Sierra Vista Farmers Market Vendor Update for 12-9-2021 – –

A day In the Life Of – The Sierra Vista Farmers’ Market

By Uncle Ralph (Ralph Wildermuth) 08 December 2021

The Farmers’ Market will be open from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

You made it! We’ve rounded the corner toward the end of another year. We are full into the “Holiday Season” as some people call it, and maybe it is since the holiday season began with either Halloween or Thanksgiving, depending on who you ask, and runs through New Year’s Day, but to me this is the season of Christmas. By now Christmas movies and music are clogging the airways and people are busy trying to find those coveted presents to share with their family and friends. Christmas tree vendors can be seen on almost any corner and Christmas decorations have been on store shelves for most of the last months now, it seems.

With all the excitement and the hustle and bustle of shoppers, you might be wondering what this has to do with the Farmers’ Market. Well, believe it or not, we all still eat on a daily basis. Where shopping for groceries might be on the back burner, it does come to mind when we start to plan the meals, we will be serving to our guests for Christmas dinners. But not only is the Market ready with vegetables, fruits, nuts, baked goods and such, it also has an abundance of crafts and other special items that you probably won’t find in any of the local stores.

Many people are under the impression that now that the “crops” are in and the harvest is over that now is the time for farmers to kick back and relax a little. On the contrary, farmers stay pretty busy in the winter. Even though the harvest for the summer crops is in, there is still the winter crops to take care of. Let’s also not forget the farmers with livestock. Cattle need daily feeding and dairy cows need milking, no matter the weather.

As technology advances and the demand for more fresher produce rises people are turning to winter farmers’ markets to keep that supply chain of fresh nutritious produce, meats, eggs, and fruits coming. Farmers are responding to this demand by finding ways to grow their vegetables during the winter months. Some farmers have turned to innovative methods as using unheated hoop houses, heated greenhouses, or small “low tunnels.” These structures provide farmers with a way to protect their crops from snow, frost, wind, and excess rain, and even in some cases to allow for ways to control the humidity, moisture, and temperature.

Greenhouses are not a new concept by a long shot. It is said that the Roman Emperor Tiberius 2000 years ago or so, designed the first known greenhouses out of his penchant for cucumbers. His greenhouse design consisted of special carts full of soil that could be wheeled into the sun and covered to retain the heat, thereby allowing his cucumber plants to keep producing through winter.

At one time, glass was used to build greenhouses, but that was labor intensive and not very cost effective. As the idea of greenhouses trickled down to the local farmer, glass jars were used to cover plants. Greenhouses pretty much died out during the Middle Ages. Greenhouses did make a comeback in the 15^th century, but didn’t come of age until the 1960s when polyethylene plastic came along.

While greenhouses can solve the problem of growing crops during the harsh winter months, they need to be controlled. If you don’t try to control the environment in a greenhouse, they create a desert. They concentrate heat while preventing moisture from penetrating. Of course, the problem with wind, snow, and excess rain, is solved, but the need for irrigation becomes essential.

Ultimately, farming is a job limited by available sunlight and heat, but baring the use of greenhouses and such, there are several winter crops that can be and are grown on local farms.

Most winter crops are either leafy vegetables or root crops. Low/short daylight levels, cool-weather precipitation, and cold temperatures (and temperature swings) pretty much rules out some of the classic fruiting crops (tomatoes, melons, et cetera) which are generally not cold-hardy.

Luckily there are a few plants that you can plant that will reach maturity during the cold-weather months, while others can make it through the cold winter months and sprout in time for a warm-weather harvest.

Garlic, a hardy perennial and has been used as a culinary and medicinal herb since the time of the Egyptian pharaohs, for instance can be planted in the fall about six weeks before the first frost of the season—for a healthy harvest in the spring or summer. Other vegetables to plant in the fall come in the form of hardy, leafy greens, like cabbage and mustard greens. These can survive whatever the winter months throw their way—even snow, rain, and ice-cold temperatures.

The weather here is great for a “cool season” winter garden — lettuce, radishes, broccoli, peas, onions, cabbage, spinach, turnips and Swiss chard, for example. Not to mention beets and leeks.

