Summer’s greatest hits: Tomatoes, Beans and Corn

Now’s the time for a mess of beans served with new potatoes (don’t forget the bacon).

It seems that the height of market season always coincides with July fireworks. And so it is this week when the farmer’s markets and produce auctions are bustling with anxious buyers purchasing excellent farmer grown vegetables. I got a little delirious today surveying the bounty: wild blackberries, incredible half runner and Roma beans, sweet Bodacious (my favorite, a yellow variety) and Temptation bicolor corn with sweetness in every kernel.

I was surprised to see how large the tomatoes have gotten despite the drought and with such amazing flavor. I am already saving seeds of some grand specimens for next year, including some small black tomatoes with a week-long shelf life, which must be a record for an heirloom variety. The cucumbers are firm and brilliantly green and the squash and zucchini are so sweet and tender I can’t imagine tiring of them, though I know it’s inevitable.

This Saturday marks our first day at our new downtown Midway location at 208 Dudley Street in Midway, Kentucky. Since the water isn’t yet turned on we’ll be spending our first day outdoors beneath a tent.  The Honest Farm ‘Pure Kentucky’ Market will be open on Thursday afternoons from 3 to 7 and on Saturdays from 9 until around 3 (or until sold out) until August 4th when we have our Grand Opening (and hopefully the refrigeration we need!). The store is located in the large white building behind the old Christmas store and next to the Midway Market. We’ll be set up outdoors beneath a blue tent but you’re welcome to take a peak inside at our new digs.

After the grand opening, the store will feature all local produce and products, including meat, poultry, cheese, milk and eggs (as soon as we get the refrigeration that is!). In addition, we’re very excited to announce that we’ll be offering delicious and lean all-natural, grassfed freezer beef from Bluegrass Meadows Beef produced by the Mefford family of Frankfort, Kentucky. To read more about his wonderful product go to www.bluegrassmeadows.vze.com.

We plan to carry product from several area farmers, including many Amish growers’ products. Our work to promote Kentucky grown products is going well (perhaps a little too well) as we are now leasing a large van to make deliveries to several retailers and chefs in the Midway, Lexington, and Louisville area, including Whole Foods Market where our product is displayed in a large display as you enter the store.

We’ll have a great bounty of local food on hand Saturday at the new location from the farm as well as from some of our Amish grower friends in Lincoln county. Incredible corn, beans and tomatoes are just the tip of the iceberg!

Directions: Go to the end of Main Street (towards the bank) and make a left over the railroad tracks towards Midway Market. Take the first right on Dudley Street. We’re in the large white building, first floor, at Midway Lofts, 208 Dudley Street. If you get lost call (859) 533-0085.