Tag Archives: tomatoes

Fresh Food at Farmers Market Every Saturday

September 29, 2014

Every Saturday before the Franklin Farmers Market opens, there’s always a crowd gathered at the entrance into the market, waiting eagerly to get in and grab all of their fresh food favorites.

Sweet Cherry Tomatoes from Norton Family Farms

Certified Organic produce from Delvin Farms

Sweet peppers from Colvin Family Farm

Welcome back Rocky Glade Farm!

Music City Strings

But this past Saturday, people were not in such a hurry to get into the market because of the sweet sound of violins playing. The Music City Strings students were performing at the entrance to the market, playing such favorites as the Tennessee Waltz and Rocky Top. This special group of musicians range in age from pre-school to high school and they’ve played for audiences all over Middle Tennessee. The Music City Strings have now been invited to join a 2015 concert tour in Europe to represent the culture and music of Tennessee. If you missed their performance this past Saturday, mark your calendar for October 25th when they’ll be back at the market. Good food and good music at the Franklin Farmers Market – It’s the perfect combination for a great day.

Beautiful Music fills the market on Saturday

A special group of young people playing violins

It’s always colorful at the FFM, because of the large amount of fresh, local produce. Bright red tomatoes, yellow squash, green peppers, broccoli – the wide variety of vegetables makes for a big rainbow of color.

Red Tomatoes from Evans Produce

Sweet Peppers from Bloomsbury Farm

Fresh picked broccoli from Rocky Glade Farm

Fresh spinach and kale from Kirkview Farm

Butternut Squash from Delvin Farms

Locally grown squash from See Sun and May Lo Fresh Produce

But now, with the beautiful purples, yellows and burgundies of mums along the varying shades of delicious apples, the colors at the market have changed.

Beautiful fall mums now in market

Fresh Apples from Rainbow Hill Farm

Finding a special Pumpkin

There are gourds with green stripes and star-shaped squash with polka dots. Orange pumpkins can be found all over too. But it’s not just orange pumpkins. Some are white and some are green. There are pumpkins that look downright warty and others that have stripes. There are pumpkins that you can hold in the palm of your hand and a few that probably weigh more than you do. And with those all of those pumpkins, we know that scarecrows are just around the corner. Lots of scarecrows. Every October, the Invasion of the Scarecrows happens and this year’s invasion takes place on October 18th. It’s a fun day for the kids, with a special pumpkin patch and the Perfect Pumpkin Painting booth. There’s tricks and treats and funny Halloween face-painting too and the best part is, it’s all free for the kids. As always, there’s plenty of delicious fresh food from your favorite farmers at the market too. And from big and tall to short and small, there are scarecrows are everywhere. The Invasion of the Scarecrows takes place October 18th!

Fall colors all over market

Any size or color pumpkins now in market

Best Tennessee pumpkin crop in years

Barnwood Pumpkin Patch sign from Tom the Furniture Guy

Who and what did the market paparazzi catch on camera this past Saturday at the market? Find out with a look at the FFM photo gallery!

Peak Season for Local Farm Food

July 14, 2014

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Hot market, but oh-so-cool local farm food. It’s the peak season for the best of summer veggies and that made it worth the while to brave the nasty heat last Saturday and come out to the market. The FFM looked like a foodie’s dream come true – tomatoes of all varieties, sweet corn on the cob, bell peppers, onions, potatoes, okra, blueberries, blackberries, carrots, green beans, peaches – you name it and it was there. The very best in fresh food straight from Tennessee farms.

Squash and tomatoes from Allenbrook Farm

New arrival of Tennessee Corn from Kirkview Farm

Farm Fresh produce from Colbert Farm

Fresh picked squash and zucchini from Sturbridge Farm

Beautiful Okra from Colbert Farm

Fresh picked Blueberries from Blue Honey Farm

Sweet peaches from Kirkview Farm

Bountiful CSA’s from Delvin Farms

Fresh farm produce from Beaverdam Creek Farm

Peas and lima’s from Kirkview Farm

Even though it was a hot, sweltering kind of day last Saturday, everyone seemed to be handling the heat with no problem. Lots of smiles and lots of people at the FFM, so naturally we had to take some photos. Did we catch you smiling? Take a look at the market’s big photo gallery and find out!

