Farmer's Market behind Giant: Shop Fresh and Local for your Memorial Day Celebration!

Ashburn Farmers Market Saturdays 8am-noon Ashburn Village and Shellhorn Roads, behind the Giant.

The Loudoun Valley HomeGrown Markets Association congratulates Brian Ours, owner of the Virginia Village Shopping Center on Catoctin Circle in Leesburg. Brian was awarded the Community Steward Award from the Town of Leesburg, acknowledging the good will and service he has provided the town. Brian's Virginia Village Shopping Center is the site of the Leesburg Summer and Winter Farmers Markets.

LVHMA is always looking for family-friendly entertainment at all of our Farmers Markets. If you are willing to work for tips and publicity, please contact Judy Stroske, LVHMA Market Coordinator at Judy@loudounfarmersmarkets.org or 540-454-8089

This Week on the LVHMA Farms

Each week we try to let all of the friends of the Farmers Markets in on what is happening on our Member's farms and businesses.

4-H apprentice shepherds from the Temple Hall Non-ownership Sheep Club selected their project lambs for the Loudoun County Fair last weekend at Ashley Wells' Willow Hawk Farm in Lovettsville, VA (Leesburg Market). They are now settling in to serious training for the show ring, watching their weight (gain is good, if you're a lamb!), and getting the show ring glow on those wool breed lamb fleeces (lots of shampoo and trimming). There are over 40 lambs running about the pastures at Willow Hawk Farm being cute as only lambs can be--the last of them will be weaned this week!

John Bailey of Woodtrail Graziers in Round Hill, VA (Ashburn Market) reports that Spring babies are popping up all over--not exactly on the farm any more but in the surrounding wildlife. They have seen baby frogs, baby snakes, and baby birds galore, and apparently lots of fox kits to be fed as 50 or more chickens that have gone missing in the last month, having been dragged off to the fox dens. Generally, the folks at Woodtrail don't mind being predator-friendly, but this is ridiculous! John is also slowly letting the cows out on the fresh tall grass but too much of a good thing can cause upset stomachs--in cows as well as in people. They are managing the grazing as much as possible with movable temporary fences, but it's always an interesting sight when a 1000-lb cow leaps a fence to get to even lusher grass!

Check back next week for more news from the LVHMA Farms!

New at the Market: Strawberries!

Fresh, locally grown strawberries are making their appearance at the LVHMA Farmers Markets. The cool, wet spring weather has delayed the arrival of these members of the Rose Family, but their season should run through the month of June, depending on variety. Not only tasty, strawberries are a heathy food: a serving of 8 medium size strawberries contains about 84 mg of vitamin C, 210 mg of potassium, 3 grams of fiber and only 45 calories!

Strawberies do not continue to ripen after they have been picked, so choose berries that are very fragrant, bright red, with fresh green caps. Store your berries unwashed and uncovered in a colander in the refrigerator--this allows the cold air to circulate around them. Do not wash your berries until you are eady to eat them.

The United States is the world leader in strawberry production, with the most berries grown in California, Washington and Oregon. The strawberry is a unique fruit, as it is the only one with seeds produced on the outside rather than the inside.

Earth Day Every Day Tip:
Over 25,000,000 styrofoam cups find their way into landfills each year. Styrofoam (in all forms) accounts for 25% of all landfill space and does not break down--styrofoam used today will still be around 500 years from now. Washable, re-usable glassware is an earth friendly option.

Products in season for the month of May

Arugula Asparagus Basil Beef Beets Bok Choy Breads Broccoli Raab Cheese Chicken Cilantro Collards Dill Eggs Flowers Goat Jams & Jellies Kale Lamb Lettuce Mushrooms Onions * Parsley Pastries Pies Plants Pork Radishes Rhubarb Sage Salsa Soaps Sorrel Soups Spinach Strawberries Summer Squash Swiss Chard Turkey Turnips * Wine Wool & Products Yogurt


This week's recipe

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
Easy and Impressive!

