News and blog

Update for Saturday, January 5th

Happy New Year!  On behalf of all the farmers and vendors at the Farmers Market Coop, I want to wish our customers a happy New Year.  Its sometimes hard for all of of us to express our appreciation to our customers.  But please know that your patronage and support of the market is deeply appreciated by all of us.  2012 was a great year for the market, and we hope that 2013 will build upon and surpass what we accomplished in 2012.

There are no special events for this Saturday.  But I do want to highlight two upcoming events...

January 12th- Red Star Kombucha- Naomi Auth, founder and owner of Red Star will be there to share samples of her wonderful fermented tea beverage.  This is a centureis old craft that originated in China, and Naomi is producing it right here in the Burgh.  Check out the website for more information: http://inglobwetrust.com

January 19th- A special visit from Bar Marco. You may have read about this cool new bar and restaurant recently in the PG, Pittsburgh Magazine, IHeart Pittsburgh, and elsewhere.  We are still working out the details and will provie an update next week.

Finally, please see the PA Made Cheese section below on an exciting update on locally made sheep cheese.  We will be offering free samples of the first locally made sheep cheese on Saturday.  We are very honered to be involved in this very exciting initiative.

See you at the market- David Lagnese

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The Update....

Kistaco Farm... Will have a variety of apples and vegetables grown on their farm.

Local veggies- Selections might include Red Russian Kale, Cabbage, Broccoli, Winter Squash.  Things are a little uncertain this time of year.

Fresh baked bread from Wood Street Bread Company is always available.  They pick it up from the bakery real early in the morning so you don't have to.

J.L Kennedy Meat Stand

Thanks to all who ventured out in the snow last weekend! Happiest of New Years to everyone!

What a great time to slow roast or stew any cuts of meat in your own personal style of sauce...with pasta.. rices...barleys...vegetables...on stovetop...in oven...or slow-cooker.

- PORK SHOULDER
- TOP ROUND OF BEEF
- CHICKEN THIGHS

***These are inexpensive and high-flavor options, in addition to all the usual high end cuts we offer each week.

***Please ONLY call to order during our phone times of 9am-9pm mon- thurs and 9am-6 on friday...even for messages. THANKS and see you Saturday!

The number at the farm is 724-898-2316.

J.L. Kennedy Meat Stand

Greenawalt Farm

Kew Park Coffee Bar- We will have fresh beans that were roasted by Commonplace Coffee Roasters.  Also, will have fresh squeezed tangerine, orange and grapfruit juices.  If all goes well, we will also have fresh squeezed pineapple juice.

PA Made Cheese-   The articles in the Post Gazette pasted below talk about a local initiative to produce more and better locally made cheese in western Pennsylvania.  This is an effort sponsored by Slow Food Pittsburgh.  I have been on the Slow Food Advisory Board for the last year and a half, and have volunteered to "shepard" along this process.  One of key intiatives is to produce sheep milk cheese in western Pennsylvania.  It is being led by Sam and Susie Byler from Riverview Dairy.  They were awarded a $2,500 scholarship to get the effort off the ground.   have been involved from a support perpspective, and am helping to advise them on establishing a cheese aging facility.  I visited the farm and dairy this past week and have some photos of the sheep herd and of the first cheese making session.  I also have samples of the first batch of sheep milk camembert to share.

In case you missed it, check out two articles that appeared in the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette today that cover the local cheese scene- and mention the Farmers Market Coop and PA Made Cheese.  Thanks again to Virginia Phillips and the PG staff for supporting local food.
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/life/food/local-cheesemakers-are-making-more-better-cheese-667963/

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/life/food/new-artisan-cheeses-bringing-flavor-and-color-to-the-notion-of-american-cheese-668001/#ixzz2GGGjlo7I

California Connection- We a full range of organic and biodynamically grown dried fruit and nuts including- apricots, nectarines, pears, plums, and persimmons.  Nut wise- walnuts, almonds and pistachios. 

On the olive oil side, the early harvest "Olio Nuovo" has arrived.  The oil is coming from 2 farms, one in Paso Robles and one in Central California.   They are very robust and flavorful.  These are very hard to get shipped this far east, and are only available for a short time. 

The Greek Gourmet- will have homemade spinach and meat pies at the market each week- in addition to 20+ flavors of hummus.  Stop by and talk to Jack at the booth.

Rebecca Plum Baked Goods- Rebecca will be there with her usual assortment of baked goods.

Hand Made items from Uganda- Margaret will be there on Saturday with many hand made items. These make great holiday gifts.

