Nan Kirlin: Fresh local goodness. Farmers market opens Saturday
Another sure sign of Spring’s arrival is the opening of the Gastonia Farmers Market which opens Saturday, April 1. And for those of you who haven’t had the opportunity yet, there is a new sign at the market. Yes, with funding from the city of Gastonia and Gaston County Public Works, an old farm truck was procured and an electronic digital sign has been installed! Look to this sign for any new messaging from the county and from the city! It is one more way to communicate with our citizens. Keep in mind that you can always check on the Gaston County website for monthly news: www.gastongov.com and www.cityofgastonia.com for any City updates.
Just so you know, I have planted my spring garden of radishes, spinach, kale, beets, turnips and leaf lettuce. Can I expect a healthy harvest? I’m not betting on that, so I will frequent our farmers market. These people are the professionals; I’m just tickled to grow enough for the grandkids to come and pick some spinach or pull up a radish. I do, though, incorporate any homemade compost as it matures!
What can you expect from the market? Well, first off, for the month of April, hours are limited to just Saturdays, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. According to the website for North Carolina Farm Fresh, there are some statewide vegetables that we can be looking forward to. The number one spring vegetable that was available last year (fingers crossed for this year) is asparagus.
Last year’s farmer provided both green and purple, and it was yummy! ( In a wok, heat canola oil, add two-inch pieces of asparagus and slices of yellow onion, cook until just tender, add cleaned shrimp, cook until pink. Finish with soy sauce and toasted sesame seeds. Serve over rice!)
Other wonderful veggies that should be available are broccoli and turnips, both cruciferous; turnips are an extra bonus. You can eat both the turnip root as well as the leaves. About one/half cup of raw greens is 18 calories (good fiber filler), .82 grams of protein, 33 mg of Vitamin C and 138 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin K ( more than enough for both men and women for a daily recommended amount).
Cruciferous vegetables, including kale, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage and spinach have tremendous health benefits and are linked to lower rates of cancer and heart disease. These veggies are low in calories and high in fiber and are beneficial for weight control. Remember that anytime additional cheese or butter are added to the vegetable, you do increase the calorie count. Keep in mind that spices can be the key to more flavor.
Speaking of spices, there may be fresh herbs available at the market, and maybe a spice vendor.
The other category of vegetable to be mindful this spring are the leafy greens: Available to us will be kale, spinach, collards, mixed greens, cabbage, arugula, beet greens and possibly swiss chard and bok choy. All these greens are packed with vitamins; some have extra special properties, too.
Collards have been linked to good bone health. Beet greens provide antioxidants that help reduce the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts. Spinach is rich in folate, key to red blood cell production and vital to healthy pregnancies. With the benefits of all these vegetable from fiber to vitamins to correlation to specific health issues, the farmers market is kind of our old-timey pharmacy. There may be some natural foods that may increase your health; always check with your physician before substituting any natural food for a prescription, though!
Look for other vendors, too. The market could have local meats, flowers, plants, handmade goods, bakery items and hand-crafted goods. And in another few weeks, be ready for the world’s best strawberries!Nan Kirlin is recycling coordinator for Gaston County. Her column runs on Sundays.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Celebrate fresh, local goodness. Gastonia Farmers Market open for the season.
