If you've ever stopped by the Monroe farmer's market, you can't help but notice the mounds of vegetables, the tables full of jams, jellies, and canned goods, and the usual fare that makes up a market. But among the abundance are not-so-common products that you might miss on a casual walk through the market, products you didn't even realize you could to put on your market shopping list. Here are a few things to look for next week:
From Amy Burdick of 10th Ave. Soaps and Danielle Zimmerman of Meadow Ridge Alpacas-- felted soap
Yes, they look a bit hairy at first glance. These soaps are the joint effort of two market vendors--Amy makes the soap and Danielle raises alpacas. They then dye and felt the alpaca fibers to the bar of soap, making a lightly exfoliating soap/washcloth in one. They make a truly unique gift.
From Luanna and Joe Parr of Paracres Farm--red onion marmalade
A jam made with onions may not sound incredibly enticing at first glance and it's not something you'd put on a peanut butter sandwich. That's why they offer samples. But nearly everyone is delightfully surprised by the fruity, onion-y flavor that makes a great hors d'oeuvre for a party or snack for just you. (Add a little bit of cream cheese before topping the cracker with marmalade--it's delicious!)
From Arlo Gough of Gough's Gorgeous Goods--dehydrated vegetable baby food
The Goughs, who have made a business of dried vegetables, have taken the idea to another level this year with their dehydrated baby food powder. Just add a little water and you have a meal for your little one with varieties like beets, butternut squash, and green beans. Lightweight and easy to pack, with no extra ingredients or preservatives, this is one more product that you can now purchase with your weekly groceries at the market.
From John Ebersol of Appleseed Farm and Scenic View Bakery-- whoopie pies
An Amish specialty--two cake-like cookies with a generous amount of fluffy, frosting-like filling. They're just like Little Debbie's specialties, except that these are yummy, baked without preservatives, made fresh weekly, don't come out of a box, contain pronounceable ingredients...
From Randy and Iva Kauffman--maple sugar
The Kauffmans are known for their home-processed maple syrup and honey, but look twice to see the little tubs of maple sugar. Maple sugar is syrup cooked down to the point that it granulates like sugar. It's much easier than toting around a bottle of syrup to spread some maple flavor everywhere and naturally sweeten coffee, tea, and such when you're on the go.
From Phyllis Perrin of Caroline's Old Tyme Products-- gooseberry jam, dill pickled grape tomatoes, and mango salsa
Definitely not your everyday grocery store fare. Her sauerkraut, pickled peppers, lemon curds, and rhubarb-strawberry jams are perpetual favorites, but she makes a myriad of other flavors and this is only a sampling of her array of specialties. You'll have a difficult time coming up with a type of jam, jelly, or pickle that she doesn't have on hand or won't be able to custom make for you.
Discover other treasures for yourself this weekend at the Monroe Farmers Market!
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