Monthly Archives: July 2017

The True Sign of Summer, The Watermelon

Delvin Farms organically grown Crimson Sweet Watermelon

Delvin Farms organically grown Crimson Sweet Watermelon grown in Harpeth river bottom soil

Nothing says summer more than a big, ripe, juicy, deep red watermelon. It doesn’t matter if you’re from the deep south or far north, everyone loves the official “fruit of summer.” My mother was a true watermelon lover. No picnic was complete without watermelon. No summer Sunday dinner was complete, until the watermelon was pulled out of the ice. With one tip of the knife, it’s cold solid mass was popped open to reveal a deep red lusciousness that would soon be running down the chin’s of every child present. The mere presence of watermelon brought on a festive atmosphere.

The choice favorite of the time was the Crimson Sweet, a largely stripped melon which was always in the “picnic family” of melons because of its high-sugar content and great flavor. Spitting seeds at the picnic also added great fun and making memories out of simple pleasures. We organically grow the Crimson Sweet here at Delvin Farms for those same reasons. The Crimson Sweet is an old favorite and thrives in the hot summer days nourished by the cool waters of the Tennessee Harpeth River. The Crimson Sweet is a classic favorite whose tradition we proudly carry on.

Another summer favorite is the sugar baby watermelon. Delvin Farms chooses to grow the La Mar seedless sugar baby. Its round, dark green outside conceals a deep red, crisp inside. Its small size, up to 12 pounds, is the perfect “refrigerator” melon that can be easily accessed and enjoyed when those watermelon cravings hit. Both varieties of melons grow well in home gardens and will fill the bill for luscious melon flavor.

Mama didn’t fancy it up with watermelon salads; the simple fruit was enough for us, but today we take the watermelon into the gourmet spotlight. Here are a couple of ways to prepare the all time favorite watermelon and bring it to the formal dinner table.

Watermelon and Feta Cheese

INGREDIENTS
• 3 cups of small watermelon chunks
• 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/2 cup black olives
• Black pepper to taste (optional)
• Lime juice (optional)
Mix all the ingredients together and enjoy!

Another Version!
Ingredients:
• Per serving:
• 3/4 – 1 cup of cold watermelon, cubed
• 1/4 cup of feta cheese, crumbled or cubed
• 1/4 medium red onion, cut in paper-thin slices
• 1/4 teaspoon of balsamic vinegar or balsamic vinaigrette
Preparation:
Place the watermelon in a bowl, top with most of the onions, then the feta cheese. Place remaining onions on top. Sprinkle with balsamic vinegar, and serve.

 

Franklin Tomato Festival: Farmers, Foodies and Fun

The Franklin Farmers Market held its 7th annual Tomato Festival on Saturday, July 15, hosted by market sponsor, Amerigo Italian Restaurant. Amerigo Chef Steven Robilio delighted us with his delicious caprese salad and free samples made with ingredients from our farmers. Amerigo is a seven year sponsor and hosts the popular Farm Dinner Series each month at their Brentwood and Nashville restaurants with next dates July 24th & 25th in Brentwood.

Chef Steven, Paul and Ali serving up Caprese Salad for a Big Festival Crowd

Rain didn’t keep market customers away and children had fun with games and free face painting. But our local farmers weren’t interested in face painting; they were ready to compete in what has become the bragging right for the year- the best tasting tomato!

Market customers cast ballots and chose the best tasting tomato in a blind taste test and were invited to check out the Franklin Farmers Market website “news” page after the event to see if their favorite tomato won and what farmer grew it. With over fourteen farms at the market with homegrown tomatoes, from heirloom to standard, slicing and cherry tomatoes, it was hard for customers to choose just one!

The contest was divided into two categories: Heirloom Tomatoes and Standard Tomatoes. The term heirloom is given to the variety of tomato seed that is fifty or more years old. Some heirloom varieties are as much as $1 per seed! The term standard is given to hybrid varieties of tomatoes, grown for their commercially attractive characteristics.

