FOOD Market mania
Visit a local farmers market this summer By Matt Ingersoll
News from the local food scene
mingersoll@hippopress.com
By Matt Ingersoll
Summer farmers markets are getting underway across southern New Hampshire, with many opportunities for you to get fresh vegetables and fruits, artisan breads, meats, condiments and, for the first time at a couple of local markets, fresh fish from New England Fishmongers. A few markets in the state held their first date of the season earlier this month, while others are due to kick off within the next several weeks. Most of the summer markets will run through September and into early to mid-October, weather permitting. The Derry Homegrown Farm & Artisan Market, for example, will be held every Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m., beginning June 5 and running through September. Market manager Neil Wetherbee said this year’s vendors encompass a variety of local businesses, like farms, small gourmet food producers and breweries. “In [creating] our list of vendors, we really wanted to allow people … the opportunity to construct everything that they would need for a full meal and to give them a variety, so that they can go home and put everything together,” Wetherbee said. He added that New England Fishmongers, a first-time vendor at the market, will be offering fresh seafood. New England Fishmongers is also a newcomer at the Bedford Farmers Market this year, according to market President Karen Steuer. That market kicks off on June 18 and will be held every Tuesday, from 3 to 6 p.m., through Oct. 8. “We didn’t have fresh fish at the market last year, so we are ecstatic to have it this time around,” Steuer said. “The fish will be based on what the fishermen are catching, so it will be kind of fun to experiment and see what kind of fish we will have.” For produce, Wetherbee said the earlier dates of the markets are when you are more likely to see broccoli, carrots, lettuces and garlic scapes, while tomatoes and cucumbers will become available during their peak picking seasons later on in the year. Steuer said that while it’s possible that the recent cold and rainy weather may have an effect on early spring crops like peas and spinach, she expects items like strawberries and blueberries to be ready on time. “The summer crops are being planted either right now or within a few weeks,” she said. “It only takes a couple of warm, sunny days to get those plants going.” Most of the markets will also feature fresh eggs, cheeses, meats and artisan breads. Some even have a regular schedule of live music, cooking demonstrations or beer, wine and mead tastings.
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• Wine & dine: The next Wines of the World dinner at the Colby Hill Inn (33 The Oaks St., Henniker) is happening on Friday, May 24, at 6:30 p.m. and will feature wines from Owen Roe Winery in the Pacific Northwest region of the country. Each farm-to-table dinner in this series is a five- to six-course meal, usually held on the third or fourth Friday of each month, with each paired with wines from a different region of the United States or the world. Courses will include spring bruschetta with crushed English peas, mint and smoked salmon; baby artichokes, crab salad and lemongrass vinaigrette; veal scallopini; seared Muscovy duck with pickled spring beets; sumac spiced spring lamb rack; and ginger and rhubarb crumble with vanilla gelato. The series will continue with a wine dinner scheduled for June 28, featuring wines from Pali Vineyards in California. The cost for the May 24 dinner is $100 per person. Visit colbyhillinn.com. • Cask away: Join Cask & Vine (1 E. Broadway, Derry) for Cask. On: New Hampshire’s Cask Beer Festival, a tasting event featuring a variety of hyperlocal and regional breweries, on Sunday, May 26, with a session still available from 3 to 6 p.m. Several guests brewers will be on hand throughout the day to discuss craft beer. Tickets are $45 and include a bowl of chili and a stack of wings. Visit cask.life. • Burgers at Brookford: Get your tickets now for one of two summer burger nights at Brookford Farm (250 West Road, Canterbury) on Saturday, June 1, or Saturday, Aug. 31, from 5 to 8 p.m. During each event, the farm will serve burger plates featuring its 100-percent grass-fed burgers, with seasonal farm salads and vegetables and an assortment of its farmstead cheeses and lacto-fermented krauts. The cost is $25 for a six-ounce burger plate and $10 for a children’s plate. You can bring picnic blankets and chairs, and there will be tractor rides, farm tours and live music. Visit brookfordfarm.com. • A taste of tequila: The Bedford Village Inn (2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford) will host a tequila cocktail tasting on Wednesday, May 29, at 6 p.m. in Corks on the second floor of the restaurant. Tickets are $25 per person and will include samples of specialty cocktails made with Casa Noble Tequila. The menus for Corks and for the tavern and dining room will be available to order from. Visit bedfordvillageinn.com. • He’s got Moxie: Join the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry) for “How Moxie Won the War,” a program scheduled for Saturday, June 1, 11 a.m. Local author Merrill Lewis will 58 Looking for more food and drink fun? Check out Hippo Scout, available via the Apple App Store, Google Play and hipposcout.com. HIPPO | MAY 23 - 29, 2019 | PAGE 54
Nashua Farmers Market. Courtesy photo.
