Enjoy harvest time at the Fresno Farmers’ Market
FRESNO – The “harvest” has long been a time of celebration. Harvest marks the end of a season with the hard physical labor of bringing in the corps and with most of the canning and preserving done for the coming winter months ahead, it is truly a time to celebrate.
Actually our modern school year calendar is set up around the harvest. September thru June, this was so that every able bodied person, young and old alike would be available to help bring in the harvest. The elderly were highly regarded for their wisdom during the harvest, having contributed many years of labor, it was now their knowledge and wisdom that was sought after. Before there was easy access to publications and books were a luxury for the rich, knowledge was passed down from one generation to the next by word of mouth. If an elder passed and their knowledge of butchering, harvesting, preparation and preserving was not handed down, it could very well mean the existence of that entire family during the cold winter to come.
Lucky for us; time and technology have advanced and we don’t have to rely on great-grandad to teach us how to thrash wheat using a team of oxen. The word “harvest” comes from the Anglo-Saxon word “haerfest” which translated means “autumn”. The once celebrated holiday of (Lammas) also known as “Loaf Day”, was a harvest celebration of the first gathering of wheat. Entire communities would bake loaves of bread from this first wheat and give to local churches for communion to show their gratitude for a good harvest. Of course ones thoughts turn to the widely celebrated holiday of Thanksgiving as a national day of thanks. However, not only was the first Thanksgiving a celebration of the harvest, but a union of two different cultures as well. It was and still is a time to be grateful of nature’s abundance to our tables.
Your vendors at the Fresno Farmers’ Market are here to help you with the harvest, by supplying everything that you need for a grand harvest party celebration. With our country being the melting-pot that it is, harvest time is a perfect time to host a “harvest party”. Invite your family, friends and neighbors; to celebrate the season, you’ll be surprised at the diverse selection of dishes and recipes that will grace your pot-luck table. Let the vendors at the Fresno Market be your connection for all of your harvest and farm to table ingredients. There is a harvest of goodness just waiting to be had, like: Fresh brown eggs, homemade bread & noodles, fresh from the tree apples, red beets, winter squash, onions, peppers, pumpkins, potatoes, Amish baked goods & sweets, jams & jellies, spicy BBQ sauce and hot pepper mustard, fresh herbs and the list of quality harvest ingredients goes on and on. We vendors take pride and satisfaction in offering all of these farm to table products to our loyal customers and are truly thankful for your continued support during this 2012 market season. Here is a delicious dessert that would be a hit at any harvest party or get together. Plus it makes the house smell great while it is baking!
Fall Harvest Cake
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 t. cinnamon
2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. nutmeg
1/4 t. grd. ginger
1 c. oil
1/2 t. vanilla
4 fresh brown eggs
2 c. flour
15 oz. can pumpkin
1 large fresh apple cored, peeled & chopped
1/2 c. chopped pecans
Mix first 10 ingredients together; add flour, 1/2 cup at a time. Blend in pumpkin; fold in apples & nuts. Pour into greased and floured Bundt pan or tube pan; bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour or until knife inserted comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. Frost when cool if desired or dust with powdered sugar. Wonderful served with a cup of hot mulled cider!
The Fresno Farmers’ Market is located in downtown Fresno at Mark McCoy’s Auto, the final day of the 2012 season is Saturday, Oct. 27, with the annual Christmas in the Country Craft Show from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3. For info call myself at 740-545-0849 or Kathy McCoy at 740-545-0997 anytime.
Category: Community Columns