*****************************************************
Visit the market's website for information on the market and all the vendors.  You can sign up for a weekly email update.

http://www.farmersmarketcooperativeofeastliberty.com/

Also,  check out the video about the market produced by Ths folks at East Liberty Development (ELDI).  It was directed and produced by local film maker Michael Pisano. So a great big thanks Michael and ELDI's Margaret Graham  for producing the video. So please check out the video and share it with others.

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The Farmers' Market Cooperative of East Liberty is located at 344 North Sheridan Ave., adjacent to the Home Depot parking lot.  The market operates year round- and is open from 5 AM until 12 noon every Saturday of the year.

Update for Saturday, December 29th

Hi folks, just one email update this week due to the holidays- and a short one at that.  The market will be open this Saturday.  All vendors except for the Greenawalts will be open for business.  I was not able to connect with all the farmers this week for a detailed update.  But I think you find a lot of great items for your New Year's Eve and New Year's Day table.  

The Kennedy's will have lots of pork- of all shapes and sizes (and saurkraut) for a traditional New Year's Day meal.  See below for more details.

Check out two articles that appeared in the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette today that cover the local cheese scene- and mention the Farmers Market Coop and PA Made Cheese.  Thanks to the Virginia Phillips and the PG staff for supporting local food.

 
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/life/food/local-cheesemakers-are-making-more-better-cheese-667963/

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/life/food/new-artisan-cheeses-bringing-flavor-and-color-to-the-notion-of-american-cheese-668001/#ixzz2GGGjlo7I

See you at the Market- David Lagnese

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J.L Kennedy Meat Stand Update

SPECIAL ITEMS

- PORK OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES!!!

- PORK SHOULDER...LOIN CHOPS...LOIN

- ROASTS...TENDERLOINS...RIBS...SAUSAGES AND BACON

*** Please specify bone-in or boneless and how many pieces or pounds you are ordering.. 

*** LOCAL SAUERKRAUT...sold by the pound only...

ALL ORDERS PICKED UP BY 10:30 AM

*****************************************************
Visit the market's website for information on the market and all the vendors.  You can sign up for a weekly email update.

http://www.farmersmarketcooperativeofeastliberty.com/

Also,  check out the video about the market produced by Ths folks at East Liberty Development (ELDI).  It was directed and produced by local film maker Michael Pisano. So a great big thanks Michael and ELDI's Margaret Graham  for producing the video. So please check out the video and share it with others.

*********************************************************

The Farmers' Market Cooperative of East Liberty is located at 344 North Sheridan Ave., adjacent to the Home Depot parking lot.  The market operates year round- and is open from 5 AM until 12 noon every Saturday of the year.

Update for Saturday, December 22nd

We had a very busy day at the market last Saturday.  Thanks to TJ from Commonplace Coffee for stopping by.  We had a great time and learned a few things about coffee roasting and brewing. No special events for this Saturday since we expect things to be pretty busy with the holiday rush. 

I do want to note that we just received a shipment of "Olio Nuovo" Olive Oil form California.  This is very special stuff as it was just pressed last week.  Its very pungent and flavorfull.  It will only be availabe for a short time.

Holiday Gifts

The Farmers Market is a great source of gifts and house warming presents for the holidays.  I think people really appreciate getting locally made and grown items.  You can use your imagination and put together a nice basket of items from the market.  Here are some of my suggestions:

o A woven basket from "Hand Made Items from Uganda"
o A wooden toy from Bandy Woodworks
o A smoked pheasant from JL Kennedy Meat Stand
o A potted flower from Zang's Greenhouse
o A pound of coffee beans from the Kew Park Coffee Bar
o A container of Salsa from Cinco de Mayo
o A bottle of olive oil from the California Connection
o A piece of local cheese from PA Made Cheese
o A home made pastry from Rebecca Plum
o A fruit basket from Kistaco Farm
o A jar of all-purpose sauce from Mrs. Jones
o A container of hummus from the Greek Gourmet
o A jar of Amish made pickles from Greenawalt Farm

See you at the Market- David Lagnese

******************************************************
The Update....

Kistaco Farm... Will have a variety of apples and vegetables grown on their farm.

Local veggies- Red Russian Kale, Cabbage, Broccoli, Winter Squash

Fresh baked bread from Wood Street Bread Company is always available.  They pick it up from the bakery real early in the morning so you don't have to.

J.L Kennedy Meat Stand

J.L. KENNEDY MEAT STAND HAS CERTAIN ITEMS STILL AVAILABLE TO ORDER FOR THIS SAT. DEC. 22 nd HOLIDAY PICK -UP !

