Monthly Archives: July 2013

TomatoFest Visitors Enjoy Tomatoes, Food, Contests and Tomato Seed Saving

July 29, 2013

The Totally Terrific Tomat-Oh voting table had lots of activity to select this years winners

I now have new favorites!

And the word for the day was Tomato, with a capital T. There were tomatoes everywhere you looked – red tomatoes and yellow ones; striped and purple tomatoes; big and small, heirlooms and traditional favorites. It was all part of TomatoFest at the Franklin Farmers Market this past Saturday.

So many different Tomato varieties for tasting

Not only did the farms have oodles of delicious tomatoes to pick from, but there were also lots of tomato samples to try along with scrumptious bites of Italian tomato-based dishes from Amerigo.

Nothing better than Fresh made Salsa from Amerigo

Plus there was the special TomatoFest salsa, made with fresh tomatoes straight from the Allenbrooke Farm. It was truly a tomato-lover’s heaven at the market.

Amerigo Chefs Paul and Steven

Allenbrooke Farm Tomatoes

Preparation of Tomato Jam

Tomato Samples anyone?

Sharon & Jenny presenting over 15 different Tomato varieties to sample

Besides all of the great tomatoes, everyone got the chance to learn how to save tomato and other vegetable seeds. Saving seeds is important as it allows us to preserve heirloom seeds’ genetic diversity.

So much interest in Tomato Seed Saving

Farmer Zadok Johnson explaining the art of Seed Saving

Seeds are the beginning of our existence, our nourishment and how we grow our vegetables

The Johnson Family answering questions about the tomato and its seeds

Beaverdam Creek Farm wins 1st Place

But maybe the best thing about TomatoFest was the Totally Terrific Tomat-Oh! Contest between the farmers at the market. There was certainly a lot beautiful heirloom varieties entered in the contest, but the best were the ones that showed just how creative our farmers can be. The overall grand prize winner came from Beaverdam Creek Farm. It featured a “pineapple” heirloom tomato with a parrot fashioned out of a real pineapple! Kirkview Farms nailed down second place with a couple of tomatoes enjoying the day on the “beach”… surf’s up, dudes! And third place went to Flying S Farms, with their miniature farm scene, complete with a little harvest bucket filled tiny “spoon” tomatoes!

Kirkview Farms wins 2nd Place

Flying S Farm wins 3rd Place

Our thanks to Amerigo Italian Restaurant for sponsoring TomatoFest and to everyone who came out for a fun and tasty day at the Franklin Farmers Market. Tomatoes rule!

Professor Tomato

RV Tomato Protection

1st Place winner Beaverdam Creek Farm

View pictures of the entire TomatoFest day here

Franklin Farmers Market on Talk of the Town

July 24, 2013

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The Franklin Farmers Market was featured on WTVF Channel 5 Talk of the Town today with Lelan Statom and Meryll Rose honoring this years Franklin Farmers Market TomatoFest.

www.newschannel5.com

Franklin Farmers Market Recipe Book “Eating in Seasons”

Gayle Franks represented the Franklin Farmers Market with a tomato pasta recipe from the farmers market new “Eating in Season” recipe cookbook! Gayle chose to prepare and cook the recipe “Fusilli with Raw Tomato” with host Lelan Statom of WTVF News Channel 5 of Nashville, Tennessee. The tomatoes used in today’s recipe were heirloom tomatoes, bradley tomatoes along with other tomato varieties from our farmers market.

Gayle did a wonderful job representing the Franklin Farmers Market on News Channel 5’s Talk of the Town with Lelan Statom. Lelan asked about this years TomatoFest and Gail shared that visitors will be able to taste many of the different varieties of farm fresh tomatoes Tennessee Farmers grow and bring to our farmers market each Saturday morning.

Gayle Franks and Sharon Burbage selecting Heirloom Tomatoes for Talk of the Town Show

Dottie, Sharon and Gayle selling the Eating in Season market recipe cookbook on market Saturday

We expect a big day celebrating the Tomato used in so many fresh healthy food recipes at this Saturday’s Tomato Festival in Franklin, TN. The Eating in Season recipe cookbook is designed to be used with farm fresh ingredients for family fresh cooking. The new Franklin Farmers Market recipe book Eating in Season will be available for purchase every Saturday during market hours 8am till 1pm.

