Sierra Vista Farmers Markets Update for 07-18-19

A Bit of History about Lady’s Fingers
No this week’s market update is not on human anatomy, but rather an incredibly healthy vegetable that some believe originated in Abyssinia region of Africa – present day Ethiopia. What I’m talking about is the garden plant with the beautiful pale yellow flowers and long green (or red) ridged seed pods you and I know as Okra.   Okra gets its common name Ladies’ Fingers because of those long shapely seed pods.

The Bantu peoples of Sub-Saharan Africa call this flowering plant (ki)ngombo and some believe it is from these origins that we get the associated word gumbo.  In Spanish okra is quibombo, in French gombo, in India bhindi and in Arab and eastern Mediterranean countries it is known as bamies. One of the first known historical mentions of Okra is from a Spanish Moore visiting Egypt in the 12th century where he saw it under cultivation.

Speaking of ladies’ fingers, history or legend (I’m not sure which) has it that the beautiful Yang Guifei of China and the renown Cleopatra of Egypt were partial to this healthful vegetable. After you learn the amazing nutritional benefits of okra you understand why.

Okra’s scientific name is Abelmoschus esculentus or Hibiscus esculentus and is a flowering plant in the Mallow family like hibiscus, hollyhocks, and cotton. Okra is a rather hearty plant that is drought tolerant and typically produces its seed pods until the first frost. While the plant itself is not high maintenance, its seed pods mature rather quickly and must be pick within days of flower pollination. Typically you need to pick Okra every other day in order for the pods to be edible and not disagreeably fibrous.

On the nutritional side of things okra really shines. It is a good source of C, A, and B complex vitamins as well as flavonoid anti-oxidants like xanthin, lutein, and beta-carotenes. In fact, it is one of the vegetables with the highest levels of these nutrients. Okra also contains some iron and calcium and is packed with soluble fiber. Oh and that mucilage – the slimgy goo some find distasteful – some nutritionists claim it binds with cholesterol and bile acid carrying toxins to help remove them from your body.

One of okra’s most renowned characteristics, besides its long green ridged and tapered seed pods is the mucilaginous nature of its seed pod flesh. Once cut and exposed to water or cooked, Okra produces a slimy goo that is high in soluble fiber and excellent for thickening soups or stews. In our house I put three or four regular size okra in our morning smoothie and it keeps the smoothie from separating. Friendly warning – too much okra in your smoothie and it’s like trying to drink jello. Very difficult and yucky!

For those looking to add a little bit of healthy garnish to your salad, take some young okra and cut it across the pod and you’ll have nice little star shaped decorations for your salad. As long as your salad is not wet the mucilage is not really noticeable. Speaking of salad, okra leaves can be eaten raw like other salad greens or they can be cooked as well. And finally, don’t fret if you miss harvesting an okra seed pod or two. Just let them grow to maturity and dry out. Those seeds some say make a great caffeine-free substitute for coffee. During the American civil war it was claimed by the Austin State Gazette, “An acre of okra will produce seed enough to furnish a plantation with coffee in every way equal to that imported from Rio.” I’m sure some of you coffee connoisseurs will beg to differ.

Jolene Coffman won $100
Congratulations to Jolene Coffman who was last week’s $100 Like and Comment contest winner. Be sure to look for next month’s Like and Comment contest on Facebook. We’ll announce the opening of the contest through this newsletter and on Facebook. Stay tuned for more fun at the Sierra Vista Farmers Market.

Four Kings – Golden Ticket Contest
This week Four Kings Kitchen will be celebrating their 50th batch of their Original Granola. To celebrate they have hidden Golden Tickets in three of their 100 large bags of Batch #50 Granola. If you purchase one of these bags of Granola and find a Golden Ticket you’ll win a large (10 oz.) bag of each of their yummy granola flavors. If granola is on your shopping list this week, be sure to stop by the Four Kings Kitchen, who knows you just might win enough granola to keep you stocked up for a week or two or keep you in great healthy snacks for that special occasion.

Vendors Spotlight

Horton Farms 
The Sierra Vista Farmers Markets would like to welcome our new produce vendor Horton Farms. Mark and Jessica have been growing quality produce for years in Hereford AZ. This week at the market they will be bringing Zucchini, patty pan squash, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and carrots. Be sure to stop by, say hi, and give them a warm welcome.

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Gray’s Garden of Eat’N
The Grays are back at the market this week with their five varieties of gourmet garlic. You’ll also find tomatoes, and several variety of onions. Stop by their booth and ask them about their garlic.

