scoop. 
10. Quench your thirst. Blueberry lemonade is delicious! The sweet berries mellow out the tart lemon in a healthier and less overwhelming manner than granulated sugar. Buy some fresh lemonade and blueberries from Hanson's Farm, mix 'em together and enjoy!

Farmers currently selling Blueberries at Central, Copley, and Davis Square Farmers Markets:

•  Dick's Market Garden
• Kimball Fruit Farm
• Farmer Al
• Bug Hill Farm
• Hanson's Farm
• Cook's Farm Orchard
• Foppema's Farm 
• Hamilton Orchards
• MacArthur Farm

You can find the markets these vendors attend and all the farmers markets around the state on our website.

What are your favorite uses for blueberries? Let us know in the comments! Looking forward to seeing you at the market this weekend.

Welcome to the Blog!

The farmers market can mean different things to different people; some, enjoy picking up the fresh crop of vegetables in their farmer specific CSA shares, for others it’s the fresh fruit for pie making and preserves, and still for more it’s about the locally made sweets and breads that just taste better than store bought. For Mass Farmers Markets, the farmers market season symbolizes new growth and opportunity.

As our summer season moves into full swing, we are excited to see new and veteran faces.  Currently you can find a bounty of locally produced goodies including fresh raspberries, snap peas, fennel, salad greens, baked goods, jams and jellies, wine, as well as the sweetest strawberries. This delicious and versatile fruit is the focus of our Annual Strawberry Dessert Festival going on right now through July 7^th!

If you haven’t visited a participating restaurant yet, now is your chance! Only 3 days left so act fast. Check out our list of participating restaurants AND their sweet strawberry desserts. A portion of the proceeds of each of these menu items goes toward Mass Farmers Markets to help us help support the local communities.

Make a weekly date at your local farmers market, as most are already in full swing! Visit our website, enter your zip code in our Market Finder to find information about the market closest to you. For member farmers markets you can even see the vendors and their products (just look for the little tractor).

Subscribe to our blog to stay up to date with all the exciting things going on!