Sierra Vista Farmers Market Vendor Update for 4-28-2022 – –

Welcome to the Sierra Vista Farmers Market Update for April 28, 2022

The Most Popular Garden Fruit in America?

By Uncle Ralph (Ralph Wildermuth) 27 April 2022

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

I’m back! Sorry for being gone for so long, but sometimes a parent is presented with an unexpected life changing event, and a father has to be there at the hospital bedside for his daughter, instead of behind a desk writing articles. As things are slowly progressing, I find myself able to get back to some semblance of normalcy, and relieve stress by returning to something more pleasant, such as writing about the Sierra Vista Farmers’ Market and the many fascinating topics that it generates to talk about.

If you have never come out to Veterans Park on Thursdays to participate with the friendly crowds, I encourage you to try it one day and see just how peaceful and refreshing it is to look at fresh off the vine, so to speak, produce and see the various other baked goods and craft items presented by the local farmers and craftsman of this southern Arizona neighborhood.

Speaking of vines, I’d like to talk a little bit about fruit. What is your favorite fruit? Are you partial to oranges maybe, or grapefruit, grapes, apples, pears or are you partial to my favorite garden fruit, tomatoes?

What’s that you say? Tomatoes are vegetables not fruits. Colloquially and culinarily, that is true to a point. Many people, chefs and nutritionists alike, call tomatoes vegetables, but botanically, tomatoes are considered fruit.  This classification is based on the plants structure, function and organization. You see a fruit is the seed-bearing produce that grows from the ovary of a flowering plant or, in other words, a fruit is the plant’s way of spreading its seeds. Therefore, tomatoes are classified as fruit because they contain seeds and grow from the flower of the tomato plant. Oddly enough, the debate over whether a tomato was a fruit or a vegetable made it all the way to the Supreme Court in April of 1893. The case was brought to court in the Nix v. Hedden case over a tax collector in the port of New York trying to recover back taxes under the Tariff Act of March 3, 1883. The collector said that tomatoes were a vegetable requiring a duty under Schedule G, “vegetables in their natural state, or in salt or brine, not specially enumerated or provided for in this act, ten percentum ad valorem,” whereas the importer cited the same Schedule G, “Fruits, green, ripe, or dried, not specially enumerated or provided for in this act.”, which were duty free.

After listening to the attorneys reciting definitions from dictionaries and listening to two witnesses that both agreed that the words fruit and vegetable have the same meaning in trade at that time that they had on March 1, 1883. On 10 May, 1893 the court rendered its decision: Tomatoes are “vegetables,” and not “fruit,” within the meaning of the Tariff Act of March 3, 1883, c. 121. So much for science again.

Tomatoes are not the only fruit thought of as a vegetable. Squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, peppers, eggplants, corn kernels, and bean and pea pods are all fruits. Of course, we do have what most people think of as fruit in apples, pears, peaches, apricots, oranges, grapefruit, melons and mangos.

On the other hand, a vegetable, from a botanical standpoint, is any edible part of a plant that doesn’t happen to be a fruit, as in leaves (think spinach, lettuce, or cabbage), roots (as in carrots, beets, and turnips), stems (asparagus), tubers (potatoes), bulbs (onions), and flowers (cauliflower or broccoli) just to name a few.

However, you slice it, vegetable or fruit, today the tomato, is considered the most popular garden plant in America. But it hasn’t always been that way.

All garden tomatoes are derived from a single species, Solanum lycopersicum. This single tomato and its 16 wild relatives originated about 80,000 years ago in Ecuador and are native to a narrow coastal region in the northwestern corner of the South America from Ecuador to northern Chile, including the Galapagos Islands. Besides being the most popular in America, tomatoes are cultivated in nearly every country in the world.

The tomato’s acceptance was slow in coming though as part of the problem was that they are from the genius Solanum and the large Solanaceae family, which includes a deadly species of plants known as nightshades. Of course, there are benign members of the Solanaceae family such as peppers, potatoes, tomatillos, eggplant, petunia, and even tobacco.

While grown and used throughout pre-Civil War America they were part of the deadly nightshade family and by association alone they were thought to also be poisonous. It was not until the mid-1800s that tomatoes became popular. The Civil War changed public opinion as canneries boomed trying to fill contracts to feed the Union army. Tomatoes, a fast grower that stood up well to the canning process, rose to the occasion. After the war, the demand for canned products grew even stronger, with more tomatoes being canned than any other vegetable. And this meant more farmers needed to grow tomatoes.

Varieties of tomatoes such as cherry, pear, and egg-shaped tomatoes were common at the time, while the larger tomatoes tended to be lumpy and ridged. Alexander Livingston took advantage of the situation and opened a seed company in 1850. He started with seeds from wild tomatoes and by 1870 he introduced his initial groundbreaking hybrid tomato called the Paragon. They were the first uniformly smooth tomato. Today you can still find around 20-odd varieties of heirloom Livingston tomato seeds.

