John Koppelman Recognized by Hawthorne's City Council & Mark Ridley-Thomas

Last night John Koppelman submitted a speaker card to address the Hawthorne City Council to update them on the Farmers Market's First Year.  Well, the Council was prepared to address him, thanks to Mayor pro tem Danny Juarez who presented a City of Hawthorne Proclamation for John's tenacity and commitment to the Farmers Market that serves the Hawthorne Community.   "Wow...I'm surprised, I was here to talk about the Farmers Market. I'm very passionate about the Market, it's been a wonderful experience, there Sat I'm setting up and tearing it down, and um... most of the time I'm real enthusiastic, every once in a while I think I should have my head examined,  it's only a fleeting thought." followed by laughter by the crowd. "We have new vendors, the newest vendor has a breakfast burrito, which it's only Tuesday and I'm already salivating. With the variety increasing, families come, kids on their bicycles, a real family atmosphere.  I'm real proud of that. Thanks for the help from the City Council the Mayor, you've all contributed in your own ways, my wife Ema she really is a big back bone, takes care of stuff,  bails me out in a pinch" . What did I say in an early post, behind every great man is a great woman!!! That is Ema. 

Appreciate John's acknowledgement.  "Susan Hillyer our Market Manager she's indispensable, she takes care making sure we have good vendors, she's very aggressive in going out to the farms to assure that our farmers are who they say they are, the market's certified by the Department of Agriculture so we must follow the rules.  You can't bring fruit you buy to sell at the market. Susan watches for that and if it's not in season she picks up right away and goes to the farm. She's vigilant that our reputation stays in tact. Thank you to Sean Walsh, he's been very helpful and he and his wife Robyn sponsored the Jumper at the July 3rd Celebration Thanks Sean."

But that wasn't the end of the evening.  Mark Ridley Thomas who visited our market on July 3rd also wanted to recognize John.  Unable to attend last night's council meeting I presented on his behalf which read "Los Angeles County Commendation to John Koppelman for his dedicated service, to the affairs of the community and for the civic pride demonstrated by numerous contributions for the benefit of all the citizens of Los Angeles County."

It was a great evening for John and great to see him acknowledged by the leaders of Hawthorne & LA County - Hawthorne City Council & Mark Ridley Thomas.

You'll see John at the Hawthorne Del Aire Farmers Market 9am - 1pm every Saturday Rain or Shine in the parking lot of Aviation & West 135th Street.

Hollywood Salad Bowl

You know it's summer when you've been to the Bowl. The following Salad was my contribution to last nights picnic at the Hollywood Bowl.
Thanks to our Farmers it was a hit!

The evening was tremendous. It was A Beetles Celebration with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra conducted by Thomas Wilkins (love him!!!) and special guests Patti Austin, Rob Laufer, Bettye LaVette (must add to my IPod), Todd Rundgren, Brian Stokes Mitchell (Wowza!)
Hollywood Salad Bowl with Blackberry Vinaigrette
Yield: 4+ servings
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil - Olive Press
1 tablespoon minced shallots - Gama Farm
1 teaspoon minced garlic - Vang Family Farm

1 Heirloom Tomatoe Brandy - Vang Family Farm
1 pint fresh blackberries, plus extra for garnish - Santiago Farm
1/2 cup white balsamic vinegar - Olive Press
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint - Vang Family
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon - ABC Rhubarb
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/2 cup light olive oil
6 cups mixed greens, well washed and spun dry
Mix of Arugula & Amaranth (Chinese Red Spinach) - Vang Family
1/4 Small Red Onion Thinly Sliced - Uristoigi Farm
1/4 cup roughly chopped toasted pistachios - Peanut Dude
4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
1 avocado, peeled, seeded, and thinly sliced - Gama
1 Lemon Cucumber thinly sliced - Capay Organic
1 Cup of Chilled Chicken Cubed (poached in lemon water) - La Bahn Chicken & Eggs
Directions
In a large skillet, heat the oil over a medium-high heat. Add the shallots and garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the blackberries and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the vinegars and cook until reduced by half, about 30 seconds.
Remove from the heat and transfer to a blender. Add the sugar, mint and tarragon, and process to a smooth paste. Add the salt and pepper. With the machine running, add the light olive oil through the feed tube and process until smooth.
Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a clean bowl and refrigerate until completely cool, about 1 hour.
To make the salads, in a large bowl, combine the greens with the pistachios and toss with the vinaigrette until lightly coated. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
To plate, divide the greens among 4 plates and top with the goat cheese & chicken. Arrange sliced red onion, avocado slices decoratively around the edges, and serve. Garnish with extra blackberries.
 
Delish!

Dubious Farmers Tour

It's important that our Farmers represent their certification they hold. After David Karp's Los Angeles Times Friday online article July 2nd, he suggested there are a few dubious farmers in our market. Monday on a 400+ mile trek in the Jeep (off roading at times) to find out the facts about these alleged dubious farmers.  It was a great trip where I met Farmers, their Families, a 3rd Generation Family Owned & Operated butcher serving the high desert & a Hungarian Sausage Maker which I'm still enjoying because of course I had to take some home.  More to this post on Friday after my second visit.  

As Farmers Market Managers we rely on Certification issued by the department of Agriculture.  As important as that Certification is, we as Market Managers work together to assure our Farmers bringing what they Farm.

Thank You David Karp for the Write Up!

It was Awsome to see the Review of the Hawthorne Del Aire Farmers Market & Our Farmers In the LOS ANGELES TIMES!!!!

Celebrating!

A Celebration of the first Anniversary of the Farmers Market brought out the community who's

support & patronage is why the market has made it through a rollar coaster year. The market is a success and trending positively over last year's sales.  With new vendors & farmers at the height of production it's the place to be on Saturday Mornings. 

