06.04.18 - At the Market Tonight

31969777_10155217146595899_6724721898409689088_o.jpg

We don't want to jinx it, but it looks like it's going to be a rain-free Monday for us.  Of course, that means it's hot out, but we're looking forward to enjoying some sunshine with some of our local favorites.  While the produce selection is changing, it's still delightfully fresh and flavorful.  Look for tomatoes, beans, and hearty greens, along with more tropical fruits coming your way.  

It's the first Monday of the month, so the Master Gardeners will be on site to help you with all your gardening and plant care questions.  

Hope to see you tonight!
Cheers,

Gabby Lothrop
Market Director

Here's our vendor lineup for tonight:

Authentic Empanadas
Traditional empanadas made from scratch.  Vegan options available! (Facebook)

Azalea Acres Farm
Pastured, free-range chicken; fresh eggs; and assorted fresh vegetables; all raised and grown in Osteen. (Website/Facebook)

Fleet Farming
A hyper-local, bike-powered urban farming program + A small-scale distributed agriculture system. (Facebook/Instagram)

Gaia Granola
Gourmet granola in various flavors, made with all-organic, high quality, unrefined ingredients for the best nutrition and taste. Packaged minimally for on-the-go, travel-sized snacking. 

Goosehands
Hand-blended herbalist products including teas, body care, and bath products.

Heart of Christmas Farm
Hydroponic veggies, raw milk and raw milk cheeses, local honey, and more. (Facebook)

Heartsong Naturals
Handmade soaps, body care products, and candles boasting natural ingredients and wonderful fragrances.(Facebook/Instagram)

JJ Juice
Locally- and Freshly-made aloe vitality drink, aloe plants, and more.  (Website/Instagram)

Massage with Genie
Swedish, Therapeutic Deep Tissue, and Cranial Massage from the wonderful Eugenio Rojas.  This is also where you can pick up pre-orders from Kashaya Biotic Yogurt!

Millers Edible Plant Garden *NEW
Small- and medium-sized edible plant starters, including hard-to find varieties and in-season selection. 

New Growth Urban Farm
A multi-site urban Orlando farm, we specialize in big growing in small spaces. (Website/Facebook/Instagram)

Noo Cow
Dairy-free ice cream and other vegan-friendly goods, including Jamaican patties.

Orlando City Kombucha
Locally-brewed, high quality kombucha available by the glass and in refillable bottles & growlers. (Website/Facebook/Instagram)

Peanut Butter Palace
A sustainable cooperative in East Orlando sharing its permaculture bounty. (Website/Facebook)

Second Breakfast
Gltuen free foods, local rare fruit, smoothies, baked goods, brunch, sandwiches, salads, snacks (Facebook)

Semilla Nativa
Artisan producers of pesto, muffins, pancake mixes, and other products; focused on natural ingredients, vegan- and gluten-free options.  (Facebook)

Sweet Utopian
Handcrafted specialty items including alternative milks and baked goods. All items are gluten-free, vegan, and locally sourced when possible. (Website)

Swell Milk Company
Organic, handcrafted almond milk and more. (Facebook)

Thrown by Hand
Handmade beautiful and functional pottery. (Facebook)

UF/IFAS Master Gardener Program
Visit the Master Gardeners to get your soil's ph tested, get your plant questions answered, and learn about the best approaches to gardening in Central Florida.

Wild Ocean Seafood
Wild-caught seafood, fresh from Florida's waters. Pre-orders only; check in with their booth to get in the loop. (Facebook/Instagram)

Happy Goats at Slow Turtle Farm

 
Earlier this month, Assistant Market Manager Ivy and I paid a visit to Slow Turtle Farm in Eustis.  Farmer Carol Peters and her husband own this little slice of paradise just a short drive from downtown Orlando, where they raise and breed a variety of dairy goats, Gulf Coast Native Sheep, chickens, ducks, and the occasional hog.  Carol loves her livestock, and they love her too.  During our visit, the goats followed her around the property, looking for treats, pats on the head, and ear scratches.  Carol raises Saanen, Nubian, and La Mancha Goats, all carefully selected and bred for the best quality milk production.  As her breeding program has grown, so have the prizes at agricultural shows.  This helps her sell extra bucks and does for top dollar, contributing to the farm’s business model. On our visit, we learned a lot about the work involved with raising and breeding goats, from pasture management to daily milking, hoof-trimming to birthing. As we walked through the pasture, Carol identified each goat by name, and could tell us his or her entire family tree.