Loving a farm Sunflower

Found the perfect 2 tomatoes I like!

Hank resupplying organic potatoes

Karen’s wonderful tasting Tomato Pie from Norton Family Farm

Tomatoes large and small, red or yellow, heirloom or standard varieties – it really is tomato season at the market. We love tomatoes and the different recipes you can use them in, like the tomato pies that Norton Farm had this past Saturday. A ripe juicy tomato straight from the garden is the ultimate summer treat and that’s why we celebrate the tomato. July 26th, join in the fun at the Franklin Farmers Market TomatoFest. Our friends from Amerigo know a thing or two about tomatoes and they’ll be demonstrating the different ways to use tomatoes in delicious recipes. There will be heirloom tomatoes to sample, demos on seed saving and a fun kids’ area too. It’s all happening July 26th – TomatoFest at the FFM!

Juicy just picked red tomatoes from Colbert Farm

Tomatoes, White and Blueberries!

July 7, 2014

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It really was a Kodak or Pintrest moment – the red tomatoes and yellow squash, green cucumbers, purple beets and blueberries.

100% organically grown tomato from Delving Farms

Colvin Family Farm cucumbers and squash

Fresh picked cucumbers from See Sun and May Lo farm

Best crop of blueberries in years from Blue Honey Farms

Beets for salads from Bloomsbury Farm

It was a colorful, picture perfect 4th of July weekend day at the Franklin Farmers Market this past Saturday, with a huge array of summer’s finest produce and fruit. From cauliflower to peppers and blackberries to peaches, practically everything foodies crave could be found at the market.

Organic Cauliflower from Delvin Farms

Allenbrooke Farm Cayenne peppers

Sweet peaches from Kirkview Farm

Fresh carrots from Bloomsbury Farm

The long holiday weekend and great weather made for big smiles all around the market too. For proof of that, just take a look at our market photo gallery. What a great day!

Red, White and Blue

Is a peach cobbler in the works?

Beaverdam Creek Farm Sunflowers

Extremely sweet tomatoes now coming to market

Tomato, toemato- makes no difference in how you pronounce it because both mean you’re getting ready to eat something really good. It’s the perfect time of the year for tomato lovers. You can find tomatoes in all colors, sizes and varieties at the market now. The tomato truly is the king of summer produce and as such, deserves to be celebrated. So join us on July 26th at the market as we pay homage to the tomato with TomatoFest. Lots of good heirloom tomatoes to sample, kids’ activities and much more. Rumor has it that some “rotten tomatoes” may be flying around too! It’s all presented by our good friends at Amerigo, July 26th at the FFM.

Tomato heaven from Delving Farms

Heirloom tomatoes from Evans Produce

Just a reminder that the July classes at our Growing Kids Educational Garden will begin this Tuesday. From “bees please!” to melon mania, the classes at the kids garden are a fun and interactive way for kids to learn more about the environment and where their food comes from. Visit our Kids website page to get more info and sign up for classes!

As you know nothing seems to be authentic these days, these beautiful hand crafted signs are made from real Tennessee reclaimed barn wood and hand painted by Tom the Furniture Guy

Locally Grown Tomatoes now in Market

June 30, 2014

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If you had to pick between getting some delicious fresh, locally grown tomatoes or staying out of the rain, which would you do? Apparently, quite a few of you would pick the tomatoes, along with all the other good food at the Franklin Farmers Market.

Heirloom Tomatoes from Evans Produce

Allenbrooke Farms fresh picked tomatoes

Deb ringing in the start of market at 8am

Organic grown tomatoes from Delvin Farms

Beaverdam Creek Farm delicious tomatoes

Delvin Farms CSA

This past Saturday, there was two or three rain showers that hit, but that didn’t stop anyone from visiting the market. After all, there were a lot of summer veggies and fruits at the FFM, ripe and ready to eat and enjoy. There were locally grown tomatoes that tasted like a tomato should and fresh green beans too. Cucumbers, squash and okra were plentiful, along with tender lettuce, peppers and potatoes – there was a really big selection of fresh vegetables to choose from.