There’s still a debate even today about the tomato and the leaves and stems being toxic. You can hear arguments from both sides on the safety of eating tomatoes, the leaves, stems, and even the roots. The toxin in question is tomatine a glycoalkaloid, which are poorly absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract of mammals and will pass quickly through in the urine or feces. While tomatine is a toxin it has been estimated in some studies that it would take eating a pound to produce any side effects, but there are always exceptions in the case of people with a particular sensitivity to the toxin.

There are also studies by Dr. Mendel Friedman in 2000 that show that the tomatine found in green tomatoes (and thereby the leaves) could actually lower bad LDL cholesterol. As with all foods, moderation the key as shown by Portland’s Chef Jenn Louis who serves a pasta infused with tomato leaves where she “blanches, dries and blends the leaves into pasta dough, and serves the pasta with butter and fresh tomatoes” at her restaurant “Lincoln” in Portland Oregon.

All leafy greens have some kind of alkaloid in them, even the “good for you” type. Cauliflower, tomatoes, potatoes and eggplants have nicotine in them, but you would have to eat 20 pounds of eggplant to get the same amount found in one cigarette. Even chocolate contains an alkaloid, theobromine, a mild stimulant. Of course, not all alkaloids are toxic, but even water in massive doses is toxic, so remember that anything ingested in gross amounts can become “toxic.” Do your own research and make your own educated choices about what you want to eat.

Ruth from Ruth’s Hens and Garden here at our Market, loves planting tomatoes in the spring. She begins in January planting the seeds from a variety of tomatoes that she has diligently researched to have the best chance of growing in this hot climate including cherry tomatoes, large beefsteak tomatoes and medium sized, plus tomatoes for cooking. She is also trying Dwarf tomatoes, this year, which grow to about a two-foot height and produce regular sized tomatoes for picking.

For the gardener, tomatoes are usually easy to grow and a few plants provide a sufficient harvest for most families. And of course, the quality and freshness of fruit picked in the garden, when fully ripe, far surpasses anything available at the local box store, even in season.

If you want to learn more about tomatoes and tomato growing stop by the Farmers’ Market and talk to the growers. Stop by Ruth’s stall and pick up some tomato plants for your own garden experience and soon she will have the first tomatoes at the market for upcoming meals and remember they go well in a salad, too.

Take care and see you next time!

As always, many of the market vendors accept WIC Farmers Markets & Senior Farmers Markets Vouchers in exchange for fresh fruits and vegetables. SNAP vouchers can also be used at some of the vendors booths. You can use your EBT card at the info booth for SNAP vouchers and Double UP tokens (unlimited amount right now).

We are looking forward to seeing you all at this coming week’s Market. For more information on all our vendors and the products they will be bringing, please see this week’s Farmers’ Market newsletter at www.sierravistafarmersmarkets.com.  Also, check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/sierravistafarmersmarket/.

THERE IS NOTHING QUITE LIKE HOME GROWN POTATOES

By John Chapman (reprinted from the Herald Review)

There are more than 100 varieties of potatoes but about six varieties make up the entire commercial market.  There are several different varieties of potatoes to choose from, each with its own characteristics and qualities. Potatoes are generally classified as red round, white round, and white oblong. New potatoes are any variety of dug young potato that hasn’t been stored. Common garden varieties offer better taste, texture and cooking quality for home use anyway.  The white round and white oblong produce better in the higher elevations. The white oblong are  known as Russet Burbank. Red round types are best suited for the climate in the low desert.  Use only certified seed potatoes. Do not use grocery store potatoes for seed. Even though the potatoes you see in the supermarket may appear healthy, they should not be used for your seed. They may have been treated with a sprout retardant, in which case, they will not grow well. Even if they are sprouting, they have not been inspected and certified free of diseases that potatoes are susceptible to.   Seed potatoes are available at most quality nurseries and garden centers. You can also search on the web, just type in “home garden seed companies.”  The potato is adapted to a wide variety of soils. It performs best, however, on a sandy loam well supplied with organic matter and plant food. Heavy fine-textured soils are satisfactory if it is improved with organic material.  Have you ever thought of growing potatoes in a bushel basket, an old tire, a bag of compost, or a bucket of straw? Well, you can — it’s easy and fun. You may be surprised that you can be a potato grower in the smallest yard or just on the back patio or porch. Line a bushel basket with plastic, punch a few holes in the bottom and put in a layer of stones for drainage. Stir a few tablespoons of houseplant food or fertilizer 10-10-10 into a bucket of moist soil. Put a 4- or 5-inch layer of soil in the basket and lay a few seed pieces 6 to 8 inches apart, then top with 3 or 4 more inches of soil. Keep the basket in a warm, sunny place. As the plants grow, add more soil around the stems to give the tubers room to expand, and keep the soil well watered.  You can also grow potatoes in a bag of compost. Cut the top open carefully and then empty the bag; try to empty the bag somewhere suitable, as you will need to store this compost until you use it later. You then roll the top of the compost bag down. This can be a little tricky as some bags that hold compost are very thick. You don’t have to roll it down all the way, about half way is fine. Put a small layer of compost in the bottom of the bag, and place your seed potatoes on top. You won’t need a lot of seed potatoes because only 2 or 3 will produce you a healthy crop in the bag. Add more compost when the stems get about 8 inches long. You can grow potatoes in a stack of old High Pro tires, adding a tire and more mulch when runners get about 8 inches long up to about 5 tires high. Fertilize every 7-10 days with high phosphorous fertilizer (high second number). Harvest when plants freeze down.
John Chapman was a garden teacher on radio, TV and garden columnist in Phoenix, AZ media for years and practices what he preaches. He now lives in Southern, AZ   Questions; john@johnchapman.com