The Ketoluscious Bakery
New to the Sierra Vista Farmers Market is veteran owned home bakery The Ketoluscious Bakery. Janet bakes all her goods according to Keto best practices. Her baked goods are grain free, gluten free, and sugar free.  The Ketoluscious Bakery has cupcakes, donuts cookies, breads, rolls, bagels and a whole lot more. Be sure to stop by Janet’s booth and check out all the Ketoluscious baked goods she has to offer.

Special Announcements and Events This Week

Angora Bunnies
Juliee with here soft and friendly Angora bunnies will be at the market this week. Stop by and Juliee might let you touch their luxurious fur.

BASA – Promoting Sustainable Agriculture
Christie Brown with BASA will be at the market this week. Baja Arizona Sustainable Agriculture’s (BASA)  mission is to help create and expand local sustainable food systems in Southern Arizona that promote the health and well-being of the natural world and the people who live here. BASA is dedicated to educating the public on the importance of a sustainable food and agriculture system that is economically viable, environmentally sound, socially just, and humane. Special instruction on how to harvest mesquite beans will be available as well.

Master Gardeners and the Seed Library
Be sure to stop by the Master Gardener’s booth for all sorts of great gardening information and advice. If you are looking to share or find new and interesting seeds for your garden make time to visit the Seed Library this week at the market.

SNAP – Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program
The Sierra Vista Farmers Market now 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.

Ride Vista Transit to the Market for FREE
Did you know that you can ride Vista Transit from their Coronado/Wilcox station to the farmers market for free each Thursday? That’s right, it’s free. If the traffic is a bit much for you at the market each week you can park your car at the Coronado/Wilcox station and Vista Transit will deliver you safe and sound to the market. With pick up and drop off every half hour, you can do your shopping and get a ride back to your car without any inconvenience. Pick up at the station is on the hour and half hour. At the market pick up is at 15 and 45 after.  Give it a try and be sure to thank your driver and the City of Sierra Vista for their great service.

Musical Entertainment This Week:

Music this week will be brought to you by the talented Simmons Family Band

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

This Week’s Weather Forecast

This Weeks Vendors
(Vendors are Alphabetized – attendance at Thursdays 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.

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This section is under construction – thank you for your patience.

Ancestral Herbals
Ancestral Herbals has a new lotion refill station. 

Arevalos Farms – – Vendor Grown – –
Aaron Cardona with Arevalos Farms has a wide variety of seasonal vegetables such as kale, carrots, onions, beets, and canned vegetables.

Backyard Gardening & Growing – – Vendor Grown – –
Noah Struse will bring onions, eggplant, cucumbers, peppers, apricots, and flat peaches.

Bisbee Balms
Frena with Bisbee Balm will have her all natural lemongrass essential oil insect repellent which she has been selling for five years to protect humans and animals from those nasty seasonal insect bites. She’ll also have organic salves for summer issues, insect bites, and stings. All Frena’s products are “kid-safe and friendly”.

Big Skye Baker
Bodie with Big Skye Bakers always has tasty baked goods for you to try.

Big Woody’s

Café Cultiva
 Jesse and Jessica will have fresh brewed coffee by the cup. They will also have fresh roasted whole beans from Guatemala, Colombia, Costa Rica, and India. If you need your beans ground they’ll be happy to do so while you wait. If you have a sweet tooth ask them about their been to bar chocolate.

Celestial Breads
Celeste with Celestial breads 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).

Desert Oasis Soap
Greg brings a wide variety of soaps to the market every week. Ask him for his favorite scent.

Designs by Copper Canyon
Nancy with Copper Canyon has a great selection of hand made bags, pillows, skirts and tops as well as a wide assortment of hand made home décor items to brighten your home.

Dolce Amore
Teresa with Dolce Amore bakes Italian specialties for you. Try her gluten free cookies, vegan cakes, Italian cakes, puff pastries, and regular cakes and cookies.

Echoing Hope Ranch – – Vendor Grown – –
Echoing Hope Ranch will be bring a variety of produce and greens grown down on the beautiful San Pedro River. If you want to help support a great cause, stop by Echoing Hope’s booth and ask them about how they are changing the lives of children and adults with autism. While you are there pick up one of the their t-shirts and help them get the word out about their mighty efforts to fight autism.

Emu Enterprise – – Vendor Grown – –
Roger Taber provides us with yak meat every week. Try something new for dinner. Also, Roger has several emu products available such as emu oil which reduces discomfort from sun burns and itching. Roger says a couple drops go a long ways in healing damaged sun burned skin faster ( NOT a sun screen or blocker).

