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.

Lots of Casey County Produce

It is bumper crop time for Casey County melons and a lot of other produce now coming into local farmstands and also sold at the Casey County Produce Auction (where you can personally buy, or sell, lots large or small).

We'll let these photos, shot at the Monday, August 15th auction, speak for themselves!

 

Produce Auction Now on Saturdays, too

Just a reminder, and some recent photos, that the Casey County Produce Auction has started holding additional Saturday produce auctions, at 2pm, in addition to their weekly auctions on Monday & Wednesday (also at 2pm) and Thursday at 5pm.

Jay Weaver situates a palette of fresh local corn, bagged by the dozen.

A display ear of Butter and Sugar corn.

A palette of Roman beans that the grower said can be eaten whole.

Fresh-picked wild blackberries await a sale.

 

Mt. Stripey Heirloom tomatoes

Their additional Saturday produce auctions will continue through September 3, over Labor Day weekend, after which time auctions will be held three times during the week. This additional auction day is to accommodate the large amount of produce coming in now at the height of the summer growing season.



Also, save the date of Saturday, October 15 (starting at 9am) for their second annual Consignment Auction (participants keep their earnings after portion is given to the auction house). On Saturday, December 17 (at 9am), the last auction of the year, there will be a special Christmas Craft auction.

This is only the beginning of melon season in Casey County
which stretches well into September.

More details and important updates will be posted here at GROW Casey County, as needed, as well as on the 'GROW Casey County' Facebook page. If you haven't yet 'Liked' us on Facebook, please do. You will get more regular and timely updates, links and news about related information to Casey County agricultural news, as well as related news around the Commonwealth (these updates are also posted on the column at right for those not on Facebook).

Spotted at Lavern's Produce

I found out over the weekend that July 24-30 was Farmer's Market Week in Kentucky. Well, here's the good news: we're now on the last day of July and the fresh, local produce just keeps on coming in and will do until the first frost (often not until mid-October). The next few weeks may just be peak time for all of your favorite vegetables. 

Some gardeners are now starting to plan (and perhaps even to plant) their fall gardens: cole crops or lettuces and other greens that prefer cooler days. The nice thing about Kentucky gardening, we're learning, is that you can really have three gardens here: spring, summer and fall.

So to celebrate the beginning of August tomorrow––yes, summer is passing us by, but not the produce yet––here are some photos of what we found at Lavern's Produce before the weekend. Lavern's farmstand is at the corner of SR 910 at the beginning of South Fork Creek Road, just a few miles from Highway 127. 

On Friday, Lavern's had local tomatoes, melons, sweet corn, a variety of peppers, cucumbers, and peaches. He also buys most of his local produce at the Casey County Consignment Auctions and imports what he can't get locally (like most of his peaches).

I'll let the pictures do the talking.

So these peaches were from Georgia––but they looked so nice on the shelf!
[They are delicious, too. Local peaches are only available for a very short time here.]

Whatta Melon!

For more on Mennonite grown watermelons in Casey County, click here.

Melon season has arrived in south-central Kentucky and here are some great recipes for beating the heat with melons: Watermelon recipes. Did you know that watermelon is also high in arginine? I didn't either, or know that was important, until I read this. Yes, watermelon can actually boost your metabolism!

A friend of mine shared this recipe with me last summer. It's like a Watermelon-Lime Aqua Fresca and is absolutely refreshing. I'm sure you could even substitute cantaloupe or any other melon of your choosing.

WATERMELON COOLERS

• 3 cups diced watermelon (preferably cold)
• 2 Tbsps. lime juice
• 1 Tbsp sugar (optional or you can add other sweetener)
• 1 cup crushed ice (or a few cubes thrown into blender)
• 1/2 cup water (also optional)

Put all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Pour into glasses, over ice if desired, and garnish with a fresh mint sprig or lime wedge. Makes a blender full and serves four.

You can also chunk up watermelon in fruit salad, serve it with greens and feta cheese (very delicious) or just enjoy it fresh from the melon. One day I want to make watermelon sorbet, but a cooler in the blender is so much easier. In this heat we're actually considering a watermelon and BLT diet. I'll let you know how it goes!

We will have local melons for a few months now––enjoy them while they're here: sweet, sweet summer on the vine.

The watermelon harvest at the Melvin Hurst farm in Casey County.

In the words of Mark Twain (from his Autobiography):

I know how a prize watermelon looks when it is sunning its fat rotundity among pumpkin vines and “simblins”; I know how to tell when it is ripe without “plugging” it; I know how inviting it looks when it is cooling itself in a tub of water under the bed, waiting; I know how it looks when it lies on the table in the sheltered great floor space between house and kitchen, and the children gathered for the sacrifice and their mouths watering; I know the crackling sound it makes when the carving knife enters its end, and I can see the split fly along in front if the blade as the knife cleaves its way to the other end; I can see its halves fall apart and display the rich red meat and the black seeds, and the heart standing up, a luxury fit for the elect; I know how a boy looks behind a yard-long slice of that melon, and I know how he feels; for I have been there. I know the taste of the watermelon which has been honestly come by, and I know the taste of the watermelon which has been acquired by art. Both taste good, but the experienced know which tastes best.