Sierra Vista Farmers Markets Update for 09-26-19

The Hairy Cucumber – – –
Most  of us, at one time or another, have appreciated the delicious fruit (or vegetable) we know as the watermelon. There is nothing quite like biting into an ice-cold watermelon on a hot summer day and tasting that explosion of sweet refreshing juice.

Did you know that it took centuries, possibly even millenniums for horticulturists to cultivate a sweet watermelon? According to horticulturalist Harry Paris of the Agricultural Research Organization in Israel, the original watermelon was not cultivated for its sweet taste but for its capacity to store water. You see, the original watermelon actually had a bitter taste.  Even though it didn’t have the best taste, it was prized because of the high water content of its pulp, hence the name “water” melon. Because of its hard rind and watery pulp, if a watermelon is kept in a cool dry place it retains its water content for weeks and in some cases even months. This unique characteristic made the watermelon a natural vessel for water storage.

This is confirmed anecdotally in the modern era by National Geographic correspondents in 1924 when visiting Sudan. There they found that watermelons were being gathered and stored for future drinking use during the dry season. In 2015 Mark Strauss writing for National Geographic penned a fascinating article entitled: The 5,000 –Year Secret History of the Watermelon. This article notes that watermelon remnants were found in the tombs of ancient Egypt. Concerning those remnants the article quotes Harry Paris who speculates, “These Egyptian pharaohs, when they died they had a long journey ahead of them so they needed a source of water – and what would that source of water be?”  It seems that maybe they considered the watermelon an ideal vessel to fulfilled this need.

In case you are wondering about the color of watermelons, no they weren’t originally red, they were yellowish. Over the years as the bitterness was bred out and the sweetness in, watermelon’s color changed. The fascinating reason for this, as Mr. Strauss notes, was because in watermelons  “…the gene for the color red is paired with the gene that determines the sugar content. As watermelons were bred to become even sweeter, their interior gradually changed color.”

Now for you naturalists out there the scientific name for watermelon is Citrullus lanatus. Citrullus in Medieval Latin was a type of cucumber and lanatus means hairy. So the scientific name of the watermelon is hairy cucumber. But this is where it gets a bit murky. You see, modern DNA studies of the watermelon found that it wasn’t that closely related to the hairy cucumber (Citrullus lanatus) but rather the Citrullus vulgaris (common). But due to the fact that thousands of scientific papers (since 1930) had been written using the misnomer  Citrullus lanatus, the nomenclatural committee recommended that the name be conserved and in 2017 the International Botanical Congress confirmed their recommendation.

The Health Benefits of the Watermelon
I know most of us eat the watermelon for its refreshing sweet taste but don’t worry it’s good for you as well.  First of all because it is a melon that is 92% water it is a great way to keep hydrated. But it gets even better for those of us watching our waste line because a cup of watermelon (minus the seeds) has only 46 calories making it one of the lowest calorie fruits out there. 

One cup of watermelon also has 21% of your Reference Daily Intake of Vitamin C, 18% of Vitamin E, 5% of Potassium, 4% of Magnesium, and roughly 3% of Vitamins B6, B5, & B1.  Watermelons also have a type of carotenoid called Lycopene which acts as a powerful antioxidant which some studies suggest lowers the risk of certain types of cancer. Lycopene is good for your heart as well. Another promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound found in watermelons is Cucurbitacin E.  If you work hard and have sore muscles the watermelon has something for you too. The pulp contains an amino acid called Citrulline which some research studies have shown to reduce muscle soreness. 

Saving the Best for Last
Before you throw those watermelon rinds away though you should know that they are edible as well. In fact the rind has more nutritional value than its sweet juicy pulp. But even the rind doesn’t compete with the nutritional value of the watermelon seed. Did you know that watermelon seeds are one of the most nutrient-rich seeds? They not only contain vitamins and proteins but they also contain omega 3 & 6 fatty acids, potassium, zinc, copper, and 140% of your RDA of magnesium. The only down side of watermelon seeds is that they are high in calories. One cup of seeds comes in at a heavy 600 calories. So there you have it…

Metamorphosis of the Watermelon
Once upon a time there was a bitter hairy cucumber upon which ancient horticulturists worked a magic feat
Okay not hairy – but it was bitter and they made it sweet
A yellow they worked their magic on until it turned the color of a beet
In time an ancient water flask transformed into a favorite summer treat

This Week at the Market
If you are looking for some locally grown watermelons this week, Arevalos Farms will have watermelons at this Thursday’s market. Be sure to stop by and pick up these naturally delicious and healthy fruits for your next snack or get-together. For a full list of all our fantastic vendors and their great products please see our full newsletter below:

Vendors Spotlight

Incredible Snacks
Looking for a healthy snack, something a bit sweet, or just some dried fruit to munch on? David with Incredible snacks has dozens of delicious snacks for you to try. This week he has dark chocolate pecans, peanut brittle, cinnamon apples chips, and so much more. 

