Sierra Vista Farmers Markets Update for 4-4-2019

The Golden Rule of Chicken Eggs – –
One of the few complaints we sometimes hear about farmers market eggs is their cost. This week I’d like tell you why paying more for your eggs at the Sierra Vista Farmers Markets is worth the money.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so take a look at the picture in this article. Can you spot the store bought commercially raised chicken egg?

Let me tell you a little bit about what you are seeing there. First of all, notice the bright golden color of the four pasture-raised farm fresh eggs. Did you notice that the farm fresh eggs appear smaller than the store bought egg? That’s because the yoke and its membrane are stronger and they don’t flatten out the same. If you were to look at the eggs from the side you’d see the farm fresh eggs are higher and more rounded. That’s what eggs are supposed to look like when the chickens are getting all the nutrients they need to live a healthy life.

 Did you know that most commercial egg chickens spend their entire lives in tiny little cages?  If that’s hard for you to comprehend, just imagine yourself confined for your entire life to a wire cage the size of a small refrigerator, where you are fed an unnatural diet of soy, corn, and cottonseed – never to taste a fresh blade of grass, scratch up a worm, or feel a single ray of sunshine. That’s the uncomfortable truth of cheap commercially raised chicken eggs, they come at a price and it’s paid in full by the poor miserable creatures who provide us those eggs.

Most farm fresh chickens on the other hand are not confined to cages, but are provided ample room to forage. They get to eat fresh grass, weeds, insects, and the microorganisms found in the dirt that their bodies need to be healthy. The end result is healthier happier chickens who have the nutritional building blocks to produce eggs worth eating.

The Nutritional Benefits of Eggs
I’ve talked before about the health benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids found in Salmon. Did you know that farm fresh chicken eggs contain two times and in some cases up to ten times the Omega-3 fatty acids found in commercially cage-raised chicken eggs? They also contain double the Vitamin E, and six times the Vitamin D as well as trace amounts of Vitamin K, Zinc, Selenium, Phosphorus, and Calcium.  

Lutein and zeaxanthine are also found in chicken eggs. These vitamins are powerful antioxidants important to skin and eye health because they protect against the ravages of UV light. They do this by helping these organs of your body filter out this high energy blue spectrum light.  

A final nutrient found in chicken eggs worth mentioning is choline. Some studies have shown that choline contributes to healthy brain development as well as improves cognitive function.  Low levels of choline may contribute to fatty liver disease and some types of cancers.

The bottom line is that chicken eggs are a valuable source of vitamins and minerals your body needs to function properly. Chicken eggs raised by real farmers in a natural setting are likely to provide more of these basic building blocks of nutrition. The Sierra Vista Farmers Markets has conscientious farmers who take special care of their chickens. Sometimes you do get what you pay for.

This Week At the Market

It’s Artisan Thursday this week at the market. For those who don’t know, on the first Thursday of every month we invite a select group of artisan and craft vendors to join our regular family of vendors. Be sure to stop by and check out their amazing handmade works of art. McDonald Farms, Ruth’s Garden, TMAR, Mustang Mountain, Simmons Ranchito, and Backyard Gardening & Growing have chicken eggs (subject to availability).  

Bakers and Food Vendor’s Spotlight

Queen Ceviche
This week Feliz has more of her spicy red salsa (with oregano) as well as red chipotle salsa. The chipotle has a slight smoky flavor after your first bite. Don’t forget to try her guacamole or of course her royally delicious ceviche- all are available with a bag of fresh tortilla chips. To quench your thirst during these hot spring days, have some of Feliz’s hibiscus lemonade or if you rather take a bottle of concentrate home for your next party.

Wraps, Breads, and Stromboli
Celeste with Celestial breads is back after the arrival of Baby Abenezer. She and her family make fresh calzones and Stromboli every week. Try their chicken calzone with Chef Scotty’s garlic sauce or beef calzone with his famous marinara sauce; both have two cheeses added (mozzarella and cheddar).

Artisans, Craft, and Body Care Vendor’s Spotlight

Desert Oasis Soap
Astoria Riverwalk is the name of one of Greg’s anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial soaps made with star anise essential oil (licorice scent). Greg says it’s very good for your skin. My favorites for this week are “All Dressed Up”- a juniper, bayberry, and lavender scented soap and “Sun Lily”, which smells like lily of the valley, but also has pineapple and sandelwood in it. You’ll find all these soaps and many more at Desert Oasis Soap’s booth.

Bisbee Balms
Bisbee Balms has  a new batch of helpful salves to help protect and nourish your skin against summer discomforts. Stings, itches, aches, pains and safe for humans big and small, these traditional all natural salves are made to be protect and heal. 

Back By Popular Demand
By popular demand Julie and her Angora rabbits will return this week. Make sure you stop by and visit with Julie and maybe she’ll let you pet her luxurious rabbits. 

Special Announcements and Events

$100 Farmers Market Facebook Contest
Starting this week on the first Thursday of every month we will be giving away $100 in Farmers Market Bucks to a lucky winner. If you’d like a chance to win just visit our Sierra Vista Farmers Market Facebook page (here), find the contest post for the current week (pictured left) and then simply Like the post and then tell us (on that post) one thing you like about the Sierra Vista Farmers Market.

On that Thursday around noon we’ll randomly draw a winner from those of you who have liked and commented on the post. We’ll announce the winner at the market on that Thursday and also post the winner’s name on the contest post on Facebook. So if you like our post and comment, make sure you are watching to see if your name is drawn.

There is one catch though. You have to be present in person at the market on Thursday to claim your prize. If you do not claim your prize in person by the time the market closes at 2 pm (the day of the drawing) your prize will be forfeited and rolled into the next contest.

So come on out and do some healthy farmers market grocery shopping or grab a bite to eat at one of our vendors. Who knows, maybe lunch and grocery shopping will be on us this week. Hope to see you at the market! 

Official Rules:

• Void where prohibited
• You must be 18 yrs old to enter
• Vendors, their employees, and family cannot participate

This promotion is managed by Sierra Vista Farmers Markets. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. By participating in this promotion you agree to a complete release of Facebook and the Sierra Vista Farmers Markets from any claims.

Musical Entertainment This Week
Music this week will be brought to you by Noah Jacobson

We hope to see you all at the Market this week!

This Week’s Weather Forecast

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