- 12-14# fresh turkeys and 20-22# size  AND we must have TURKEYS ordered by Thursday evening Dec 20th to guarantee..
- Capon roasting chickens 6-8#avg
- Small 4# avg turkey breast
- Smoked pheasants
- Bone-in standing rib roast/beef
- Boneless prime rib
- Smoked half ham ~6-8#avg
- Smoked ham center slices
- Leg of lamb- bone in or boneless
- LAMB LOIN CHOPS OR RACKS

***Starting Saturday taking orders for new year s pork and kraut

***Please call asap

***Hope you enjoyed our holiday customer appreciation offerings last week as much as we did!!!

***Pretty please ...have your orders picked up by 10 AM!!! THANKS!!!

The number at the farm is 724-898-2316.

Greenawalt Farm

Kew Park Coffee Bar- We will have fresh beans that were roasted by Commonplace Coffee Roasters.  Also, will have fresh squeezed tangerine, orange and grapfruit juices.  The tangerine is to die for.

PA Made Cheese- The case is full of locally made cheese  from Clover Creek Cheese Cellar, Hidden Hills Dairy, God's Country Creamery and Riverview Dairy.  We will be making grilled cheese again with chesse from God's Country Creamery. 

California Connection- We a full range of organic and biodynamilcaiiy grown dried fruit and nuts including- apricots, nectarines, pears, plums, and persimmons.  Nut wise- walnuts, almonds and pistachios. 

On the olive oil side, the early harvest "Olio Nuovo" has arrived.  The oil is coming from 2 farms, one in Paso Robles and one in Central California.   They are very robust and flavorful.  These are very hard to get shipped this far east, and are only available for a short time. 

The Greek Gourmet- will have homemade spinach and meat pies at the market each week- in addition to 20+ flavors of hummus.  Stop by and talk to Jack at the booth.

Rebecca Plum Baked Goods- Rebecca will be there with her usual assortment of baked goods.

Hand Made items from Uganda- Margaret will be there on Saturday with many hand made items. These make great holiday gifts.

*****************************************************
Visit the market's website for information on the market and all the vendors.  You can sign up for a weekly email update.

http://www.farmersmarketcooperativeofeastliberty.com/

Also,  check out the video about the market produced by Ths folks at East Liberty Development (ELDI).  It was directed and produced by local film maker Michael Pisano. So a great big thanks Michael and ELDI's Margaret Graham  for producing the video. So please check out the video and share it with others.

*********************************************************

The Farmers' Market Cooperative of East Liberty is located at 344 North Sheridan Ave., adjacent to the Home Depot parking lot.  The market operates year round- and is open from 5 AM until 12 noon every Saturday of the year.

Update for Saturday, December 15th

We had a very busy day at the market last Saturday.  Thanks to the folks from God's Country Creamery that visited the market.  Thanks also to Sherri Vizzuett from Cinco de Mayo Salsa.  Sherri will be back this week.

Coffee Roaster visit- This week our special event will be a visit by TJ Fairchild from Commonplace Coffee.  Commonplace is roasting the beans that we import from Kew Park Coffee Estate in Westmoreland Jamaica.  TJ has recently moved his roastery into the new East End Brewering facility which is now located right in East Liberty.  He will be bringing a small batch roaster with him to do some roasting right at the market.  He will also be brewing some coffee using the pour over method.  So please stop by and say hello to TJ.  He will be there from 9 to 11 am.

David Lagnese

******************************************************
The Update....

Kistaco Farm... Will have a variety of apples and vegetables grown on their farm.

 Local veggies- Red Russian Kale, Cabbage, Broccoli, Winter Squash

Fresh baked bread from Wood Street Bread Company is always available.  They pick it up from the bakery real early in the morning so you don't have to.

J.L Kennedy Meat Stand

As always, the J.L.Kennedy Meat Stand will offer HOLIDAY CUSTOMER APPRECIATION open house goodies this Saturday from 5am-10 or while supplies last!!! Again we're thanking our morning customers with our usual warm punch and holiday snack breads and garlic bologna....

***SPECIAL ITEMS***

- ULTRA-LEAN GROUND TURKEY
- CORNISH HENS
- SMOKED PHEASANTS ARE READY!
- CAPON ROASTING CHICKENS

ANY HOLIDAY ITEMS YOU NEED...PLEASE ORDER ASAP FOR OUR SAT DEC 22 nd pick- up

The number at the farm is 724-898-2316.