Simmons Honey Ranchito
This week the  Simmons Honey Ranchito has many specialty jams, jellies, and fruit butter spreads to choose from. They’ll also have unusual types of pickles like Okra and Green Bean Dilly Pickles.

If you are looking for honey be sure to check out their many wonderful varieties of local honey like desert wildflower and mesquite.

Just a Pinch
Whether you are looking for just a pinch or a whole plant Michael will be at the market to take care of your special herb needs. This week he’ll have several varieties of mint, as well as thyme, sage, rosemary, Mexican tarragon and Egyptian walking onions.

Peppermint: Fun Facts from Michael Burgess
A hybrid plant of the mint family, the strong-flavored peppermint herb is most popular in desserts & drinks, though it can also be found on main courses & side dishes in Mediterranean & Middle Eastern cuisines.  An important ingredient in peppermint, menthol, makes an important medicinal additive in sore throats, digestion aides, and even some burns!  Other uses for peppermint include deterrence of mosquitoes, mice, & rats!

Hilltop Hydroponics
Tom Hanson will return this week with his living lettuce, baby greens, kale, watercress, arugula, and bok choi. Tom will also have basil plans and sunflower microgreens.

Celestial Breads
This week Celestial Breads will be offering their special breakfast or lunch Egg Bakes. Wrapped in buttery white dough you’ll find fluffy scrambled eggs, crispy lean turkey bacon and cheese all baked to a beautiful golden brown.

Celestial breads also makes 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). They also make delicious sweat breads, cinnamon rolls, various types of challah bread and jalapeno bread.

Special Announcements and Vendor Events

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.

Chile Roast Encore – October 3rd
Due to its great success Chris Ochoa will be back roasting chillies for you at the market next Thursday. Chris will have his Big Jim chilies.

Arevalos Farm Fall Festival – October 19th, 2019 from 10am-5pm

Sierra Vista Community Gardens – Presents: A Class on Foraging in Cochise County – Saturday October 26, 2019 from 10:30am —
Mimi Kamp will be the guest speaker teaching about edible plants in Southern Arizona

Echoing Hope Ranch Harvest Festival – October 26, 2019 – 10am – 4pm

• Corn Hole Tournament
• Ranch Bingo
  
• Hay Ride
• Pumpkin Patch
• Petting Zoo
• E-H-R Medallion Hunt
• Food Raffles – Vendors Games – Prizes

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 provided by Rich Rice

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

Community Performing Arts Calendar

• Sky Island Chamber Society will be performing Beethoven and Borodin Sat 7 PM · Sierra Vista United Methodist Church
• 13th Annual Francie’s Youth Piano Competition – Saturday November 9th at 9am – more info: (520) – 458-5747
  

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 melons, garlic, onions, beets, and canned vegetables.

Backyard Gardening & Growing – – Vendor Grown – –
Zane and Noah Struse will bring onions, eggplant, cucumbers, okra, peppers, and a variety of apples and pears. Garlic grown by the Garden of Eat’in.

Beatty’s Orchard – – Vendor Grown – –
Edith has the newest apples and rhubarb.

Bisbee Balms
Frena will not be at the market this week.

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

Big Woody’s

Hot lunch at the market with Sonoran hotdogs, pulled pork, or nachos.

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 makes 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 will not be at the market this week.

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.

Four King’s Kitchen
April will NOT be at the market this 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 will Not be at the market this week, but you can find his garlic at the BGG booth.

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 – –
Welcome to one of our nest produce grower. 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.

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. Still available are his Egyptian walking onions.

K-1 Kreations
Kris will NOT be at the market this week.

Ketoluscious Bakery
Janet will NOT be at the market this week.

Krazy Koyote 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.

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 will NOT be at the market this week.

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.

Peace, Love, & Smoked Cheese

Mickey will NOT be at the market this week.

Queen Ceviche

Feliz will NOT be at he market this week.

Ruth’s Garden – – Vendor Grown – –
Ruth will NOT be at the market until January.

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 – –

Sweet Arizona
Roger and Debra will bring their super delicious fudge, brittle, and toffee.

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.

Tortilla Arevaloes aka Esperanza

Hot lunch at the market or take home her much-sought after tortillas, also available gluten free.

Toy’s Eggrolls

Tigerlily Boba Tea

White Cane Salmon
Not here this week.