“Every year our Tomato Festival grows bigger and we are blown away by the number of tomato entries grown by our local farmers. We are honored to have the largest selection of farmers in middle TN in one location, and proud to be a producers only market. You won’t find a better tasting homegrown tomato than right here in Franklin, grown by the farmers who are here,” says Franklin Farmers Market Event Coordinator, Ryan Palmer.

After hundreds of ballots were cast by our market customers, the decision was made and our winners are:

Best Tasting Heirloom Tomato:
1st Place- Colbert Farm (#27 in the blind taste test)
2nd Place- Beaverdam Creek Farm (#25 in the blind taste test)
3rd Place-Jones Mill Farm (#30 in the blind taste test)

1st Place Best Tasting Heirloom Tomato Winner Colbert Farm

Best Tasting Standard Tomato:
1st Place- Norton Family Farm (#79 in the blind taste test)
2nd Place- Delvin Farms (#76 in the blind taste test)
3rd Place- Bloomsbury Farm (#75 in the blind taste test)

1st Place Best Tasting Standard Tomato Winner Norton Family Farm

The decision was announced with much enthusiasm as market staff presented each winning farm with a ribbon and certificate. Another year of bragging rights for our farmers is in the books.

Festival attendees enjoyed all that our market has to offer- fresh, locally grown produce, locally made artisan goods and local food trucks for breakfast and lunch. Admission to the festival and the market as always was free. Visit this link to view more photos of this years Franklin Tomato Festival! 

Customers lined up to vote this years Best Tasting Tomato Winners! Thank you to all our customers for voting and leaving with local tomatoes from our farmers!

The Franklin Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 8am-1pm behind the Factory in Franklin, TN. The market is a 15 yr old producers only market with the largest assembly of local farmers providing fresh farm food all year long each Saturday morning. Find us at 230 Franklin Road behind the Factory. Visit us online at www.franklinfarmersmarket.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest market news.

Many thanks and appreciation to 7 Year Market Sponsor Amerigo Italian Restaurant. Our Franklin Tomato Festival is not possible without your support each year!

The Franklin Tomato Festival Offers Summer’s Best

The Franklin Farmers Market will host its 7th annual Tomato Festival on Saturday, July 15 beginning at 8am, hosted by market sponsor, Amerigo Italian Restaurant. Farmers will vie for the best tasting tomato in the popular taste test judged by you, the customer and children will have many free activities for fun and entertainment. 

Customers will be in for a real treat with free tomato tasting from our local farmers. Amerigo Chef Steven Robilio will delight us with his famous menu with free samples made from ingredients from our farmers. No one will want to miss the tomato tasting contest. This year our contest will be a blind taste test judged by the customers attending the market between the hours of 8:00am-10:30am. Winners of the contest will be announced at 11am.

Chef Steven Robilio and Amerigo owner Paul Schramkowski, sponsors of the Franklin Farmers Market for seven years.

“The farmers market summer season is in full swing now that the “queen” of the farm has made her way to the market. Everyone waits for the perfect homegrown tomato and that wait is finally over! We are honored to have the largest selection of farmers in middle TN in one location, and proud to be a producers only market. You won’t find a better tasting homegrown tomato than right here in Franklin, grown by the farmers who are here,” says Franklin Farmers Market Event Coordinator, Ryan Palmer.

 

 

 

 

 

It’s a family affair at the Franklin Tomato Festival with free children’s activities, free samples from Amerigo, tomato tastings and locally grown tomatoes from our farmers picked less than 48 hours before the event. You can’t find a better, homegrown event than the Franklin Tomato Festival!

Festival attendees can enjoy all that our market has to offer- fresh, locally grown produce, locally made artisan goods and local food trucks for breakfast and lunch. Admission to the festival and the market is free.

The Franklin Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 8am-1pm behind the Factory in Franklin, TN. The market is a 15 yr old producers only market with the largest assembly of local farmers providing fresh farm food all year long each Saturday morning. Find us at 230 Franklin Road behind the Factory. Visit us online at www.franklinfarmersmarket.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest market news.