Warm sunshine with sizzling local farm meats on the grill – it was the perfect combo for the official last weekend of summer at the Franklin Farmers Market. Grill Day at the FFM this past Saturday was a delicious way to bid summer goodbye, with a variety of local meats to sample and enjoy from our local meat farmers. The expertise of Chef Michael Martin of Whole Foods made everything extra tasty. Our friends at the Hearth and Grill Shop provided the Big Green Egg and Fire Magic Gas Grill to grill the local farm meats to perfection.
Friends from Whole Foods
Over 50 pounds of grilled meats
Chef Michael
Friends from Hearth & Grill Shop
Veggies on a Fire Magic grill
Grill Day
Everyone loved the tasty samples of beef, lamb, chicken and sausage from Bear Creek Farm, Peaceful Pastures, West Wind Farm, Triple L Ranch, River Cottage Farm and Hatcher Dairy Farm. Again, it was the absolute perfect way to say goodbye to summer and hello to football tailgating season!
Grilled to perfection by Chef Michael
Grilled local beef on a Big Green Egg
Summer veggies still in market
Fall officially starts on Tuesday and there’s been a lot of people asking when the FFM will shut down for the year. The answer is we don’t – the Franklin Farmers Market is a year-round market. Our local farmers keep growing and while the variety of farm grown vegetables changes with the season, you can still enjoy the best of fresh food from local farms all throughout the winter. Plus with the cooler weather of fall, comes a whole lot of fun events and activities. Find out what’s coming up at the Franklin Farmers Market by taking a look at our Events page.
Colorful Peppers from Bloomsbury Farm
Sweet Cherry Tomatoes
Fresh Basil
All of the colorful veggies and smiling faces at the FFM each Saturday make for some great photos. You should see the ones taken during Grill Day! Visit the market’s photo gallery to see what and who we snapped photos of this past Saturday.
The delicious smell of grass fed meats grilling on a Big Green Egg just can’t be beat. It makes your mouth water and the taste buds crave a bite of whatever cut of meat is on the grill. Just ask anyone who was at the market. The Hearth and Grill Shop and Chef Michael Martin of Whole Foods got together and grilled tender cuts of beef, pork, chicken, lamb and sausage.
Hayes & Stephen from Hearth & Grill Shop answered questions about the Big Green Egg and other grills best for grilling
Chef Michael Martin of Whole Foods grilled over 50 pounds of local farm beef, chicken, pork and sausages
Many customers had never sampled the great flavor of local Tennessee farm meats
Market customers kept Chef Michael busy all market day
All of the local farm meats were provided by our meat farmers and free samples were handed out to enjoy. It was irresistible. You could not walk past the Grill Day tent without grabbing one of the grass fed meat samples to munch. Just goes to show that grass fed meats straight from the farm is the best. Our thanks to West Wind Farms, Peaceful Pastures, Triple L Ranch, Bear Creek Farm, River Cottage Farm, Hatcher Family Dairy and Beaverdam Creek Farm for contributing the local farm meats for the market’s Grill Day. Jones Mill Farm provided the fresh baked kaiser buns and sourdough rolls with Moonshadow Farm supplying the Kenny’s Cheddar Cheese.
Great tasting local meats
Grilled beef slider with chopped Jalapeño and Kenny’s Cheddar cheese
A tasty pork loin cooked to perfection!
Certified Organically grown produce from Delvin Farms
What is it about the perfect summer day that makes everyone smile? There was a whole lot of smiling going on at the FFM. After a week of steady rain, the sun finally decided to shine bright and fresh summer veggies were all over the market. Tomatoes and squash, cucumbers, carrots, lettuce, onions and a whole lot more could be found, as well as the first of the blueberries and blackberries of the season. As we’ve said before, some farmers have crops just a little earlier than normal because of hoop house and row covers protecting their plants from cold weather and pests. But to know when your favorites will be ripe and ready at the market, you need to have a good idea of when peak season for their harvest takes place. We were glad to see so many of you stopping at the info booth to pick up a copy of Local Table, with its’ big seasonality chart to reference on harvest times for veggies and fruits.