Appreciation to:
John Koppelman (the Farmers Market was his idea afterall)
Ema Koppelman (you know what they say about every great man, there's a great woman)
Sean Walsh (President of the HollyGlen Association)
Robyn Walsh (Supporter, Gardener & Baker)
Danny Juarez (Hawthorne City Councilman)
Don Harris(Our Insurance Man)
Harley & Bill (Wiseburn Watch)

Sarah Nitsos (Anza Elementary School & Customer)
Da Vinci Charter School
Mary Lou Weiss (Torrance & Hermosa Farmers Markets)
Greta Dunlop (Beverly Hills & So. Pasadena Farmers Market)
Natalie Dushon (Manhattan Beach Farmers Market)Paul - El Segundo Driving Museum
Douglas Kraus (City of Hawthorne)
Dr Alice
Lisa Mead (Volunteer Nutritionist)

Ibitsiam (LA County Nutrition Program)
Gold's Gym
Our Famers (they are the Heart of the Farmers Market)
Our Food Vendors (you are what makes us different)
and

Each & Every Customer!!!

No Egg's Hidden at this Farmer's Market!

Did you know that Eggs are a protein that provides strength, power and energy? 

Sustained Energy
- Eggs provide steady and sustained energy because they do not cause a surge in blood sugrar or insulin level
- Eggs are a nutrient-rich source of high-quality protein and provide several B vitamins required for the production of energy in the body, such as thiamin, riboflavin, folate, B12 and B6.
Muscle Strength
- Eggs provide six grams of high-quality protein (13% of the daily value) which can help individuals build muscle AND prevent muscle loss.
- Eggs are rich in leucine, an essential amino acid that contributes to our muschles uing the enery and muscle recovery after a work out
Standard
- Eggs are used by Scientiest as the standard for evaluating the protein quality of other foods

So the simple Egg is not so simple.  For the average price of .29 cents the egg is a healthy snack (hard boiled) or featured when incorporated with farmers market veggies for an affordable and flavorful Vegetable Frittata.  Yummy!

For more Eggcellant (sorry I had to) information go to:
Egg Nutrition Center http://www.ebc-online.org/
American Egg Board http://www.incredibleegg.org/

Partial to Parsley

Underappreciated Parsely isn't a staple on our shopping list; yet in other parts of the world it's a key ingredient as in tabbouleh, chichicurri, pesto and even staring in it's own salad.  Why, Parsley is good and good for us!

Cultivated for over 2000 years this native to the Mediteranean region of Southern Europe contains large amounts of beta carotene, vitamins B12, folate and more vitamin C than the equivalent amount of an orange.   Parsley also contains immunity-enhancing phytonutrients that curb inflammatory processes in the body. Current studies show that myristicin found in parsley has the ability to kill some types of tumors.  And here I thought this garnish at best was a natural breath freshener! 

This culinary herb also known as "Rock Celery" is available throughout the year and is a palette pleaser!

Select
Whenever possible, choose fresh parsley over the dried form since it is superior in flavor. Select fresh parsley that is deep green in color and looks just picked crisp. Avoid bunches that have leaves that are wilted or yellow as this indication they are either overmature or damaged.

Store
Fresh parsley should be kept in the refrigerator in a plastic bag. If the parsley is slightly wilted, either sprinkle it lightly with some water or wash it without completely drying it before storing in the refrigerator.

If you have excess flat leaf parsley, you can easily dry it by laying it out in a single layer on a clean kitchen cloth. Once dried, it should be kept in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark and dry place.

Curly leaf parsley is best preserved by freezing, as opposed to drying. Although it will retain most of its flavor, it has a tendency to lose its crispness, so it is best used in recipes without first thawing.

Savor

Gremolata
This Italian Trio sprinkled on chicken, roasts and braised meats the last four or five minutes of cooking gives off an amazing aroma and enhances the taste!

Eqaul parts of Parsley, Garlic & Lemon Zest combined & chopped.
(Vang, Gama & Uriostiguis)

Parsley Salad
4 servings

Ingredients
4 bunches Italian parsley (Vang or Uriostiguis)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (Valley Center)
2 tablespoons lemon zest (Valley Center)
6 tablespoons walnut oil
2 teaspoons dark sesame oil
1 teaspoon honey (Gama Farms)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Directions
Wash and dry parsley. Pinch the leaves from the stems. Disgard stems and set leaves aside.
Whisk together the lemon juice, zest, walnut oil, sesame oil, honey, and salt and pepper, to taste in a large bowl. Add the parsley and sesame seeds and toss to combine.

Allow the salad to sit for at least 30 minutes before serving so that flavors meld.

Parsley is readily available, however I'm Partial to Parsley freshly picked and available at the Hawthorne Del Aire Certified Farmers Market!!!

Delish!

Less than 2% of produce sales are purchased at Farmers Markets. So Fresno, the #1 county producing at est $5.3 BILLION in Agriculture and with approx 350 Farmers Markets in California, possibly each Farmers Market could gross over $360,000 for produce from that region. Wowza...really? Fresno represents just 1 of 9 growing regions in California. Fun to play (and it is play) with the numbers however more fun to shop the source at the Farmers Market! Know your Farmer Know Your Food!!

Marketing Training Class Manahattan Beach

Charleston North Carolina Farmers Market - July 4th

With AAA's Magazine in hand, standing amongst the Farmers at the Charleston North Carolina Farmers Market on 4th of July!

We are so lucky to live in So Cal!

Redondo Beach Farmers Market - Seaside Location!

Celebrating 30 Years of Farmers Markets - Los Angeles City Hall