The cool season runs from September through March, roughly, though some vegetable plants can remain productive until May or even June, says master gardener Debra Milton, who is associated with the Cooperative Extension of the University of Arizona’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Take cabbage, it is known to thrive in frost and is ready to pick come winter. Cabbage is commonly harvested in November, once it’s been sweetened a bit by frost. In mild areas, however, it’s possible to leave healthy cabbage plants growing for a winter crop harvest in December or even January. Cabbage takes an average of 50 to 80 days to grow. Being a brassica, this crop should be planted in the ground almost 10 weeks before the first frost for a healthy winter harvest. The word cabbage comes from an Anglicized form of the French “caboche”, meaning “head”, but the Celts of central and western Europe had a lot to do with the popularization and distribution of cabbage as a food. Even so, it is acknowledged that eastern Mediterranean and Asia Minor is the place of origin of the species. The Romans are credited with introducing cabbage into Europe, but it is probable that the Celts introduced it even earlier. The Celts had invaded Mediterranean lands repeatedly from about 600 B.C. to the beginning of the Christian Era, reaching into Asia Minor around 278 B.C. They also reached into the British Isles before the Romans did.

Sunlight and moist soil will help grow healthy kale for a winter harvest. Kale, first cultivated in the eastern Mediterranean and Asia Minor beginning in 2000 B.C., was used as a medicinal food source and to treat bowel ailments. Kale should be planted by late September; however great success has been achieved seeding it year-round. It is just slower to germinate and grow once winter arrives. Kale was seen as more of an ornamental in the USA twenty years ago, but the desire for more nutritional value brought kale to the forefront as not only an ornamental, but also a highly nutritious edible vegetable.

The aforementioned winter produce crops are only the tip of the iceberg (also a winter crop, sorry for the pun) when it comes to winter crops. Others include such plants as Arugula, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, chard, garlic, kale, lettuce, onions, radishes, spinach, and turnips that all can be planted in September and October to produce crops next spring and summer.

When you start planning your Christmas family dinner, or when you take a bite of an apple or slice up that squash or zucchini for your favorite dish, it will be easy to appreciate the food without thoughts of the hard work that was put into growing the items you just ate. Our farmers make it their priority to grow and sell fresh nutritious food for you. This food would never make it to your table without their hard work and dedication.

Any given day, our farmers are out in their fields working their tails off to grow our food! But it isn’t as easy as planting a seed and watching it grow. Ultimately, farming is a full-time, extraordinarily consuming job that requires only the most dedicated and passionate people. Most farmers don’t get weekends or holidays off because the crops won’t take care of themselves and the animals can’t feed themselves! Growing food and raising animals for food consumption are no easy task, and we owe a great deal of appreciation to those whose dedication keeps us well fed.

Being a farmer is not glamorous, it’s not even really a job, it’s more of a lifestyle.

In the end, for our farmers to survive and thrive, we need to keep them in mind when we plan for our daily and even our holiday meals. The Farmers’ Market fosters connections between farmers and you the eaters. Let’s keep them in our thoughts and hearts as we remember the reason for the season and rush to get everything just right for your family and friends to enjoy.

Until next week take care and I’ll talk to you again.

As always, SNAP vouchers can be used at some of the vendors booths, as well as Double Up tokens for exchange for fruits (Estrada Citrus from Mesa is back) and vegetables. You can use your EBT card at the info booth for SNAP vouchers and Double UP tokens (unlimited amount right now).

Vendor Updates
Please see the vendor listings below with updated vendor information and the products they will be bringing.  Please keep in mind the social distancing while you shop at the market.

Market Hours: Thursdays from 10 am to 2 pm at Veteran’s Memorial Park.

SNAP and Double UP food bucks available at the info booth.       The terminal is working again!!!

NOTE: Pick up free Herald Review newspaper at the info booth.

Music Entertainment: Ken Cantrell

This week:  extra artisans and crafters

BASA is a volunteer board non-profit with a mission: “to promote local, sustainable food production, marketing and education in southern Arizona.

Webpage: http://basamesquite.org/
Webblog: http://bajaaz.blogspot.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/125627894978189
Email: brownchristie1@gmail.com

Updated Vendor Listing & Contact Information

– – 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

Allred Family Fungi – – Vendor Grown –
Oyster mushrooms and other varieties.

Awareness Ranch–Vendor Grown
Bali will be back during the winter season.
Local produce (mint, basil, cucumbers, spinach, lettuce, bok choy) from Tucson area

Backyard Gardening & Growing  – – Vendor Grown –
Onions- Red, white, and yellow. Beefsteak tomatoes & cherry tomatoes. Gala and Pixie crunch apples.

Beatty’s Orchard – – Vendor Grown –

Edith will be back next season.
520-378-2728 or 520-678-9443

Beatriz’ Dates

Dates from Mesa, Arizona

Cazador Ranch

Donna Henricks aka Lettuce Man’s Daughter

Lettuce mix, chard, kale, parsley

Echoing Hope Ranch – – Vendor Grown –
Variety of greens and herbs from their green house.
Kale, radishes, lettuce and more.