The Eating in Season Recipe Cookbook can be found at the Franklin Farmers Market each Saturday morning from 8am until 1pm

Hope to see you Saturdays at our Tennessee Farmers Market!

Farmers Market Tomato Festival 2013 is this Saturday!

July 23, 2013

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The Totally Terrific Tomat-OH! Contest

Forget about having four seasons. There are really only two – tomato season and not tomato season. No other vegetable exemplifies summer like a ripe, juicy tomato fresh from the garden. From salads to sauces, tomatoes can be found in almost every meal. The lyrics of the “Homegrown Tomato” song by Guy Clark says it all: “You can eat ‘em with eggs, you can ‘em with gravy, you eat ‘em with beans, pinto or navy.” So it’s only appropriate that we salute summer’s most popular veggie with TomatoFest at the Franklin Farmers Market. On Saturday, July 27^th, we pay homage to the tomato and celebrate its delicious flavor and versatility.

Heirloom Tomatoes

Salad Tomatoes

Seed Saving Demonstration

Presented by Amerigo, TomatoFest features cooking demonstrations with tomatoes from the market’s farmers, samples of both heirloom and a variety of popular tomatoes, a tomato seed–saving class and the ultimate title for tomato greatness with the Totally Terrific Tomat-Oh! contest. With all of their incredible pasta and Italian dishes, the chefs of Amerigo are experts at creating dishes featuring fresh tomatoes.

Delvin Farm Organic Cherry Tomatoes

You’ll have the chance to watch and sample as Chef Stephen from the Cool Springs location of Amerigo prepares Panzanella Salad with heirloom tomatoes and fresh mozzarella; fresh tomato Pomodoro Sauce over pasta and Tomato Jam served on crostini with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.

Multi-colored Heirloom Tomatoes

You can taste the goodness of both heirloom and wide variety of tomato favorites during our taste-test demos too. Or learn more about sustainable agriculture through the seed saving demonstration from Zadock, the Natural Farmer.

Rocky Glade Farm Tomatoes

Pick up delicious tomato-based baked goods at the Franklin Farmers Market during TomatoFest, such as the Tomato Pie from Norton Family Farm. It’s the ultimate in yummy comfort food.

Sweet Cherry Tomatoes from Norton Family Farm

Don’t miss out on the special TomatoFest salsa and chips either, prepared by Amerigo from the fresh ingredients of Allenbrooke Farms. And of course, the farmers at the market have the fresh, truly ripe tomatoes you crave. It’s a tomato-lover’s heaven… TomatoFest at the Franklin Farmers Market!

Jones Mill Farm specializes in Heirloom Tomatoes

Summer Fruits and Vegetables now in Full Supply

July 22, 2013

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Hazy, hot and humid…. Those three words are the best way to describe the month of July. But there’s a payoff for putting up with the muggy weather, because it’s a great time to be at the Franklin Farmers Market. July is the high season for summer vegetables and fruits.

Evans Produce

Bloomsbury Farm

Kirkview Farm Watermelons

This past Saturday, hot weather favorites such as sweet corn were plentiful and more farmers had watermelons ripe and ready at the market. Plus delicious, sweet and juicy cantaloupes could be found too. You could practically get a natural sugar rush because of all of the delicious fruits, like peaches, blueberries and blackberries from our Tennessee farms.

Fresh picked Sliver Queen Corn

Fresh Cantaloupes

Beaverdam Creek Farm delivers first farm fresh corn for 2013

Blue Honey Farms fresh blueberries and syrup

Kirkview Farm Peaches

People were snatching up bags of peaches from Kirkview Farm. They are great peaches, but do you know how to make them even better? Put them in a paper bag, fold down the top of the bag and just let it sit on the counter for a day or so. That helps the peaches to fully ripen and become the juicy sweet treat we all love.

Steamy hot July days make it tough to be outside, but people at the farmers market found delicious ways to cool down, like drinking cold limeade from Miss Lucy’s Kitchen and eating the sweet ice cold gelato from Hatcher Family Dairy.

Future vegetarian?

Ellie’s Doughnuts

Ice Cold Limeade from Lucy’s Kitchen

Hatcher Gelato from Hatcher Family Dairy cows…So creamy and wonderful!