Kids loving veggies!

Rainy day fun!

Fresh picked Green Beans from Colvin Family Farm

Rainbow Hill Farm Squash and Brocolli

Beaverdam Creek Farm cucumbers, garlic and onions

Sweet farm carrots from Pilgrims Produce

French Heirloom Fingerling Potatoes from Allenbrooke Farms

And for berry lovers, there were lots of blackberries and blueberries. Plus sweet juicy peaches too! All of that good food put some big smiles on lots of faces. Check out the market’s photo gallery and see what we mean.

Fresh picked Blackberries

Blueberries, blueberry syrup and jam from Blue Honey Farm

Volunteers serving up chocolate bread french toast from Jones Mill Farm

A lot of you also enjoy getting a bite of the French toast samples at the FFM. The sweet treat was made from the “secret recipe” chocolate bread of Jones Mill Farms, Hatcher Dairy milk, Moonshadow Farm eggs and topped with honey from Johnson’s Honey Farm or blueberry syrup from Blue Honey Farm. It was a tasty example of what can be made with ingredients from the market. Several of you also picked up a copy of the FFM’s “Eating in Season” cookbook, which is packed with recipes made from the fresh food at the market. The “Eating in Season” cookbook is available every Saturday at the FFM Info booth at the front of the market for just $15 plus tax.

Fresh veggies from Allenbrooke Farms

Fresh cut sunflowers from Beaverdam Creek Farm

Market Recipe Cookbook

With all of the tomatoes that were flying out of the market this past Saturday, it was real easy to see that locally grown tomatoes are at the top of the list when it comes to summertime veggies. That’s why we celebrate with the FFM’s annual TomatoFest. Mark your calendars for July 26th and look for more details on TomatoFest later this week!

And don’t forget to check out the Franklin Farmers Market Photo Gallery to see if you see yourself, family or friends. It was a wonderful day at the market with so many new fresh veggies coming to our farmers market.

Happy 4th of July everyone!!!

Farm Fresh Tomatoes now Arriving

June 23, 2014

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Kelley’s Berries now selling Blackberries and Blueberries

Whew! It was a hot one at the market this past Saturday, but it didn’t seem to matter much as there was quite the crowd looking for those Tennessee farm fresh tomatoes, green beans and delicious blueberries. Who could blame them? There’s nothing like the taste of a real tomato – a tomato with a little bite to it that wakes up the taste buds and makes the mouth go mmmmm good!

Blueberries and blackberries were a big hit too. Lots of fresh berries and lots of baked goods made with those berries helped make the hot day a lot better.

Outstanding crop of Blueberries from Kirkview Farm

Kelley’s Blackberries, just beautiful!

Fresh Green Beans

Green fresh Bell Peppers

Beaverdam Creek Farm fresh produce

Fresh Made Pasta from City Pasta

Fresh baked breads from Jones Mill Farm

Fried Green Tomatoes anyone?

The fresh tomatoes at the FFM are just a preview of what’s to come. Soon, there will be a wide variety of tomatoes at the market that includes a big selection of tasty heirloom tomatoes. That’s a good enough reason for us to celebrate, so we will give the tomato the glory it deserves with our 2nd annual TomatoFest. Our good friends at Amerigo Restaurant have teamed up with us again for this salute to a summertime favorite.

More details are coming soon, but mark your calendar now for July 26th and TomatoFest!

Certified Organic Tomatoes from Delvin Farms

Allenbrooke Farm fresh picked produce

Farm Fresh Produce

Lovin’ a fresh green bean

One more thing – we noticed a lot of you doing the vogue-thing at the FFM this past Saturday as the market paparazzi roamed around snapping photos. Yeah, it was a hot day, but it was pretty cool to be seen at the Franklin Farmers Market. It looks like a lot of you like being a star in the market’s photo gallery. Did you get your picture taken? Is there a great photo of someone you know in the photo gallery?