“We’ve worked … to make it a community event for people to just come hang out, enjoy the nice weather and socialize,” Wetherbee said of the Derry market. Check out the list below for summer farmers markets happening in your area this year, and visit their websites or Facebook pages for the most up-to-date happenings on each individual date. • Barnstead Farmers Market will be held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, June 15 through Oct. 12, at Maple Street Church (96 Maple St., Center Barnstead). Several local food and craft vendors are often featured. Visit barnsteadfarmers.weebly.com. • Bedford Farmers Market returns to St. Elizabeth Seton Church (190 Meetinghouse Road, Bedford) every Tuesday from 3 to 6 p.m., from June 18 through Oct. 8. Visit facebook.com/bedfordfarmersmarketnh. • Canterbury Community Farmers Market will be held every Wednesday from 4 to 6:30 p.m., June 5 through Oct. 2, in the parking area and field next to Elkins Public Library (9 Center Road). More than 20 local vendors are featured each week, in addition to live music and children’s activities. Visit ccfma. net. • Concord Farmers Market is being held at its usual location next to the Statehouse on Capitol Street, every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The market began its 2019 season on May 4 and is expected to continue through the end of October. Visit concordfarmersmarket. com. • Contoocook Farmers Market will be held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, June 1 through Oct. 26, at the Contoocook Railway Depot (896 Main St., Contoocook). Visit facebook.com/contoocookfarmersmarket or email tookymarket@live.com. • Derry Homegrown Farm & Artisan Market will be held at 1 W. Broadway in Derry every Wednesday, from 3 to 7 p.m., beginning June 5 and running through September. In addition to locally sourced vegetables,
eggs, cheeses, breads and sweets, the market features beer, wine and mead tastings, artist demonstrations, live music, children’s activities and more. Visit derryhomegrown.org. • Dover Farmers Market will be held every Wednesday from 2:15 to 6 p.m., June 5 through Oct. 2, at the Chamber of Commerce parking lot (550 Central Ave.). Visit seacoastgrowers.org/dover-farmers-market. • Durham Farmers Market will be held every Monday from 2:15 to 6 p.m., June 3 through Sept. 30, in the parking lot of Sammy’s Market (5 Madbury Road, Durham). Visit seacoastgrowers.org/durham-farmers-market. • Exeter Farmers Market is being held every Thursday from 2:15 to 6 p.m., now through Oct. 31, at Swasey Parkway in Exeter. Visit seacoastgrowers.org/ exeter-farmers-market. • Francestown Community Market is being held every Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. near the intersection of Main Street and New Boston Road in Francestown, across from the Old Meeting House and the police station. Visit facebook.com/francestowncommunitymarket. • Franklin Farmers Market will be held every Tuesday from 3 to 6 p.m., June 25 through Sept. 24, at Marceau Park (Central Street, Franklin). A variety of locally produced items is available, like fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, bread, sweets, maple syrup and more. Visit facebook.com/franklinlocalmarket. • Fresh Chicks Local Outdoor Market is held every Monday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the northeast parking lot of Monadnock Community Hospital (452 Old Street Road, Peterborough). The market began on May 6 and will continue to run through Oct. 7 (except on May 27 for Memorial Day and Sept. 2 for Labor Day). Find them on Facebook or email freshchicksmarket@gmail.com. • Gilford Farmers Market will be held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, June 15 through the end of September, on the grounds of the Benjamin Rowe House (88 Belknap Road, Gilford). Visit facebook.com/ gilfordfarmersmarket.