So visiting the Franklin Farmers Market in July is actually a good thing. Maybe we should change those three words describing July from hot, hazy and humid to sweet, delicious and yummy!

Market Flowers

Farm Fresh Peppers

Farm fresh veggies, jams and preserves

Bloomsbury Farm fresh vegetables and herbs

Heirloom Tomatoes

Another busy Saturday at the Franklin Farmers Market…come visit!

Tomato lovers buy up Tennessee Farm Tomatoes Quickly

July 13, 2013

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The FFM’s “Growing Kids” gardening students love tomatoes too!

Tomato lovers, rejoice! It truly is tomato season at the Franklin Farmers market. Old favorites, like Bradleys and Big Boys are plentiful now, along with beautiful heirloom tomatoes and colorful cherry tomatoes too.

The market really is a tomato lover’s heaven. For proof of that, don’t miss our celebration of the tomato… TomatoFest!

Jones Mill Farm Heirloom Tomatoes

Norton Family Farm Cherry Tomatoes, oh so sweet!

J.R. and Judy of Jones Mill Farm putting out more Heirloom Tomatoes

So many nice ripe and juicy farm fresh tomatoes to choose from

Cherry Tomatoes and Blackberries all around the Market

A crisp 62 degrees brought out so many Foodies!

On July 27th, tomatoes rule the roost at the Franklin Farmers Market with chef demos from Amerigo Italian Restaurant, tomato squashing and seed saving, yummy samples and the Totally Terrific Tomat-Oh! contest.

Mark your calendars now. You don’t want to miss it.

The Market was buzzing with the first crop of Tennessee Silver Queen Corn

And while we love our tomatoes dearly, corn was the king of the day this past Saturday as the first crop of Silver Queen corn arrived at the Franklin Farmers Market. It was snatched up so fast, that it was almost as if the farmers were handing out free money. The King Farm and the Gracy Farm sold out quickly and the other farms soon were out of the sweet kernels too. But if you missed out, no problem. There’ll be even more delicious corn next Saturday at the market.

Market customers helped themselves to fresh corn from the back of pickup trucks

All gone, sold out in just 2 hours

And a sweet treat made its’ first appearance at the market too. Pilgrim’s Produce farm has yummy watermelons. The “Yellow Doll” watermelons went fast, but more watermelons will be back at the market next Saturday.

We are blessed to have such wonderful Farmers! Lucy’s Kitchen visiting with Pilgrims Produce

Just picked Organic Apples from Delvin Farms

All in all, it was a great market. Lots of families roaming around, enjoying the fresh air and fresh food. A lot of new residents to Franklin stop by too, paying their first visit to the market. And our farmers enjoyed the day as much as you did. Thanks for your support of the Franklin Farmers Market!

Fresh farm grown Blueberries and Blueberry Syrup made just Friday night before Saturday market

A great year of nice Tennessee weather delivering wonderful CSA’s from Delvin Farms

So many farm fresh veggies to choose from

Another Chef picking up farm fresh cherry tomatoes?

A happy market visitor finding fresh apples and a sunflower

This smile says it all…A great week of farm fresh food ahead

Heavy Rain visits the Farmers Market and Farms across Middle Tennessee

July 8, 2013

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Rain can’t keep away CSA customers

Rain, rain go away, come again some other day. We need rain to help the crops grow. However, what fell last week was a little more than we wanted. But it didn’t stop the farmers from getting out there and picking the best in fresh,Tennessee produce. And it didn’t stop the Franklin Farmers Market or our loyal customers either. Thanks to everyone who visited the market this past Saturday.

The market information booth was rain prepared

Families seemed to enjoy the rainy day

Despite the downpour, quite a crowd came out to get delicious veggies, such as carrots, cabbage and okra. More ripe and juicy tomatoes were at the market too, plus some unripe ones that were perfect for fried green tomato sandwiches.

Okra now in supply

Jones Mill Farm Heirloom tomatoes

Beaverdam Creek Farm and their CSA baskets

Blue Honey Farms Blueberries

Blackberries and blueberries were snatched up, along with yummy sweet peaches. And the first ears of corn were spotted at the market too. By the way, all of you corn lovers, take note: Rumor has it that the King family farm will have delicious Silver Queen corn this upcoming Saturday.