Delvin Farms organic squash and bell peppers

Fresh Cucumbers taste so much better just picked

Farm Potatoes

Summer Farmers Market loaded with Fresh Vegetables

June 9, 2014

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Every day at the farmers market is a good day, but at this time of the year, it’s even better with summer fresh vegetables from local Tennessee farmers. You can practically bet that every time the FFM is open, you’re going to find something new to eat. For example, the first blueberries of the season were at the market this past Saturday. And so were the first tomatoes. People were lining up, anxious to get a bite of real tomatoes and other fresh vegetables.

Blueberries from Pilgrims Produce

Organic tomatoes from Delvin Farms

Broccoli, squash, radishes, potatoes, lettuce, and herbs – it was all at the market. The warm Tennessee weather is really making the gardens grow providing some of the best fresh vegetables in recent years.

Organic grown Broccoli from Delvin Farms

Farm fresh zucchini from Kirkview Farm

Multi colored carrots and radishes from Bloomsbury Farm

Potatoes, peas and tomatoes from Pilgrims Produce

Fresh picked herbs from Bloomsbury Farm

Green beans right from the farm from Napier Farm

And a lot of you were getting ready for a big backyard grill out too, with tender cuts of meat from our farmers. If you have not tasted the beef, chicken, pork and lamb the FFM farmers have, you don’t know what you’re missing. Next Saturday, you’ll get your chance to find out what we’re talking about. On June 14th, the Hearth and Grill Shop and Chef Michael Martin of Whole Foods will come together for Grill Day at the Franklin Farmers Market. This is your chance to taste the best meat you’ll ever find and it’s all from the local meat farmers at the FFM. Big Green Egg Grills, the choice of grill masters everywhere will be used for the beef, pork, chicken, lamb and sausage seasoned and seared to perfection by Chef Michael.

Once you’ve tasted what our local farms have, you’ll know why meat from the FFM is so popular. You can view market pictures here.

So we’ll say it again – this is the time of the year when there’s something delicious and new to eat every week at the market… Wonder what you’ll find next Saturday?

Sweet farm carrots are a healthy snack at the FFM

Beautiful yellow squash from Kirkview Farm

Farm Fresh Eggs from Moon Shadow Farm

Beautiful Sun Flowers grace market Saturday

Fresh veggies from Beaverdam Creek Farm

Cucumbers and Green onions from Napier Farm

Nineteenth-Century French heirloom carrots from Bloomsbury farm are a favorite of gourmet chefs

Squash, Cucumbers and Tomatoes Enter Market!

May 19, 2014

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Chilly with gray skies and a little sprinkle of rain here and there – doesn’t sound like a great day at the market, does it? But despite the weather, this past Saturday was a good day at the FFM. After all, there were lots of good late spring vegetables, such as broccoli, green onions and asparagus.

Delicious asparagus

Fresh green onions

In this corner, everything needed for a salad!

A colorful display of turnips, shallots and radishes

Early season green beans

A springtime favorite – green peas

And there was a little hint of the good things to come with some early cucumbers, squash and tomatoes – yes, tomatoes! Those hoop houses the farmers use can really speed up the growing times on veggies.

Early tomatoes from Napier Farm

How about a cool cucumber?

Fresh radishes to munch

Bloomsbury Farm lettuce

Nothing like the flavor of onions

Of course, there were strawberries too – lots of them. It’s definitely berry time in Tennessee. As we do every year at the FFM, we celebrate the arrival of strawberries with our annual Strawberry Festival. It takes place next Saturday (May 24th) and the weather is predicted to be sunny and warm – perfect for a day of homemade strawberry shortcakes, games for the kids and the Barnyard Petting Zoo.

Strawberry time in Tennessee!

We agree – eat locally grown food

Mark your calendar!

Grill Day has been rescheduled for June 7th

Lots of folks were also going home Saturday with delicious cuts of meat, stocking up early for their backyard Memorial Day grilling to kick off summer in a delicious fashion. Speaking of grilling, the market’s Grill Day has been rescheduled to June 7th and hopefully the weather will match the great taste of the pork, beef, lamb and chicken from our meat farmers.