Fresh Blueberries from Pilgrims Produce
Just picked Blackberries from Beaverdam Creek Farm
Fresh squash and other produce from Paradise Farm
Cucumbers from Napier Farm
All in all, with happy noses and smiling faces, it was a very good day at the market! Be sure to check out our market day photos to see what went on at the Franklin Tennessee farmers market this past Saturday.
Great tasting organic tomatoes from Delvin Farms have arrived!
Farm fresh local produce from Beaverdam Creek Farm
Brighten the table tops with handmade holiday decorations from Bloomin’ Baskets
It’s hard to believe, but Thanksgiving is this Thursday. Where did the year go? We have to say, that 2013 has been a good one for us at the Franklin Farmers Market. Lots of longtime customers and just as many new ones have visited the market this year helping to keep our local farms productive. When the market first began, there were only 8 farms participating. Now over 70 during the course of the year are part of the market and that’s because of you. This Thanksgiving, we give our thanks for your loyal support of local farms.
Even the very cold weather this past Saturday didn’t keep people away from the market. Everyone was picking up goodies for Thanksgiving dinner. You should have seen the crowds at the Peaceful Pastures and West Wind Farms booths, as people lined up to get their turkeys.
Market Customers in line to pick up local Farm Turkey’s
Two CSA’s from Delvin Farms full of Thanksgiving week fresh veggies
Sweet potatoes and pecans were being snatched up, along with butter and cream from Hatcher’s Dairy to use in turkey day desserts.
Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes and Apples from Kirkview Farm
Goat’s cheese and fudge from Noble Springs Dairy
Speaking of turkeys, that wasn’t the only meat being picked up for Thanksgiving. Chickens were flying , so to speak, out of the market. Fresh rolls and breads from Jones Mill Farms were also high on the Thanksgiving shopping list, along with desserts from Norton Family Farms.
Christmas Fruit Cake from Jones Mill Farm
Wonderful Thanksgiving week Pies from Geraldine’s Greatest Pies
Soups, Cranberry Relish and Pizza Dough from Jones Mill Farm
Fresh Baked Cakes from Flying S Farm
Frenched Rib Roast from Bear Creek Farm
Winter Farm Fresh Produce from Beaverdam Creek Farm
The greens that Rocky Glade Farm and Zadock the Natural Farm were very popular too. Overall the market was full of winter veggies to make Thanksgiving dinner top of the class.
Rocky Glade just picked winter produce
Great lettuces from Zadok the Natural Farmer
Greens, Eggs, Potatoes and more from Pilgrims Produce
Butternut Squash and Spaghetti Squash from Evans Produce
By the way, did you get a taste of the Roasted Butternut Squash Soup at the market? It’s a recipe in the market’s “Eating in Season” cookbook and samples were being handed out at the cookbook booth. The “Eating in Season” cookbook is great for your kitchen, but it also makes a great holiday gift. There were people buying cases of the cookbook for stocking stuffers and office gifts this past Saturday.
Something else we are thankful for at the market is the generosity of our customers. Even though the Love Will Keep Us Warm blanket & coat drive doesn’t start until November 30th, several people brought blankets, coats and winter clothing to donate at the market this past Saturday. You can help out those in need stay warm this winter by donating gently-used or new blankets, coats and winter clothing at the market during the charity drive. Just look for the drop-off tent next to the market Info booth at the front of the market. We’ll be collecting the blankets, coats and winter clothing on this upcoming Saturday (November 30th) and on Saturday, December 7th.
What a cute, cute Labor-doodle Puppy!
And finally, this is the last week to tell us whether dogs should stay or go at the market. Many of you want dogs to continue to be allowed at the market, but it seems that just as many want the dogs to be banned from the market because of sanitary and safety issues. What do you think? Send an email to lisa@franklinfarmersmarket.com or stop by the market info booth this upcoming Saturday and let us know what you think.
Thanksgiving gives us the chance to eat ourselves silly, with a big spread of delicious food. So get ready to pig out! Make those yummy holiday recipes with healthy fresh produce, meats and dairy from the Franklin Farmers Market and you’ll feel a little less guilty about stuffing yourself this Thanksgiving.