Carol and her husband are hard at work to build out the facilities to make their farm a USDA Grade A dairy, where they’ll be able to produce a variety of fresh and aged goat milk cheeses for sale to consumers, retailers and restaurants.  This sort of achievement requires a major investment of time and money, especially for a small farmer, but Slow Turtle Farm is in it for the long haul.  For now, they are perfecting their recipes and developing a following, so that their signature products will be ready for success.  Carol currently produces a variety of raw milk cheeses,* including fresh and flavored chevres*, fetas*, and her signature Purple Turtle; a bloomy cheese aged in an ash rind.  These, along with fresh goat milk* and kefir* are available for direct sales at the market each week.  In addition to making cheese, Carol often spins yarn made from her own sheep’s wool, makes farmstead products such as preserves

This time of year, you’re likely to meet one of Carol’s future employees at her market booth.  With kidding season well under way, the Slow Turtle Booth at the market usually includes one of the newest baby goats.  These goats are raised to work with and be around people, so visits are encouraged!

You can follow Slow Turtle Farm on Facebook for the latest news, and stop by the market to meet the farmer in person!

 

*As required by the Federal Pasteurized Milk Ordinance and Florida Statute 502.091, which forbid the sale of unpasturized milk products for human consumption, this farm’s products are labeled: “Not for Human Consumption” and sold as “Feed for Animals.” 

SNAP/EBT + Fresh Access Bucks = More Good Food For ALL

We’re excited to announce that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are now accepted by many of our vendors, with double-dollar benefits available through the Fresh Access Bucks program. Fresh Access Bucks makes fresh, local produce more affordable and accessible to low income families while supporting Florida’s farmers and enhancing our local economies. It does so by increasing the purchasing power of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants by providing a one-to-one match for Florida grown fruits and vegetables. A SNAP cardholder who spends $10 of their SNAP benefits at a participating market receives an additional $10 to purchase fresh, local produce.

Fresh Access Bucks will double spending power on Florida-grown fruits, vegetables, and edible starter plants. We are excited to expand access and opportunities for members of the community and farmers alike!  It means more people eating locally and supporting the local economy.  Stop by our headquarters booth at the market for more information.

InfoGrtapghicEdited

Peak Season is Upon Us!

The team at the Audubon Park Community Market loves this time of year!  The season is changing; cooler breezes and perfect evening weather make for lovely market nights.  And with the arrival of this weather comes the arrival of some of the best variety of locally grown crops here in Florida.  We’re welcoming new and returning farmers to the market tonight, with lots of options for stocking up on healthy, delicious food.  This evening you’ll find fresh-picked salad greens, mature greens for cooking, squashes, root veggies and more.  Add fresh local dairy, responsibly-sourced meats, fresh baked bread, gourmet butter, handmade sauces, and more, and you’ve got quite the haul of local goodness!
See us tonight, and every Monday night, at Stardust Video & Coffee in the Audubon Park Garden District!

Trick or Treat at the Market!

Join us at the market for family-friendly trick-or-treating! Farmers Market vendors will offer treats at their booths, with over 20 stops for our little haunts to visit. Dine al fresco while your family makes the rounds, and stock up on your local staples all in the same place! We’ll be giving out prizes for awesome costumes. Teal Pumpkin-friendly items available as well!
Our vendor list for tonight is available in the weekly newsletter.  See you at the market!
[button link=“http://us9.campaign-archive1.com/?u=0d41fc0c394829ecc39f9bed5&id=036df79ea6” color=“orange”] This week’s newsletter.[/button]

At the Market Tonight - August 22, 2016

It’s a sunny day and we’re looking forward to reconnecting at this evening’s market.  Lots of great dinner options tonight, from Leguminati & Dixie Dharma, The Wandering Wonton, Authentic Empanadas, Tamale Co., Stardust Video & Coffee, and Wild Ocean now featuring Kappo!
You can dine al fresco before you shop for local staples to stock your fridge and pantry.

Full vendor lineup is available in the newsletter.

[button link=“http://us9.campaign-archive1.com/?u=0d41fc0c394829ecc39f9bed5&id=61e73358a6” color=“orange”] This Week’s Newsletter[/button]

 

 

At the Market Tonight - August 15, 2016

It’s a hot one, but so far it’s not a rainy one.  Cool down with refreshments from Stardust, Winter Park Seltzer, and Yum Yum Pops while you shop and dine at tonight’s market!
Tonight’s vendor lineup, specials, and more are listed in this week’s newsletter.

 

 

[button link=“http://us9.campaign-archive2.com/?u=0d41fc0c394829ecc39f9bed5&id=e6e96d593e” color=“orange”] This Week’s Newsletter[/button]

Always Rain or Shine!

It’s another drizzly summer evening, but we’re still here for ya!  Dinner options from Stardust Video & Coffee, Tamale Co, and The Wandering Wonton.  Lots of local goodies from Sugar Rush Marshmallows, Flour Life Bakery, Cocoa Brothers, Tehila Bakery, Natural Goodness, and JJ’s Juice.  Local produce, meat and dairy from Keely Farms Dairy, Azalea Acres Farm, Slow Turtle Farm, Orlando Meats, and Heart of Christmas.  And you can still pick up your seafood order from Wild Ocean Seafood.  Grab an umbrella and pay our fine friends a visit!