Market Update for 01-16-2020

The Compost Apple
If not for a chance discovery by Austrialian Maria Ann Smith nearly 150 years ago, one of America’s most popular apples wouldn’t have been.  You see, Maria Ann (Granny) Smith in 1868 happened upon a chance seedling that had sprung up in her compost (or so the story goes). After the seedling matured enough to provide apples, Granny Smith realized the apples were great for cooking and baking because of their tart acidity and robust taste. 

From these unlikely beginnings the Granny Smith apple grew in popularity. Sadly, Granny Smith died shortly after her discovery. Thanks to other planters from her area, Granny Smith’s discovery didn’t die with her. It wasn’t until 1890 though, at the Castle Hill Agricultural and Horticultural Show that “Granny Smith’s Seedling” gained more widespread attention when it won the prize for the best cooking apple. In the following years Granny Smith’s Seedlings were being exhibited at many horticultural shows in Australia.

Over the following decades the Australian government began actively promoting the Granny Smith apple as an export commodity because of its exceptional storage properties. They found that because the Granny Smith apple has an exceptionally thick skin and dense flesh that it could be stored for many months after harvesting. Shortly after the First World War, Granny Smith apples were being exported from Australia in great numbers. By 1975 the apple accounted for 40% of Australia’s apple crop.

Granny Smith apples were introduced to the United Kingdom in the 1930’s but oddly it took almost 40 more years before Washington apple growers were planting the trees on US soil. Interestingly, for you trivia lovers out there, the Beatles used an image of the Granny Smith apple as a corporate logo for their Apple Corps Limited in 1968.

Another great property of the Granny Smith apple is that they are high in dietary fiber, potassium and antioxidants. The apple is especially good source of phenols having the highest concentrations of any apply variety. Granny Smith’s are also a great source of the flavonoids: cyaniding, and epicatechin which are found mostly in its skin.

So whether it’s cooking for rich flavored apple sauce, that tart apple pie, or just for eating a healthy snack, the Granny Smith apple is a perfect choice. And as an added benefit you can store them in your refrigerator for weeks (or months) and they will keep their tart crispness just fine.

Connecting You With Your Favorite Vendors
In order to keep you better informed about all of the Sierra Vista Farmers Market vendors, each week our newsletter will now include links to their website and social media pages. Now if you need to know something about a vendor, want to make a special order, or just want to confirm if they will be coming to the market on a specific date, and you can’t find it in the newsletter, you’ll now be able to ask them directly. We’ve also categorized the vendors below to make it easy for you to find who you are looking for. So check it out and get connected with your favorite vendors.

Special Announcements and Events

UA Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program
This week the UA will be handing out information on their upcoming courses. Please stop by their booth and see what they have going on.

Cowboy Poetry Gathering
The Cowboy Poets will have an info booth set up at the market for a few weeks. Be sure to stop by their booth and learn about their upcoming poetry event on Feb 7th & 8th..

SNAP – Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program
The Sierra Vista Farmers Market accepts SNAP and Double Up benefits. Just visit our information booth near the center of the market to swipe your cards. Remember you can use them for all produce, dairy products, meats, spices, baked goods, and frozen ready-to eat meals (such as lasagna), plants that produce edibles like tomato plants and herbs. Double Up is only redeemable for Arizona grown fruits and vegetables, though.

This Week’s Vendors
To learn more about our vendors, if they will be attending the market this week, and the products they will be bringing, please visit their web or Facebook page in the links provided below.
(Vendors are Categorized and Alphabetized – attendance at Thursday’s market subject to change without notice)

– – Vendor Grown – –
Agricultural and Produce Vendors with the – – Vendor Grown – – seal are known to grow at least 85% of the products they sell.
– – Vendor Brokered – –
Agricultural and Produce Vendors with the – – Vendor Brokered – – seal do not grow a majority of the produce they sell and are known to purchase  a majority of their products from third parties.