Zang's Greenhouse...Locally grown items this week include, brussel sprouts, beets, squash, chipollini onions, celery root, micro greens, parsnips, carrots, mushrooms, shallots, white and red potatoes, and sweet potatoes.  Rick will have fresh spinach, red leaf lettuce and spring salad mix from Harvest Valley Farm that was grown in a high tunnel.

Non-local items include eggplants, grapes, cranberries, fresh fennel, garlic, onions, green beans and Florida citrus.

Christmas items- wreathes, poinsettas, cycleman, amarylis.

Kew Park Coffee Bar- We will have fresh beans that were roasted by Commonplace Coffee Roasters.  Also, will have fresh squeezed tangerine, orange and grapfruit juices.

PA Made Cheese- The case is full of locally made cheese  from Clover Creek Cheese Cellar, Hidden Hills Dairy, God's Country Creamery and Riverview Dairy.  We will be making fondue again with chesse from God's Countyr Creamery. 

California Connection- We just got in the biodynamically grown almonds and raisins from Marian Farm in California.  We also have organicaly grown dried fruit from Van Dyke Organic Ranch in Gilroy California.  Varieties include apricots, nectarines, pears, plums, and persimmons.  These are great items for holiday baking. We have organic raw walnuts from Rancho La Vina.

On the olive oil side, we are waiting anxiously for the early harvest fresh pressed oils.  These are very hard to get shipped this far east, but I am trying hard to get some before Christmas.  I just got cofirmation that we will have it for next Saturday.

The Greek Gourmet- will have homemade spinach and meat pies at the market each week- in addition to 20+ flavors of hummus.  Stop by and talk to Jack at the booth.

Rebecca Plum Baked Goods- Rebecca will be there with her usual assortment of baked goods.

Hand Made items from Uganda- Margaret will be there on Saturday with many hand made items. These make great holiday gifts.

*****************************************************
Visit the market's website for information on the market and all the vendors.  You can sign up for a weekly email update.

http://www.farmersmarketcooperativeofeastliberty.com/

Also,  check out the video about the market produced by Ths folks at East Liberty Development (ELDI).  It was directed and produced by local film maker Michael Pisano. So a great big thanks Michael and ELDI's Margaret Graham  for producing the video. So please check out the video and share it with others.

*********************************************************

The Farmers' Market Cooperative of East Liberty is located at 344 North Sheridan Ave., adjacent to the Home Depot parking lot.  The market operates year round- and is open from 5 AM until 12 noon every Saturday of the year.

Update for Saturday, December 8th

We had a very busy day at the market last Saturday.  Thanks to everyone who helped get the word out that the market is still open throughout the winter.  So of course the market will be open this Saturday and I expect all farmers and vendors to be present.  

I do want to highlight two items for this Saturday.

Cheese maker visit- Mark and Melanie Bachman from God's Country Creamery in Potter County will be in for a visit.  Mark and Melanie manage a herd of cows on their farm and also run the creamery where they make cheese.  The whole family is involved in running the opearation.  There will be a demonstration on how to make cheese fondue and we will be giving out free samples!  We will also be making grilled cheese using home made bread from Rebecca Plum, and Amish butter from Greenawalts.  I hope you will stop by and meet these great family cheese makers.  They will be at the market from 9 am until 11 am.  Check out their website:

http://www.godscountrycreamery.com/

Cinco de Mayo Salsa- Arturo Vizzuett and his wife Sherri are the ones who make that fantastic salsa.  They are a fixture at many of the outdoor farmers markets.  Now that the other markets have closed for the season they would like to sell their Salsa at our market.  So we are happy to have them.  Sherri will be set up by 8 am next to the Kennedy Meat Stand.  Check out this article:

http://www.godscountrycreamery.com/

I am on the road today and will not be able to get a detailed update from the farmers.  I do expect all the farmers and vendors to be open and expect the offerings to be similar as last week.  See you at the market!

David Lagnese

*****************************************************
Visit the market's website for information on the market and all the vendors.  You can sign up for a weekly email update.

http://www.farmersmarketcooperativeofeastliberty.com/

Also,  check out the video about the market produced by Ths folks at East Liberty Development (ELDI).  It was directed and produced by local film maker Michael Pisano. So a great big thanks Michael and ELDI's Margaret Graham  for producing the video. So please check out the video and share it with others.

*********************************************************

The Farmers' Market Cooperative of East Liberty is located at 344 North Sheridan Ave., adjacent to the Home Depot parking lot.  The market operates year round- and is open from 5 AM until 12 noon every Saturday of the year.