Vendor Updates
Please see the vendor listings below with updated vendor information and the products they will be bringing.

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

Music Entertainment: Rick Rice

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/
Weblog: 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.

Backyard Gardening & Growing  – – Vendor Grown –

Kale, kohlrabi, bok choi, spinach, lettuce, red and golden beets, iris rhizomes, and plants.

Beatty’s Orchard – – Vendor Grown –

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

Cazador Ranch

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

Estrada Citrus

Last Time!
Oranges and grapefruit from Mesa, Arizona.
Irma will be here until the end of April.

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. Fresh chicken eggs.

Ruth’s Hens & Garden

Ruth’s gardening starts in January planting seeds of tomatoes which she has researched to find the best plants for this hot climate. Her plant varieties include cherry tomatoes, large beefsteak tomatoes and medium sized, plus tomatoes for cooking. All of these produce a variety of flavors and colors which come in a variety of sizes. New this year are Dwarf tomatoes which grow to about 2 ft. and produce large regular sized tomatoes. These sturdy plants do well in containers or in the garden and promise to be fun to grow. Her collection of tomato plants is extensive. Come early to select your variety. For the Farmers Market She will have a complete collection for your viewing.

In addition, a variety of bedding plants, houseplants and perennials will be loaded on their trailer. Winter produces is some of the finest vegetables of the year. The cold brings out the natural sweetness and crispness of lettuce, turnips, radishes, and a large variety of greens. These will be available too at the Farmer’s Market. Come see what they have to offer.

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 –
Ralph and the children will be back soon.
“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

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

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

Rocky Creek Ranch

Duck, chicken, and quail eggs

San Ysidro Farm – – Vendor Grown – -,
Jackie/Nathan will be at the market (first and third 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 cod, shrimp, snowcrab, Bairdi crab, Dungenese crab.

Randy will be back in November 2022.

Baked Goods & Snack Vendors

Designs by Copper Canyon
New: Gluten-free breads by request.
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.

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

Shelly will no longer come to the market.
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
All-natural hand-made soaps and lotions.

Soaps for every skin type from dry to oily, to sensitive. She uses only essential oils to scent her products (lavender, peppermint, cedarwood) with all natural coloring.
No dyes, no fragrances, no phthalates, no sulfates, no parabens.
Custom made batches at a discount.

Nature’s Premium Skin Care
Aloe Vera miracle cream

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

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

Crazy Coyote Concessions

Paul and Lisa will NOT be at the market April 21 and 28.
Kettle Corn and Smoothies
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook
520-904-2327
kettlekornaz@gmail.com

Julie & Sammie’s

Variety of ice creams, novelty candies, and more.

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
Annalysa will be back in the spring.
Specialty soda drinks

Sivonn’s Asian Cuisine

Lo mein, fried rice, steamed buns

Specialty Coffee of Colombia- Vendor Brokered

-Fresh Specialty Coffee from Colombian Farms

-SCA Rating of 85 and 83, rich and smooth

-For more information, please email manager.virtualworks@gmail.com

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

Knife sharpening at the market.

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

Bannuar Trading & Sporting Goods

Handcrafted jewelry and cut antlers for dog chews, Meyer lemons

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:

Doug Merrill

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

The Humble Daisy

– Local greeting cards made using Arizona photography, local art, and origami.
– Come get your greeting cards here. Personalization available.

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

Artisan Vendors (once a month)

Chalia’s Craft

•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

Jim Williams
Jim will be at the market on May 5 and 19.
Wood works such as Lazy Susans, checker boards, and unique writing utensils

Rita Obenauf’s Windchimes

Up-cycle bottle wind chimes
909-957-0368
Insta-gram Lifeabove100

Rincon Valley Artisans

New artisans:

Buena High School artisans
Leta’s Gallery
Crafts by Kate
Allie’s Attic
Victoria’s Blankets
Rincon Valley Artisans
Jeffrey Block Jewelry
R & W Gifts
Blue Bear Trading
Moonflower Remedies
Black Market
Phyllis Liddle
Native Southwest
Tombstone Pottery
Allie’s Attic

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