Triple L Ranch great tasting hen right out of the oven!
Saturday will be a day of Families doing their Thanksgiving shopping
Here’s a handy shopping list of some of the goodies you’ll find from the farmers at the market this Saturday to create the best Thanksgiving dinner ever.
Beets – delicious roasted with honey!
Broccoli – a broccoli casserole hits the spot.
Cabbage – try it grilled or sautéed
Carrots
Cauliflower – pick up some fresh cheese and drizzle over the cauliflower
Celery
Chard
Chives
Greens – lots of winter greens available now
Leeks
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Onions
Potatoes – Got to have mashed potatoes with gravy
Radishes
Shallots
Squash/Pumpkins
Sweet Potatoes – sweet ‘tater casserole is a must!
Turnips
Fresh Herbs and Lettuces from Rocky Glade Farm
Pick up fresh cheese at the market. Moonshadow Farm has delicious varieties of Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese and Noble Springs Dairy has fantastic goat cheese in different flavors. Hatcher Family Dairy Farm has the milk, cream and buttermilk you need for your recipes and the kids would love some Hatcher chocolate milk with Thanksgiving dinner.
Farm Fresh Harvest from Pilgrims Produce
Don’t forget the eggs you need for special Thanksgiving desserts. Moonshadow Farm, River Cottage Farm, Gardners Grove and Triple L Ranch are just a few of the farms with fresh eggs at the market.
Who says you have to eat turkey on Thanksgiving? From chicken to beef or ham, you can find the meat you want at the market. Check out Triple L Ranch, Bear Creek Farm, West Wind Farm, Peaceful Pastures, River Cottage, Gardner Grove and Beaverdam Creek Farm for the cuts of meat you want. Johnson’s Honey Farm and Pilgrim’s Produce have the honey you need to spread on fresh rolls. And if you don’t feel like doing all the baking, you can pick up delicious breads, pastries, cakes and more at the market. Norton Family Farm, Lucy’s Kitchen and Jones Mill Farms have what you need. Jams, jellies and preserves can be found at the market too.
Fresh Baked Breads from Flying S Farm
Jams, Jellies and Preserves from Jones Mill Farm
So go ahead…. Eat it up! Happy Thanksgiving from the Franklin Farmers Market.
Fresh Lettuces and root vegetables from Zadok the Natural Farmer
Wonderful Thanksgiving fresh picked veggies from Paradise Produce
Rocky Glade at your service!
Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes and Honey from Pilgrims Produce
The tantalizing smell of local farm beef, chicken or pork chops sizzling on the grill of a Big Green Egg just can’t be beat. It’s all grilled to perfection, tender and juicy on the inside with a delicious farm meat flavor.
Two Ribeye’s Grilling on the Big Green Egg
Free Range Chickens are great for Smoking on a Big Green Egg
And when you use top-rated meats from local farms, it becomes the ultimate mouthwatering experience.
Local farm Beef Ribeye from the Franklin Farmers Market
Local Farm Grilled Steak from the Franklin Farmers Market
Find out for yourself this Saturday at the Franklin Farmers Market. It’s the Day of the Grill and it’s your chance to sample local farm meats from West Wind Farms, Peaceful Pastures, Bear Creek Farm, Triple L Ranch, River Cottage Farm and Beaverdam Creek Farm.
Bear Creek Pigs
Local Farm Beef
Local Free Range Chicken
Triple L Ranch Cattle
Chef Jeff Lunsford of the Hearth and Grill Shop
Master griller Chef Jeff Lunsford from The Hearth and Grill Shop will use his talents to give you free samples of appetizing local farm meats. “The Franklin Farmers Market supplies top quality meats that are produced from livestock -raised locally under the watchful eye of farmers that care about their animals, their product and the people they sell it to,” said Chef Jeff. This Saturday, enjoy cuts of steak, chicken, pork and lamb. Or take a bite of a “slider” – local ground beef, mixed with chopped jalapeños and grated cheese from Kenny’s Farmhouse Aged Cheddar provided by Moonshadow Farm. It’s served on one of Jones Mill Farm’s famous sourdough rolls.
