Market Report 8/4/18

After a brief hiatus during which band members meditated in the Himalayan Foothills and worked on solo projects, the Report is back, this week filed from the Brattleboro Farmers’ Market in Southeastern Vermont.

The Brattleboro Farmers’ Market is the quintessence of the area’s culture and general atmosphere. It is an inviting blend of a well-preserved hippie vibe and modern-day progressive thinking. But only to a point. Dogs evidently bring the whole scene down.

Nothing is left to chance. If your conscience isn’t enough to guide you toward ecological purity, helpful suggestions are provided at the refuse stations. Civic and planetary stewardship are practiced with uncommon diligence and good cheer.

The layout of produce, food, and services booths and stations becomes a tiny village. The market operates on Saturdays from spring through late autumn.

Carrots from Old Athens Farm in Westminster form a natural sculpture.

Fresh beets from Old Athens Farm in Westminster.

Fresh herbs are not quite the highlight of High Meadows Farm in Westminster…

Black garlic from High Meadows Farm in Westminster is found at the farm’s booth at the Brattleboro Farmers’ Market. Black garlic is produced through a 60-90-day aging process under controlled heat and humidity. The results are soft and subtly-flavored. Black garlic is reputed to have beneficial digestive qualities and is, in any case, a highly sought-after ingredient in gourmet cuisine.

Fresh local sweet corn, tomatoes, and cucumbers are available in abundance at the Brattleboro Farmers’ Market.