Fizzy Wonders

Four King’s Kitchen
April brings a good assortment of home-made granola to the market each week.

Ginny’s Eclectic Kitchen
Ginny makes fresh sourdough bread for you every week. But it is not only her baking that makes this sourdough so delicious. She has to “feed” her sourdough leavening starter every day to keep it “alive” and healthy. Ginny only uses unbleached, unbromated, unenriched wheat flour, so come and sample her bread or some of her scrumptious sweet treats.

Golden Rule Dairy – – Vendor Grown – –
Remember to pick up your raw milk and cream at Golden Rule Dairy. For those of you who like granola the Stride family makes their own healthy granola. They also offer kefir grains. Oh, and not to leave out Fido, the Stride’s also have a variety of deer antlers which make great dog chews. Must be an acquired taste…

Gracewater Farm
Trudy brings seedlings and other plants each week. You’ll find her in Ginny’s booth at Eclectic Kitchen.

Gray’s Garden of Eat’N – – Vendor Grown – –
Clinton Gray will have his wonderful tomatoes, 5 varieties of Garlic, and three varieties of onions this week at the market.

Greenstone Pottery & Crafts
Charlatta and Eric are full-blooded Navajo and proud of their heritage.  Their pride and skill bring you genuine hand made Navajo artisan works that you will not find anywhere else at the market. Winnie was intrigued by their cedar berry necklaces which are made from the seeds found in juniper berries. Those seeds are also used in dream catchers and their pottery. Stop by and ask them to tell you about their fine works of art.  —- This week Greenstone will have Christmas Ornaments and native jewelry. 

Hilltop Hydroponics – – Vendor Grown – –
 For some of the most beautiful lettuce and greens around be sure to stop by Tom Hanson’s booth.  Tom has living lettuce and spring mix available as well as kale. If you ask, Tom will tell you about how he grows his greens hydroponically. 

Hone Ranger
Scott the Hone Ranger will sharpen just about anything you bring to the market.

Horton Farms –– – Vendor Grown – –
  Mark and Jessica with Horton Farmers brings fresh tomatoes, squash, zucchini, beans, and carrots.

Incredible Snacks
Each week David brings an incredible assortment of dried fruit and nuts.

Icee Queen

 Just-A-Pinch – – Vendor Grown – –
Michael Burgess with Just-A-Pinch will have his culinary herbs. Treat yourself this week to fresh mint, and basil. Buy it by the ounce freshly cut at the market or take home a healthy plant. New are his Egyptian walking onions.

K-1 Kreations
K-1 owner Kris is one of our regular vendors. Her product line includes aprons, coaster, pot holders, dish rags, table runners, and  tote bags made out of unique fabric patterns. She loves special orders and will customize anything, even cloth pin bags or a grocery bag holder, just ask her.

Ketoluscious Bakery
Please welcome Janet with her Keto and some Paleo compliant baked goods… jalapeno, cinnamon raison, everything, blueberry and plain bagels, donuts and cookies just to mention a few.

Krazy Koytote Kettle Corn & Smoothies

La Pina Raw Juice
If you haven’t been to the market recently, come on by and try Alexa’s incredible raw juices. With only the best ingredients Alexa uses a vertical “slow” juicer which helps keep all of the goodness (enzymes, phytonutrients) alive in her raw juices.  The result is the best tasting raw juice available. Did I say it tastes delicious? My favorite is the Apple – Ginger – Turmeric – Lemon blend. It’s refreshing with a nice tangy bite at the end.

Alexa also has Kangen Water, a filtered/ionized water produced by Enagic – a Japan-based company who has been a leading manufacturer of alkaline ionizers/water filtration for over 40 years. Alexa is happy to give you samples of her juice and water. So make sure you stop by and give it a try.

Lazy KJ Ranch
Stuart with the Lazy KJ Ranch which specializes in “Farm to Table” all natural grass-fed pork.  Stop by their booth and try their outstanding smoked pork ribs, BBQ pork sandwich, white truffle fries with parmesan~romano, double stacked nachos, burritos, and air fried quesadillas. All prepared fresh table side. This week Stuart is offering ribs by the bone along with amazing BBQ pork any way you like it.