Jones Mill Farm Sourdough Rolls
Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheddar from Moonshadow Farm
Everything will be grilled to perfection on a Big Green Egg Smoker & Grill from The Hearth and Grill Shop. “As a chef, I insist on the highest quality equipment and the very best local products,” said Chef Jeff. “The Big Green Egg provides me with the best Ceramic – Charcoal grill and smoker rolled into one fabulous grill.”
Vacuum sealed Ribeye’s
Local Farm Beef Ribeye’s
Look for The Hearth and Grill tent at the front of the market this Saturday and treat yourself to free samples of delicious grilled meats from our local meat farmers. Meat lovers, rejoice! It’s the Day of the Grill at the Franklin Farmers Market!
Local Free Range Chicken ready for the Big Green Egg Smoker
Fall is definitely in the air. At the market this past Saturday, it was a bit cool with a light breeze, making it the perfect morning to stroll around with a warm doughnut and a cup of hot coffee from Ellie’s Doughnuts.
Flying S Farm White Chocolate Friendship Bread
Pumplin Rolls sell out fast from Norton Family Farm
Other signs of fall at the market too, like the first appearance of winter squash, more root veggies, apple cider…
…and lots of pumpkins.
A Pumpkin Helper
Cinderella Pumpkins
King Farm Pumpkins Invade the FFM
Small Pumpkins for young visitors
King Farm Flat Bed Trailer Filled with Pumpkins of all colors and sizes
But the thing that tells us that fall is really here is the big question we’re asked every year – When do you close down for winter? The answer is, we don’t. The Franklin Farmers Market goes on year-round. Surprised? You’re not alone. A lot of folks wonder how a farmers market that’s dedicated to food from local farms can be open during the winter. In Tennessee, our winters are a bit milder and that allows farmers to extend their warm weather crops a little longer.
Beautiful Tomatoes still in good supply
Beaverdam Creek Farm Fall Eggplant
Trish holding a CSA from Beaverdam Creek Farm
Bloomsbury Farm Wheat Grass and Beets
And a number of farmers now use “tunnels” which consists of metal frames with plastic stretch over them. The plants are in the garden patch like they normally would be but the protection of the tunnel keeps frost from killing the plants. And finally, there are quite a few vegetables that prefer to grow in cool weather, like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage or carrots and potatoes. The winter season for the Franklin Farmers Market begins in November.
Fall Mums and Custom Baskets from Bloomin’ Baskets
Fresh Jams and Preserves from Jones Mill Farms
Brenda of Moonshadow Farm hosting Kenny of Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese
Pilgrims Produce with their fall produce selection
Meat lovers, rejoice! Next Saturday, October 5th is the Day of the Grill at the market with samples of tender beef, pork, chicken and lamb from our Tennessee meat farms at the market. Enjoy tasty bites of meat from Triple L Ranch, Bear Creek Farm, West Wind Farm, Peaceful Pastures, River Cottage Farm and Beaverdam Creek Farm. Chef Jeff Lunsford will use his talents on the grill to prepare the delicious samples. Chef Jeff is a grill expert extraordinaire from The Hearth and Grill Shop. The Hearth and Grill Shop is locally owned and has been Middle Tennessee’s favorite spot for top-notch grills for over 40 years. This is your chance to enjoy mouthwatering samples of meat grilled to perfection on a Big Green Egg Smoker & Grill, which considered by many to be the best grill ever made. Don’t miss it… next Saturday, the Day of the Grill at the Franklin Farmers Market!
Persimmons bring a smile to Lauren of Bloomsbury Farm
Giant smiling pumpkins and tiny little scarecrows were spotted at the market this past Saturday and they were all pointing to one thing… The Invasion of the Scarecrows is coming soon with lots of fun for the family. How about a kids pumpkin patch, funny face painting and a pumpkin decoration booth? And the best part is it’s free. It’s happening on October 19th – The Invasion of the Scarecrows at the Franklin Farmers Market. Presented by our good friends at Williamson Medical Center.
Visit our Photo Gallery to view pictures from this past Saturday’s Market and all Saturday Markets since May of this year.