Estrada Citrus

Oranges and grapefruit from Mesa, Arizona.

Horton’s Farm  – – Vendor Grown –

Mark and Jessica will be back soon.
Cucumbers, Garlic, onions, Eggplant, chilies, patty pan squash, lettuce mix, radish, zucchini, tatsoi, red Russian kale, and beets.
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Just A Pinch – – Vendor Grown –
Michael will be back in the spring of 2022.
(520-234-3254), email (justapinchllc@yahoo.com)

Nat Hutchins Farm

Local and Asian plant. Seasonal produce. Meyer lemons.

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

Sivonn’s Garden – – Vendor Grown –
Fresh Seasonal Garden Produce such as mushrooms, salad mix, collards.

Tawin’s Gardens and Crafts – – Vendor Grown –

Seasonal Garden Plants

Triple J & R – – Vendor Grown –

“We are a family providing homegrown microgreens and sprouts. We carry a varied selection of microgreens and sprouts grown hydroponically on food safe screens using only pH balanced water and food grade nutrients for microgreen growth. If you don’t see one you like just let us know and we will grow it for you. Email us at triplej&r@arizonaremountstation.net or give us a call at (520) 266-2479. Our Website is arizonaremountstation.net.”

Meat, Milk, Egg & Honey Vendors

Emu Enterprise – – Vendor Grown –

With sadness we let you know that Roger Taber passed away this summer.

Golden Rule Dairy – – Vendor Grown – –
NEW: Raw butter and Ghee.
Golden Rule Dairy Special: Their very own chicken eggs!
Fresh Raw Milk, Cream, and Dairy Products and their yummy granola.
Golden Rule Dairy Special eggs will be available in July and August.
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook
Instagram-  golden_rule_dairy
goldenruledairy@gmail.com
www.goldenruledairy.com
520-210-2857

L&B Farm
Burt will be at the market on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th , and 5th Thursday of every month.
Frozen chicken and lamb, fresh eggs

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

Rocky Creek Ranch
John will NOT be at the market this week.
Duck, chicken, and quail eggs

San Ysidro Farm – – Vendor Grown – -,
Jackie will NOT be at the market (every first Thursday) with beef, lamb, pork, chicken, turkey and frozen pasties.
email jackie.syf@gmail.com
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook

Sky Island/47 Ranch – – Vendor Grown – –

– Locally Raised Range fed Criollo Beef, and Navajo Churro Lamb.
All natural, no hormones, no antibiotics, and no grain feeding.
– Wild caught sockeye salmon from Naknek Fisheries, Bristol Bay, Alaska.
– Apple or Mesquite smoked bacon from Willcox Packing House (uncured bacon, nitrite, and nitrate free), pork chorizo, and pork sausage.
– Homemade Cowboy Style Peanut butter (made with slightly-roasted organic peanuts, no salt or sugar added).

YouTube Channel (Ranching in the Right Hemisphere): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrfx3NWeUSGZ7KOnV8XL4tQ

For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook and YouTube
520-507-5203
crossu@vtc.net

Simmons Honey Ranchito 

Our many varieties of local honey will be available in one pound jars up to one gallon jugs.
520-364-2745, no text, no call id
520-368-2039 text welcome
simmonshoney1@powerc.net

Whitecane Sockeye Salmon

Alaskan caught sockeye salmon, king salmon, halibut, ling code, shrimp, snowcrab, Bairdi crab, Dungenese crab

Baked Goods & Snack Vendors

Designs by Copper Canyon
New: Gluten-free breads.
Delicious truffles and sweet & savory breads.
Home decor items.
coppercanyonind@gmail.com

Ginny’s Eclectic Kitchen
Crumb coffee cake, oatmeal sandwich cookies, sourdough, and another fun bread.
Instagram is @ginnyseclectickitchen

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
New: Artisan Greek breads.

McDonald Farm
Baked goods such as cinnamon rolls, pies, and nut bars. Fresh eggs, pecans, beans (black, pinto, 9-bean mix), chicken and duck eggs.
SAS-Z-Nuts pistachios
Leave a message for Dona 520-220-3000

Mystic Eatz
Baked goods such as quick breads, cinnamon roll muffins, and seasonal pies.