Fresh Blackberries from Kirkview Farm

1st Corn of 2013

Fresh Eggs from our youngest Farmer

And welcome to a new farmer at the Franklin Farmers Market. The fresh eggs that Zach Whitler brought to market went fast this past Saturday. And even though he’s only 11 years old, Zach already has quite the brood of chickens, such as Silkies, Leghorns and Ameraucanas, producing multi-colored eggs that are almost too pretty to eat. If you missed out on Zach’s eggs, don’t worry. He’ll be back at the market this Saturday, along with the sunshine we’ve been missing!

Jones Mill Farm Onions and Heirloom tomatoes

Norton Family Farm cherry tomatoes

This market visitor is so happy she found just what she was looking for!

Franklin Farmers Market Cookbook on Talk of the Town

July 5, 2013

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Sharon Burbage appeared on WTVF Channel 5 Talk of the Town today introducing Nashville to the Franklin Farmers Market new recipe cookbook Eating in Season. Lelan Statom of Channel 5 News helped Sharon prepare the new market cookbook recipe Rosemary Squash. Sharon did a marvelous job as Lelan helped prepare the rosemary squash dish. The farm fresh squash looked great on the television screen with Lelan and Sharon having a great time.

www.newschannel5.com

The cookbook recipes come from vendors, farmers and customers of the Franklin Farmers Market. It took Sharon and Gayle Franks a year to accumulate recipes and determine which ones would be in the new farmers market cookbook.

Franklin Farmers Market Recipe Book “Eating in Seasons”

Dottie, Sharon and Gayle at Saturday Market proudly presenting the new FFM recipe cookbook

You can purchase the new “Eating in Season” recipe cookbook on Saturday’s from 8am till 1pm at the the Franklin Farmers Market. Sharon and Gayle both are usually on hand to answer questions and sometimes have samples of one of the recipes to try. So come out and visit the Farmers of Tennessee and experience the farm fresh food of Tennessee with recipes from local Tennesseans.

FThe new Franklin Farmers Market Recipe Cookbook “Eating in Season” is now available at the market on Saturday’s from 8am till 1pm

Farm Fresh Produce being purchased in Record Numbers

July 1, 2013

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Rocky Glade Tomatoes gone by 10am

And they’re off! When our farmers market opened last Saturday, it was just like the start of a race. Everyone was in a rush to find their favorite veggies and fruits. Farm Fresh Tomatoes were being grabbed in a hurry and blueberries were flying out of the market. Baskets of sweet juicy peaches were also being snatched up, along with beef steaks, ribs, ground beef, pork chops and other naturally raised farm meats for the outdoor grill. We take pride in having the best in fresh, locally grown food at the Franklin Farmers Market. And when produce such as tomatoes first start showing up, they are at the top of the list for everyone to take home.

Kelly’s Blueberries

Jones Mill Onions

Beaverdam Creek Veggies for Foodies

But relax. There’s plenty of good food at our farmers market. And the amount of farm produce and fruits you love increase every week through out the summer. For example, this past Saturday several of the farmers had the first of their tomato crop at the market. And there will be even more tomatoes to choose from this week. It’s the same thing with blueberries and other seasonal favorites. Our farmers grow a lot of food and you’ll always find a great selection at the Franklin Farmers Market.

Fresh Cut Flowers always popular

Jim Vaughn of Rocky Glade Farm

A lot of you stopped by the market information booth this past weekend to find out who had fresh corn or where the watermelons could be found. Remember, the food at the Franklin Farmers Market comes from local farmers, so it’s a little too early for both of those goodies to be ripe and ready in Middle Tennessee. But come by the info booth the next time you’re at the market and pick up a free copy of the Local Table magazine. It’s got a big seasonality chart so you can get a better idea of when your favorite veggies could be showing up at the market.

Delvin Farm Tomatoes

Kelly’s Blackberries

All smiles after visiting the market

We also had a lot of people asking where to find the ATM. There is an ATM near the front of The Factory. But the best things is to plan ahead and bring small bills, like ones, fives and tens to the market. And there are several farmers who now accept credit and debit cards too. So come on out to the Franklin Farmers Market this upcoming Saturday and get all of the food you want for your 4th of July weekend!

Colvin Farms Lettuce

Colvin Farm Lettuce

Beautiful Lettuces from Colvin Farm

A young supporter of Tennessee’s Colvin Farm at the Franklin Farmers Market back lot