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
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
You know it’s going to be a good day when you spy the first of the blueberries at the market. They were the early variety, tasty and juicy. Those blueberries didn’t last long though, but that’s okay.
Deb ringing in the Start of a wonderful Market Day
Lot’s of new visitors and vacationers enjoying the day
The market was full of delicious food last Saturday. Green beans and new potatoes, along with cauliflower, beets and other fresh produce were plentiful. A lot of good farm eggs were snapped up too, along with tender steaks for the grill. Yummy breads, desserts and honey…. It was a food paradise!
Fresh Flowers to Fresh Veggies at the market
Lucy’s Kitchen always has Breakfast Treats ready
First Cucumbers of Summer
Where’s my Olive Oil and Outdoor Grill?
Absolutely Beautiful Potatoes
The new Franklin Farmers Market Recipe Book has wonderful Recipes from our Famers!
We still have Strawberries…but not for long!
Ellie’s Fresh Made Old Fashion Donuts
But sometimes you can’t find the vegetable you really want at the market. A lot of questions were asked Saturday about when would tomatoes show up at market; why weren’t there any watermelons and where was the corn? Georgia and Alabama produce typically is ripe and ready about two weeks before it is in Tennessee. The further south a farm is, the quicker the garden grows. Plus this year, we had a wet and cool spring, so some produce is running a little later than usual. But you need to be familiar with the seasonality of produce and fruit grown in Tennessee. Tomatoes typically are not ripe and plentiful until July. It’s the same thing with corn and watermelons are at their best in July and August too. Next Saturday, stop by the Market Information booth and pick up a free copy of Local Table. It’s a great guide to food and farming in Middle Tennessee, and it also has a big seasonality chart so you can get a better idea of when your favorite veggies and fruits are ripe and at market.
Speaking of tomatoes, nothing says summer like a deliciously ripe tomato. And we’re not talking about those tomatoes that are shipped in from other states or countries. We crave real tomatoes; the locally grown tomatoes. So when those first Middle Tennessee tomatoes are ripe and ready, it’s time to celebrate. And we’re going to do just that with our salute to tomatoes. Don’t miss the Franklin Farmers Market’s TomatoFest, July 27th. Fresh tomatoes are the stars of the show. Enjoy samples of delicious heirloom tomatoes. Watch cooking demos of Chef Steven from Amerigo. Learn seed-saving techniques and take part in the ugly tomato contest. It’s a tomato lover’s heaven… TomatoFest at the Franklin Farmers Market!
Blue skies, beautiful weather and delicious Tennessee Farm fresh food… who could ask for anything more? Yesterday was the perfect day at the Franklin Farmers Market. There were lots of tasty fresh veggies like cabbage, beets and delicious green beans. Cucumbers are coming in season too, plus squash and greens. And even though strawberry season is just about over, it won’t be too much longer before blackberries and blueberries start showing up at the farmers market. It was great to see everyone at our Farmers Market on Saturday! Even some of our Growing Kids Garden students dropped by to say hello.
Onions, Carrots, Cabbages and Beets
Fresh Squash now at the Market
You know how we say it’s good to use one of the other entrances into the market? Here’s proof of why we say that.
Franklin Police directing traffic on Liberty Pike
The traffic on Liberty Pike at the main entrance to the market was backed up and the parking lot in that area was jammed. But folks coming into the market from other entrances had it much easier. So next Saturday, why not try the Franklin Road entrance and use the parking spaces on that side of The Factory. Chances are good that if you use a different entrance into the market, you won’t be delayed in traffic.
And a big thank you to everyone who observed the market’s official opening time. A lot of you early birds like to get to market first to make sure you get the tasty food you want. But the market’s opening time is 8am and we ask that you do not come into the market until it officially begins. The reason why is simple: It’s for your safety. There are farmers and vendors still setting up and moving into market right up to opening time. So shopping begins at 8am. Just listen for the bell signaling that market is open!
Fresh Romaine Lettuce
Norton Farm Cucumbers
Beaverdam Creek Farm Fresh Veggies
Finally here’s a little something that you need to know… There’s a special day coming up soon at the Franklin Farmers Market in Williamson County and you don’t want to miss it! Look for details later this week.
Did you get to see the Hatcher Family on the NBC Today Show yesterday morning? If you missed Al Roker of the Today Show broadcasting from the Hatcher Family Dairy Farm in College Grove, Tennessee, here are a few links to coverage of the show broadcast from the Hatcher Family Dairy. What great weather for a special NBC Today Show segment with Al Roker direct from the Hatcher Family Farm!
Charlie Hatcher told me last week how excited they were that Sharon had entered a contest called “Wake Up With Al” 2 weeks ago. After entering Hatcher Family Dairy online into the “Wake Up With Al” contest Sharon Hatcher received a phone call within a few hours asking them to be available for an interview. From there, Charlie says it all happened so fast. Congrats to the Hatcher Family on representing Middle Tennessee and Tennessee Farmers so well! We are all so proud to have Hatcher Family Dairy as part of the Franklin Farmers Market!
We needed more elbow room. So we’ve moved out of our old website and into a new one. What do you think about it? We’ve still got a few things to take care, like all the stories on the farmers and artisans. And we plan to add a lot more photos too. But it’s a nice, clean website that’s easy to navigate and it has room to grow. Let us know what you think about the new Franklin Farmers Market website. Shoot us an email and tell us what stories and info you’d like to see on the market website!