1 pint Strawberries
8 oz Candy Making Chocolate pieces (available at most craft stores)
Wax Paper or Parchment Paper
Wooden Skewers


Instructions:
Carefully wash and pat dry strawberries--the chocolate won't stick if they are wet! Line a baking sheet with wax or parchment paper. Place the chocolate pieces in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 1 1/2 minutes, then stir. Continue microwaving the chocolate 30-45 seconds at a time, stirring each time, until completely melted and glossy. Stick a wooden skewer into the green cap of a strawberry and dip it into the melted chocolate. Use a second skewer to slide the dipped strawberry onto the paper covered baking sheet. Continue until all strawberries are completed--you may need to heat the chocolate again for ease of dipping. Rerfrigerate the chocolate covered berries for up to 24 hours before serving---bring to room temperature for best flavor!

You can also use chocolate chips instead of the candy making chocolate for this recipe.

News from the Market Vendors

Baguette Republic ~ Try our wonderful artesian breads, crossiants and muffins--perfect for your Memorial Day celebration! Tel: 703-870-7740 E-mail: orders@BaguetteRepublic.com

Baker Pork ~ Try our fabulous BACON! We guarantee you'll be back for more once you've tried it! We can supply pigs for your Father's Day or Graduation Pig Roast with just 2 weeks notice. Ask us at the Market or call 540-477-3550. All of our pork is born and raised on our farm in the Shenandoah Valley. Tel: 540-477-3550 E-mail: bakerinc@shentel.net

Beckys Pastries ~ Bun's Bread, Apple Turnovers, Cinnamon Rolls and much more. We bake most of the night so you can have them FRESH!

Beechwood Orchards ~ vendor Tel: E-mail: info@BeechwoodOrchards.com

Blue Ridge Gardens ~ We have a beautiful selection of perennials and shrubs for your garden--now is the time to plant!

Cherry Glen Farm ~ Spring - yeah!!! We are proud to announce that our Monocacy Ash cheese won a Bronze Medal at the US Championship Cheese Contest in Madison, Wisconsin in March, 2009! Stop by our booth, say 'Hi' to Crystal and sample this award winning cheese (along with our other cheeses). Tel: 301-428-3599 E-mail: tkirkman@cherryglengoatcheese.com

Corcoran Vineyards ~ Don't forget to pick up some wine to go with your Memorial Day Celebration! We will be happy to give you pairings with your holiday menu--just ask! Tastings and sales of our Chardonnay, Seyval Blanc, Chambourcin, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Meritage. We also have a new special this week for Memorial Day! Tel: 540-882-9073 E-mail: lori@corcoranvineyards.com

Glascock's Produce ~ Decorate your house or patio with our blooming hanging baskets and gardens! Over 25 varieties of tomato plants for your garden only $1.25 each--the same ones we grow for our tomatoes here on the farm! Tel: 304-258-1431

Hidden Creek Farm ~ We will have shitake mushrooms, lettuce, scallions, radishes and our local honey on Saturday, 5/23/09. Tel: 304-671-3676 E-mail: hiddencreekapiary@live.com

Milcreek Farm ~ We will FRESH large brown eggs from our free range hens! Proud to offer you our of pasture fed Beef, Lamb, and Goat. Also, we are currently taking orders for our freezer beef and lamb. Sold in 1/4's and 1/2's. Tel: 540-822-4181 E-mail: milcrk@aol.com

SnowBear Farm ~ We offer a wide range of Certified Naturally Grown vegetables, plants, berries and fruit. CNG certification very similar to Organic certification and none of our produce or plants have been sprayed with any chemicals and are grown from organic seed.

Westmoreland Produce ~ Fresh produce from the Northern Neck of VA. This week we will have lettuce, radishes, spring onions, spinach, herbs and lots of vegetable plants! Tel: 804-333-4487

Woodtrail Graziers ~ Looking for meat without chemicals from drug-free animals for your Memorial Day cookout? We use no antibiotics, hormones, or pesticides (e.g., worming meds), and no herbicides on our pasture. Beef roasts, lean and near-veal ground beef; nitrate-free sausage, bacon, ham, roasts, pork shoulders for pulled pork (Sale priced this week, $1 off/lb!); and whole pastured chickens. Tel: 540-554-8665 E-mail: woodtrailfarm@rstarmail.com