Chef Jeff Lunsford of the Hearth and Grill Shop will use his skills to grill lip-smacking samples for you to enjoy.

And finally, we notice this past Saturday that there’s more of the sweet treats at the market too, such as delicious Greek pastries and incredibly decadent toffee. We saw you munching. Confession time – we did the same thing! So yeah, it was less than perfect weather at the market. But it was still a great delicious day at the FFM!

Sweet treats at the FFM to enjoy

The first of the summer squash now at market

Fresh, locally grown food and a day at the Franklin Farmers Market always make people happy!

Farm Hoop Houses providing early Local Farm Produce

April 21, 2014

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Rocky Glade farm grown strawberries

We saw them too – red, plump and juicy and flying out of the market as fast as cars zooming around a racetrack. The very first local farm strawberries of the spring were at the FFM this past Saturday and some of you could not wait to get your hands on them. We can’t really blame you. Those beautiful strawberries were grown on Rocky Glade Farm and are a couple of weeks earlier than expected. But remember how we told you that farmers are pretty resourceful, using hoop houses and row covers to protect their crops from bad weather? That’s exactly what they did on Rocky Glade Farm. The Vaughn family raises a lot of good vegetables in the fields. But they also have two large hoop houses, which help to protect early spring crops from those last-minute blasts from winter. It all adds up to delivering delicious local farm produce like those early strawberries. We’re betting you’ll see more of them next Saturday.

Pilgrims Produce radishes

Sweet green onions from Pilgrims Produce

Beaverdam Creek fresh lettuces and radishes

Farm fresh spinach, carrots, lettuces and radishes from Paradise Produce

Just picked romain lettuce from Norton Family Farm

It was one of those everything old is new again days at the FFM this past Saturday. Think about it for a minute. Sometimes it seems like winter drags on forever, with no bright flowers to see and no warm weather fresh veggies to enjoy. So when all the local farm produce of spring finally show back up again, it’s like we’re seeing them for the first time. That’s what it was like at the farmers market. There were new spring veggies to enjoy, like fresh green onions for the perfect salad.

Lettuces from Pilgrims Produce

Green Onions from Kirkview Farm

Celery from Rocky Glade

Delvin Farms fresh lettuces

Carrots from Norton Family Farm

Fresh lettuce mix from Norton Family Farm

Early starter plants, such as squash, tomatoes and cucumbers were going home to be planted by backyard gardeners.

Vegetable Starter Plants from Paradise Produce

Blackberry plants from Delvin Farm

Plus all the flowers… beautiful, bright flowers were found all over the market. Spring makes everything new again.

Beautiful Flowers from Blooming Baskets

FFM customers heading home with new starter plants for their garden

Volunteer Day April 26th

Have you ever wondered how the FFM comes together every Saturday, year-round? Sometimes to us, it seems like magic. But it is really the work of our volunteers who play an important role in making the Franklin Farmers Market the best market in Tennessee for local farm produce. We’re always looking for great volunteers.

Next Saturday is FFM’s Volunteer Day. It’s your chance to join the market team and help out in a variety of different ways. If you believe in local food, sustainability and the goodness of Tennessee farms, we’d love for you to be part of our team.

Look for the special farmers market Volunteer booth next Saturday at the front of the market and join the FFM team!

Beautiful Spring Day visits Farmers Market

April 14, 2014

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Vegetable plant starts from Paradise Produce

Allegedly, there is no “perfect” day. But this past Saturday came pretty close to being one a perfect farmers market day. It was a sunny, warm t-shirts and shorts kind of day and there was plenty of good food all around the market. One of the things that make the Franklin Farmers Market a good place to go on any day in the spring is to see what’s new – what’s growing on the farms, what springtime veggies are ready to enjoy. The bright colors of flowers were popping up all over the market, with bedding plants for people to take home and increase that curb appeal. There were the veggie “starter” plants grown by the farmers for those of you that like to do a little back yard gardening. It was a good weekend to grill out too and many of you were getting the best in beef, chicken and pork from our farmers to enjoy. Lots of smiling faces all around as everyone just got outside and enjoyed the day!

