A Farewell To Summer at Eastchase Farmers Market
WORDS Katie Lindgren PHOTOS Jon Kohn
Oakview Farms This grain farm, based out of Wetumpka, Alabama, grinds their grain with an electric stone grinder at a slow rate, which produces a fine, delicate product. They do not de-germinate their grains, so all the whole grain is fresh from the field, ground, packaged, and ready for use (store in the freezer as it does not have a shelf life). On market days, Oakview Farms sells whole wheat flour, cornmeal, grits, pancake mix, all-purpose flour, oats, hydroponic lettuce, and homegrown honey. Oakview Farms has a retail store on-site in Wetumpka, open Thursday, Friday, Saturday 9am - 4pm. www.oakviewfarms.com
Aunt Beez Delicious Desserts Brenda Sonner, the owner of Aunt Beez Delicious Desserts, is from Montgomery, and the creator of Pie Sauce. According to Ms. Sonner, “It’s not a jam or a jelly. It has less sugar, is thickened differently, and the result is a much fresher fruit taste. It’s a great alternative to the gelatin goo found on grocery store shelves to make pies.” This does make a delicious pie: simply pour into a pie shell and you have yourself a dessert. Pie Sauce can also be used in breads, muffins, cakes and cookies. Ms. Sonner sent me home with a fruit filled cupcake, and wow, it was delicious. Aunt Beez’s Delicious Desserts will be all over the Southeast for holiday market shows. auntbeez.com
Leo Vazquez Leo is from Tallassee, Alabama. His booth is a colorful array of delicious homegrown vegetables. From tomatoes and peppers to watermelon and cantaloupe, the Vazquez’s grow a little bit of everything. It’s a 5-acre family farm run primarily by Mr. and Mrs. Vazquez. They have a booth three days a week in Auburn and Opelika, and is at East Chase Farmers Market on Saturdays.
Leatherwood Nursery Elizabeth and Eric Leatherwood have a nursery in Shorter, Alabama with a greenhouse operation where selling perennials, annuals, and ground covers. The Leatherwoods strive to form relationships with their customers to make sure they get quality plants that fit the customers needs. While they don’t do landscaping, they do focus on container planting. They will even grow specific plants for customers. www.leatherwoodnursery.com
Bulger Creek Farm Kyle and Melanie Payne are the owners of Bulger Creek Farm, where they make local goat cheese made 100% with milk produced on-site . Founded in 1998 on 80 acres near Notasulga, Alabama, the farm focuses on quality over volume, promising “no outside milk or curd will ever be used at this farm,” and turning out fromage blanc chèvre, goat cheesecakes, and goat milk. You can catch Bulger Creek Farm on Saturday mornings through November at the Columbus Market, or find their products in Montgomery at Health Wise Foods. www.bulgercreekfarm.com