Fresh Local Produce at Lavern's Country Market

Today I went to Lavern's Country Market to get a watermelon––just a watermelon, mind you. I knew it wouldn't be local yet (but soon!), however Georgia is close enough when you are craving a nice piece of cold, sweet melon. Then I saw the large Georgia cantaloupes: had to have one of those, too (even though Casey County will soon be full of them). Then when I went inside I thought I should grab a cart. Well, a few minutes later I had quite a haul. Most of it was affordable, LOCAL produce and much of that was not only affordable but also organically grown. The rest was grown in the deeper South (not sure about the bananas or celery but American, at least). The best part is that I didn't have sticker shock at the register. My total? $37.00 for everything you see in the photograph above!

Here's the LOCAL breakdown:

• 6 organic summer squash 
• ($1 for 6)
• 3 organic zucchini 
• ($1 for 3)
• 2 large bags organic lettuce 
• ($2 each)
• 2 large bags of beets 
• ($2 each)
• 3 hot-house tomatoes ($2 each)
• 1 pint organic raspberries ($2.50)
• 1 pint blueberries ($2.50)

Here's the breakdown for the rest (grown in the US):

• 1 medium-sized seedless watermelon (Georgia)
• 1 large cantaloupe (Georgia)
• 2 large bags carrots ($2 each)
• 1 bunch celery
• 1 large bag Vidalia onions
• 2 bunches of bananas

Who says you can't eat both healthy and affordably, and right here in Casey County? Here there is no need to pay a high premium for locally-grown organic produce or to drive to Danville or Lexington to find it. [Of note is that the organic-local or local summer squash and zukes were the very same price.] Word is out, too, as the parking lot was packed. Best produce in the county, I'd say (well, except for your own or your favorite neighboring farmer...or what you mind find at the Casey County Produce Auction).

Lavern's also sells a variety of cheeses, locally-raised eggs, jams, jellies, nuts, cookbooks, and plants. They will soon be expanding their offerings to more natural foods, too. They are open year-round with a changing offering of local produce, and other produce from further afield, and specialize in year-round hot house tomatoes grown here in Casey County.

WHERE: Lavern's Country Market
At the corner of Hwy 910 and South Fork Creek Road
in central Casey County, Kentucky
OPEN: Monday-Saturday: 8am-6pm (sometimes later)
INFO: Lavern Zimmerman, Proprietor
Call (606) 787-9845 for more information or for wholesale inquiries.

Casey County Produce Auction In Full Swing

Some early heirloom tomatoes.

The Casey County Produce Auction is now held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 4pm on South Fork Creek in Casey County. Click here for a link to their 2014 schedule.

NOTE: Friday's auctions tend to be the busiest right now, with the most amount of offerings. What that generally means for the buyer is that you can get some real deals much of the time on Monday and Wednesday. The auction is a great place to come if you want small or larger batches for canning, freezing or eating fresh: or if you need larger lots to sell retail somewhere else. Sometimes you can even buy or swap partial lots with someone else: for example, a friend bought a lot of three bushels of Georgia peaches yesterday, each for $6, and she sold me one. At the very least, you can enjoy the auction and have a bite to eat, or an ice cream cone, at the chuck wagon.

Here are some highlights from yesterday's auction (the photographs below are all of locally grown produce in Casey County and surrounding areas):

You can always bid on smaller lots on the produce tables.

OPEN HOUSE: MeadowBrook Orchards & Farm

On Saturday, June 28th from 1-5pm, the public is warmly invited to an open house at MeadowBrook Orchards and Farm in western Casey County, half-way between Campbellsville and Liberty, Kentucky and not far from Hwy 70 [scroll down to see map].

Diana Paluy and Bruce Gruber have been farming in Casey County for the past six years. You can read more about them and their farm offerings in a previous post on this blog by clicking here.

You can also "Friend" them on Facebook where Diana posts regular musings of farm life, updates on what's available or where/when they might be selling and even recipes. 

One of several newly planted vegetable gardens.

They will have an abundance of heirloom tomatoes and other vegetables in the months ahead. In a few years they plan to have heirloom apples and other fruits available to the public.

An heirloom variety of salvia.

In the meantime, come tour their extensive vegetable, herb and flower gardens and set a spell on the porch! Just scroll beneath the recent photos from their emergent garden for more information and a map to their farm.

Johnny Jump-Ups galore!

Hosta & Nepeta ("Catmint")

The Conservatory

The farm's pack of friendly, loving farm dogs might greet you.

DATE & TIME: 
Saturday, June 28th, 1-5pm

LOCATION: 
680 Dug Hill Road, Elk Horn, KY 

PHONE: (606) 787-4690

View Larger Map

MeadowBrook gardens in high summer.