Steph’s Sweets Bakery
Stephanie will NOT be at the market this week.
Granola, cookies, muffins (all vegan)
Desert Bloom Photography &  Ray’s Leatherworks 520-368-2454

Sweet Arizona
Locally made Toffee, Brittle, & Fudge
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook
www.sweetarizona.org
520-312-5351

Sweets By Shelly
Cake pops in a wide variety of flavors, almost too pretty to eat, but oh so yummy.
Toffee and pretzels.
308-708-1680 for special or custom orders.

Wild Arizona Gardens
The bread selection will include na’an, green chili and cheddar bread, 5 seed bread, honey oat bread and rye bread. Also on the menu will be apple pie and strawberry rhubarb crisp. If you would like to have some held for you, please text 520-508-2494.

Personal Health & Household Vendors

Ancestral Herbals (Arizona Soap Company)

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

Chloe’s Creations
Handmade soap.

Desert Oasis Soap
Greg will NOT be at the market this week.
Home-made Soaps
For more information, please visit one of their links:Website, Facebook
desertoasissoap@outlook.com
520-822-5330
desertoasissoaps.com

Nature’s Premium Skin Care
Aloe Vera miracle cream

Prepared Foods & Beverage Vendors

Ascendare-Bean to Bar Chocolate
Kendra will be at the market on the 1st and 4th Thursday.
Handcrafted chocolate

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

Bombshell Sweets
Variety of cotton candy and new hot cocoa mix and hot cocoa by the cup.

Café Cultiva
Fresh Coffee and Hot Beverages
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook
774-316-2328

Esperanza
Pre-order tamales by calling 520-954-7782
New: Pasties
Fresh made Tortillas, Tamales, Baked Goods
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook
Esperanza will ship orders.

Crazy Coyote Concessions
Kettle Corn and Smoothies
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook
520-904-2327
kettlekornaz@gmail.com

Mi Burrito
Burritos from the grill with fresh salsa for lunch.

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

Lasagna and More
Complete line of Take-n-Bakes, sauces, Chef Burritos, SW Spice Blend
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook

Mulcogi

Spices and herb mixes.

Queen Ceviche

Fresh Made Salsa, Ceviche, Hand Sanitizer, and hibiscus syrup.
For more information, please visit one of their links: Facebook
520-904-4715

Sippin
Specialty soda drinks

Zumi Juice
Come quench your thirst with a delicious, fresh, raw, cold juice made to order at our bright orange tent.  All of our juices are made from fruit to cup with no additives, just pure goodness.  Fresh Limeade is always served.

Pet Food & Product Vendors

Maggie’s Dog Treats & Accessories
All Natural Pet Snacks and Treats
For more information please visit one of their links:
480-488-1053
ziabischoff@gmail.com

Services

Hone Ranger

Scott wants to let you know: “I’m back in a replacement vehicle with new equipment for onsite sharpening on most items and I wish to thank all those who helped, and some that still are, with my rebuild!
I am indebted to the wonderful patrons at the market, and the market itself for the opportunity to be involved w/ all of it.

Lindsay

Handmade fitted masks.
520-546-1058
meyerwill@cox.net

In Stitches
Variety of face masks, fabric multi-use bowls and bags.

 
Artisan Vendors (are back)

Greenstone Pottery & Crafts
Hand Made Pottery, Jewelry, & Crafts
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook
520-537-4859
courage.4life4u@gmail.com
530-539-4859
greenstone.collection@gmail.com

Bernie & Bill Medley
Paintings, Custom Frames and Woodwork
Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month.
For more information please visit one of their links:

Sierra Vista Gems
New batch of blue oak and mesquite pens.
Cheri’s front license plates.

Artisan Vendors (once a month)

Bannuar Trading & Sporting Goods

Handcrafted jewelry and cut antlers for dog chews

Chalia’s Craft (will be back in the spring)

•Crochet earrings

•Crochet & Macramé Plant Hangers

•Crochet bags and baskets

•Wall Decor

•Pillow Shams (seasonal item)

•Throw Blankets (seasonal item)

Shop: chaliascraft.Etsy.com

Instagram: @chalias_craft

Doug Merrill

Handmade wooden boxes, tables, coat racks, benches, and wind chimes.

Jim Williams
Wood works such as Lazy Susans, checker boards, and unique writing utensils

Rita Obenauf’s Windchimes
Every 1st Thursday when the weather cools again.
Up-cycle bottle wind chimes
909-957-0368
Insta-gram Lifeabove100

New artisans for November and December

Anna’s Gifts
Buena High School artisans
Leta’s Gallery
Vagabond
Crafts by Kate
Godard-woodworkings

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