Herbs and Veggie starters from Earth Advocate Research Farm

Ferns and other hanging baskets from Purple Tree Farm

Home baked cookies from Dozen

Fresh Farm Eggs have brilliant yellow yolks and more flavor

Yum, an Elle’s Donut Fan

Custom made miniatures by Phillip

Hand made soaps from Totty’s Bend Goat Farm

Of course, some of you were kind of pushing the season on Saturday, expecting to find such goodies as corn and tomatoes at the market. After all, you’ve see corn showing up in the produce section of the grocery. We’re anxious for corn, tomatoes and other summer goodies to be ripe too, but it’s not the time of the year to find those veggies at the market.

Fresh picked lettuce mix from Norton Family Farm

Fresh green onions from Pilgrims Produce

Beaverdam Creek Farm CSA, sign up today for your farm CSA!

Newly grown veggies from Kirkview Farm

Sweet carrots and lettuces from Norton Family Farm

Hand crafted knives by Antler

Custom made barn wood signs from Tom the Furniture Guy

And while the weather plays a big role in when crops are ready to harvest, you can get a good idea of when your favorite fresh food will be at the market by stopping at the FFM’s Info Booth at the front of the market and getting what we call the “cheat sheet”. It’s a handy little chart that gives you an idea of when the peak season is for summer produce in Tennessee.

All in all, it was a great Saturday at the market. Lots of smiling faces all around as everyone just got outside and enjoyed day! See for yourself with a visit to our market photo gallery.

It was all smiles on Saturday with clear blue skies and lots of sunshine as this young Franklin family stops for a quick picture

Farmers Market Customers Enjoy Warm Sunshine and Fresh Food

February 3, 2014

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We were blessed with warm Sunshine on Saturday!

After a month of bone-chilling winter weather, suddenly everything changed for the farmers market. Sunshine and a high in the mid-60’s on the first day of February! Weird but wonderful weather for the month that’s typically the coldest of the year and it made it a great day to be at the Franklin Farmers Market. Lots of folks came out to get the best in fresh food and to soak up the sunshine with the farmers and vendors at the market. We saw lots of crunchy carrots and yummy apples from Kirkview Farm being snatched up and delicious sweet treats from the Norton Family Farm too. Those dried shitake mushrooms from Gardner Grove Farm were a hit. So were the Heirloom Tomato soup from Jones Mill Farm and the Potato Gouda Dill soup from Lucy’s Kitchen. Even the little ones got a taste of extra-special yummy food to take home with the fresh organic baby food from Chubby Bunny.

Kirkview Farm Apples

Carrots, Butternut Squash and Kale from Kirkview Farm

Dried Shitake Mushrooms from Gardner Grove

Carrots and other produce from Zadok The Natural Farmer

Valentine cookies from Flying S Farm

Heirloom Tomato Soup from Jones Mill Farm

Geraldine’s Greatest Chess Pies

Hatcher Family Dairy

Jams, Jellies, Preserves and Breads from Jones Mill Farm

Biscuit Love uses locally sourced foods

And despite their recent status as TV stars, the Biscuit Love crew was at the market too. They were featured in a recent segment on NBC’s Today show called “Marketing Makeover” that helps worthy small companies to keep growing and thriving. The thing we like best about the Biscuit Love Truck is that they use local and seasonal ingredients from such farms as Beaverdam Creek, Bloomsbury Farm and Bear Creek. We don’t think they were giving out autographs this past Saturday at the market, but they were serving up scratch made biscuit sandwiches like the East Nasty, with buttermilk fried chicken, cheddar cheese and sausage gravy.

Hand made by Miniatures by Phillip

Chubby Bunny Organic Baby Foods

And finally, there were a lot of parents on Saturday asking about gardens. When will tomatoes be back in season? When will strawberries be available? What about green beans? The farmers do have all the answers for you, but then so could your kids. How? By being a part of the FFM’s Growing Kids Educational Garden classes. It’s all about teaching kids about where their food really comes from and what it takes to get it from the garden patch to the table. There are lots of new features this year’s program, which gets underway in April. Details on classes and how to sign up will be released at the end of February in the market’s newsletter and website.