Variety of homegrown foods grows at farmers market

The Carlton County farmers market is going strong in both locations now: Tuesdays 4-6 p.m. in Carlton at the Four Seasons Center, and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Cloquet in the Premiere Theatres parking lot. New produce is showing up each week: carrots, beets, broccoli, cucumbers and snap peas should be available this month, as well as salad mixes and microgreens. Garlic scapes, which are the flower stalk of the garlic plant and taste like mild garlic, are available now, so get them while you can.

Most of us probably think of produce when we think of farmers markets, but thanks to Minnesota Statute 28A.152, known as the Cottage Food Law, vendors also are allowed to sell food preserved in their home kitchens. As long as one’s annual sales total $18,000 or less, the required training is taken, and Cottage Food Law guidelines regarding labeling and sales are followed, anyone can sell homemade foods that have a low risk of causing foodborne illness at market. This includes baked goods, jams, jellies and pickles. Cottage Food Law businesses must register with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

As I mentioned last month, we have several great bakers at our markets, and you can find many wonderful preserves, too. John Gaus of Pineknol Farm typically has the largest display of Cottage Food Law products at our market. He said he’s been in this line of work for about 20 years; he started by making maple syrup, then he added honey. Now, John offers a wide variety of jams and jellies, as well as treats such as honey sticks, granola, and suckers. A stop at his stand is sure to sweeten your week.

Debra Davis also has a beautiful display of preserves; she started selling them three years ago to help her grandson with a school fundraiser. She has sold occasionally since then, but this is the first summer she has tried a weekly market. Luckily, Deb keeps berries and various fruit juices in the freezer so she’s always ready to cook up something delicious; she’s already replenished her supply of jams to keep up with demand at the market. Deb said she likes variety, so along with the usual favorites like strawberry and blueberry, she uses less-common fruits like wild plums and chokecherries in her jams and jellies, and makes several different pickles as well.

Darla van Heerde of Pants Mary Land also works with unusual ingredients. She said her upcoming preserves will incorporate currants, honeyberries and elderflower. Pretty soon she’ll be bringing her famous salsa and her bruschetta in a jar, made with cherry tomatoes. I was curious about the name of her business, and Darla explained that she named it after Pants Mary, a Finnish immigrant who worked in the woods in the Esko area in the late 1800s, and therefore wore pants, which was unusual for a woman at the time. Darla said Pants Mary was well-loved in the Esko area, and she is happy to live and work in “Pants Mary Land.”

Darla shared her favorite recipe for garlic scape pesto with me, and I encourage you to try it.

Garlic Scape Pesto

10 garlic scapes

1/3 c pistachios

1/3 c olive oil

1/3 c grated Parmesan cheese

Salt to taste

Process all ingredients in a food processor until smooth.

Catherine Conover is a vendor at the Carlton County farmers market. She grows vegetables near Wrenshall at Stone’s Throw Farm, which was recently certified as organic.