The late spring is notoriously one of the most difficult times of the year for farmers. In an industry where money is always tight, the final weeks of March and early April are the slowest when it’s still too cold to grow.
Regardless of how tough it is this time of year, Lane County Farmers Market will once again set up shop this Saturday downtown. Despite an unusually bitter December, Lane County Farmers Market director Jean-Paul Cunningham predicts there will be a good turnout for the first market of the year.
“Usually only about 10 percent of the farmers will come to the market until later in the season,” said Tom Murray of Slo Farm.
Fortunately, extensive greenhouse growing operations have enabled many farmers to grow greens planted in the fall and winter months.
“There will be plenty of produce and cheese,” Cunningham said. “Of course, there is going to be hot food available as well. Most of the produce will be standard greens like your spinach, kales, and kohlrabis.”
Murray also added there would be a good portion of winter root crops such as carrots and parsnips available.
Alsea Acre will bebringing its goat cheeses to the market as usual, but cheese-maker and owner of the dairy Nancy Chandler said this spring milk is one of her best batches yet.
“The goats have had a couple months to rest from milking, and the spring milk is really fantastic and highly nutritious for the kids,” Chandler said.
Other milk-producing animals such as cows usually have much a much higher fat content in the winter months, and cheese made with this milk tends to have a much richer flavor profile. However, goat milk’s prime is in the spring when butter fat, sugar and protein levels are the highest.
Chandler said there are no new styles yet, but they will have their standard flavors
and their most recent addition “hot, sweet and sticky,” a spicy Thai medley.
Most of the farmers that will be making an appearance at the market, such as Groundwork Organics and Lost Creek Farm, are also involved in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) organizations, which allow consumers to invest in future crops and receive weekly
orders of fresh produce from those farms when they begin their harvests.
Farmers market produces more than produce
Daily Emerald
March 31, 2010
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