Produce & Plant Vendors

Arevalos Farms – – Vendor Grown – –
Fresh Seasonal Vegetables, Melons, & Fruit
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Backyard Gardening & Growing – – Vendor Grown – –
Fresh Seasonal Fruits & Vegetables
For more information please visit one of their links: Website

Beatty’s Orchard – – Vendor Grown – –
Fresh Seasonal Fruit & Vegetables
For more information please visit one of their links: Website

Estrada Citrus
Oranges and Grapefruit from Mesa

Hilltop Hydroponics – – Vendor Grown – –
Fresh Year Round Hydroponically Grown Greens

Lettuce Man – – Vendor Grown – –
Fresh Seasonal Lettuce & Greens

SAS-Z Nuts – – Vendor Grown – –
Locally Grown Pistachios
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Scarlet Gilia
Seasonal potted plants, herbs, and aloe

Sivonn’s Garden  – – Vendor Grown – –
Fresh Seasonal Garden Produce

Super Natural Organics – – Vendor Brokered – –
Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables

Tawin’s Gardens and Crafts 
Seasonal Garden Plants

Meat, Milk, & Honey Vendors

Emu Enterprise – – Vendor Grown – –

Golden Rule Dairy – – Vendor Grown – –
Fresh Raw Milk, Cream, and Dairy Products
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook

Papa Mike‘s Jerky 
Locally Made Jerky
For more information please visit one of their links: Website Facebook

San Ysidro Farm – – Vendor Grown – -,
Locally Raised Meats
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook

Sky Island/47 Ranch – – Vendor Grown – –
Locally Raised Range Fed Beef, Lamb, and other Meats
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Will NOT be coming on Jan 23, 2020.

Simmons Honey Ranchito 
Local Honey, Canned Jams, Jellies, & Vegetables
For more information please visit one of their links:

White Cane Salmon
Frozen Filets of Alaskan Sockeye Salmon
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Baked Goods & Snack Vendors

Celestial Breads
Fresh Baked Goods and Prepared Foods
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Dolce Amore
Fresh Italian Deserts & Baked Goods
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Ginny’s Eclectic Kitchen
Fresh Sourdough Bread & Baked Goods
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Gracewater Farm
Fresh Baked Goods
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Incredible Snacks
An Incredible Variety of Snacks
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Katerina’s-It’s Original Greek
Fresh Made Greek Baked Goods and Prepared Food
For more information please visit one of their links:

McDonald Farm
Fresh Baked Goods
For more information please visit one of their links:

Sweet Arizona
Locally made Toffee, Brittle, & Fudge
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook

Personal Health & Household Vendors

Ancestral Herbals
Hand made soap, lotion, balm, muscle rub, etc.
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook

Desert Oasis Soap
Home made Soaps
For more information please visit one of their links:Website, Facebook

Prepared Foods & Beverage Vendors

Big Woody’s
Hot Dogs, Mac & Cheese, BBQ, and Pulled Pork
For more information & their menu please visit one of their links: Facebook

Café Cultiva
Fresh Coffee and Hot Beverages
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook

Esperanza
Fresh made Tortillas, Tamales, Baked Goods
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook

Krazy Koytote Kettle Corn & Smoothies
Kettle Corn and Smoothies
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Lazy KJ Ranch
Locally Grown Organic Pork
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Lasagna and More
Gourmet Lasagna, Sauces and More by Chef Scotty
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook

Queen Ceviche
Fresh Made Salsa, Ceviche, & Beverages
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Toy’s Eggrolls
Asian Cuisine
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Zarpara Vineyards
Local Quality Wine
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook

Pet Food & Product Vendors

Maggie’s Dog Treats & Accessories
All Natural Pet Snacks and Treats
For more information please visit one of their links:

Services

Hone Ranger
Knife and Blade sharpening
For more information please visit one of their links:

Artisan Vendors (Weekly)

Designs by Copper Canyon
Customer Made Home Accents
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Greenstone Pottery & Crafts
Hand Made Pottery, Jewelry, & Crafts
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

K-1 Kreations
Hand Made Aprons, Coasters, Pot Holders, Tote Bags Etc.
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Blue Oak Builders & Sierra Vista Gems
Custom made bolt action pens and jewelry

Artisan Vendors on the First Thursday of Each Month

This Week’s Weather Forecast