Lasagna and More
Chef Scotty will be at the market this week with his mouth watering Lasagna. A consistent favorite at the Sierra Vista Farmers Market, these ready made meals will delight your family for dinner tonight. If you are wondering what the “more” is in Lasagna & More you might also like one of Chef Scotty’s killer burritos. Scottie makes a two meat (beef/pork) burrito as well as a six vegetable vegan burrito.  Just a note, all of Chef Scotty’s burritos are lard free.

Lettuce Man – – Vendor Grown – –

Donna will NOT be at the market this week.

Maggie’s Dog Treats & Accessories
Zia specializes in all natural treats for your pets that do not contain any chemicals or artificial flavors. Treat your pets right and stop by Zia’s booth. 

McDonald Farm
Scrumptious baked goods are brought to you by Donna. Try lemon bars, cinnamon rolls, scones, hand pies, and the ever favorite seven nut caramel bar. She also brings chicken and duck eggs.

Mustang Mountain Eggs

Mistik Valley Farms – – Vendor Grown – –
Mistik Valley Farms, a group of young growers, who offer home-grown produce such as salad mix, lettuce mix, spinach, kale, Swiss chard, beets and green beans.They harvest the day before market and hand-wash all their greens. Their farm is outside of Bisbee. Come welcome them and check out their produce.

Papa Mike‘s Jerky 
Papa Mike and his much loved beef jerky will be at the market this week. Papa Mike has a flavor for everybody so come and find your favorite. His best selling jerky is mesquite flavored and the chili lemon.

Pappardelles Pasta 
Erin has dozens of artisan pastas made with organic wheat. She also has gluten-free and vegan pasta as well.

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. Feliz will quench your thirst this week with her ice cold hibiscus lemonade. If spicing up your life is more your speed then try Feliz’s salsa or guacamole.

Ruth’s Garden – – Vendor Grown – –
This week Ruth will be bringing beautiful tomatoes and squash as well as many varieties of succulents. Many new herbs in small pots, tomato plants, geraniums and betting plants. Ruth’s Garden also carries organic fertilizers to feed those heavy feeders (plants).

San Pedro River Valley Salsa
Gary with San Pedro River VAlley Salsa will be at the market with their great variety of delicious salsa.

San Ysidro Farms – – Vendor Grown – –
If you are looking for quality grass fed beef or lamb for your next meal or special occasion, Nathan Watkins of San Ysidro Farms will be at the market this week. Nathan has a 100% grass fed beef and lamb. Their heritage cross pigs provide their fine pork If that’s not on your menu tonight then you might try their alfalfa fed and non-GMO grain supplemented pork from their heritage cross pigs.  Make sure to ask him about their other fine meat products as well. If a quick bite to eat is more your speed try one of Nathan’s warm (or take home frozen) pasties (pictured).  

SAS-Z Nuts – – Vendor Grown – –
If you’d like to spice up your pistachios a bit, Steve has garlic onion, green chili garlic, chili lime and hot chili in addition to premium salted pistachios.

Sky Island/47 Ranch – – Vendor Grown – –
Ranch owner Dennis Moroney tells us that he will bring their grass fed beef and lamb as well as wild Salmon from Alaska. He and his wife Deb make their own peanut butter from certified organic peanuts. Also, they bring all natural churro sheep wool in a variety of colors (no dye added at all).

Simmons Honey Ranchito 
 Their local mesquite honey is now in season and its the largest crop of the year, its light amber color is beautiful reminder of the wild desert mesquite from which it originates.

Fun Honey Fact: Did you know: Honey is a natural sweetener (sweeter than table sugar) mostly composed of fructose and glucose and about 18% water (the lesser water content the better the quality of the honey). It is rich in antioxidants, fat free, and cholesterol free. Honey is an excellent energy food, so make sure you stash a few honey stix in your hiking backpack, it might just give you that extra edge to make it there and back.

Sivonn’s Garden  – – Vendor Grown – –
Fresh backyard garden produce by Sivonn. Seasonal greens and other produce.

Super Natural Organics – – Vendor Brokered – –

Jack will NOT be at the market this week.

Sweet Arizona
Roger and Debra will be bringing a large selection of homemade toffee, brittle and fudge. All their products are always naturally gluten, soy and preservative free. They also have dairy free, vegan and nut free options available. Ask them about their market special – Buy 4, get 1 free.

Tawin’s Gardens and Crafts 
Tawin’s Garden not only brings potted plants and succulents, but she is a whiz with her crochet needle, come check out her cute little cacti and Yodas. They make great souvenirs or gifts for the grandchildren.

Toy’s Eggrolls

Tigerlily Boba Tea

White Cane Salmon
Not here this week.