Sunburst Tomatoes: The Beet, WSM's E-Newsletter

Link to Weaver Street Market's Home Page

Sunburst Tomatoes
By Cat Moleski, Features Editor
Tim & Nancy Bass, Bear Branch Farm
Hey, do we all know how hard it is for a small family farmer to make it? Tim's family has farmed his land for three generations, but Tim wasn't able to simply inherit the land from his dad; he had to buy it, so he carries a mortgage, just like you and me. And like many tobacco farmers, Tim watched as tobacco futures went up in smoke and he knew he had to so something else or his farm wouldn't make it. He and Nancy were smart; they tapped into grants and programs which enabled them to diversify their farm. More...

After Hours this Thursday!
Jazz & More! Brunch
Southern Village Music Series
Animal Awareness & Adoption Day

Ownership Changes
Friday Night Wine Tastings
New Music from Putumayo

Totally Local Dinner Tomorrow!
Father's Day Brunch & Dinner

Weekly Produce Specials
Seasonal Grace: Peach Pies

Recipe:Fresh Salsa



Sunburst Tomatoes (continued)

They've planted several acres in Echinacea, set aside land for a quail habitat, planted truffle trees, made plans for shiitake mushrooms, and learned to grow greenhouse tomatoes. They've even built a small country store on their property, where local folk can buy tomatoes and other vegetables on the honor system and take a break in the rockers on the porch. The tomatoes are by far their biggest moneymaker. In just two greenhouses they grow about a zillion tomatoes. Each plant is carefully strung up, clipped, and pruned to provide each tomato or tomato bunch the best air and light. Tim and Nancy visit the greenhouse daily to pick and prune and watch for disease. If they see a little spot of botritus (a fungus) they scrape it off before it can spread. The greenhouse is a very controlled environment, designed to produce the maximum yield from the plants and to keep the plants as healthy as possible without the use of pesticides. This means keeping out nasty bugs and humidity. A computer monitors the temperature and humidity and can heat or fan the plants as needed. Tim and Nancy do no spraying of any kind, so prevention is their best defense against pests and disease. Tim and Nancy have worked with Mary Pete at NC State to find a way to make the greenhouse tomatoes organic. The fertilizer they use is derived from natural elements, but in order to make the potassium and magnesium viable for the plants to absorb, a chemical process must be used. Mary Pete has studied this problem extensively and is a well-known expert on the subject. At this point in time it is impossible for farmers to grow organic greenhouse tomatoes. Still, the tomatoes they grow are beautiful and tasty and are available when field tomatoes are not. We can have luscious local tomatoes in early spring and late fall. Look for Momeyer's Sunburst Tomatoes from their Bear Branch Farm. Tim and Nancy laugh at all the business names they've acquired over the years, but each one tells part of their story. Momeyer is the little community where they went to school, Sunburst is for the yellow striations on top of the tomatoes, and Bear Branch is the name of the creek that flows through their property. Weaver Street Market is pleased to offer Tim and Nancy's tomatoes through the end of June at which time our local field tomatoes will arrive. Watch for Bear Branch tomatoes to reappear in the fall.

Weekly Produce Specials Descriptions by Dave Jernigan, Southern Village Produce Manager

	Organic Bing Cherries	$3.99/lb.	Save $3.00/lb.
	Consider yourself the winner of the fruit lottery! Organic Bing cherries are on sale! Plump, heart shaped, magnificently sweet little wonders. From the feel of the smooth, deep ruby toned skin, to the firm, delicious flesh of the inner fruit; everything about the Bing cherry is absolutely luscious. Cherries come to us from the long ago orchards of the ancient Near East. They are often paired with roasted meats in old world cuisine. You will be compelled to eat pounds of them, I promise, whether you find yourself eating them slightly chilled out of hand, or coaxing out their innermost sweetness by briefly grilling them along side of a piece of stuffed fish.

	Organic Seedless Flame Grapes (C) Seedless White Grapes (SV)	$3.99/lb. $1.89/lb	Super Low Save 50¢/lb.
	The ultimate year round table fruit, white grapes are packed with extra sweet, juiciness. Ranging in shades of bright, sea green to sublime gold. As the white grape "ambers", it develops a high sugar content, so pale golden grapes yield a sweeter splash of flavor. Very few fruits make your mouth as simply happy as the beloved grape. Despite the exotic origins of the grape, California is the world's largest producer of humanity's most enjoyed fruit.

	Local NC Blueberries	2 pints/$6.00	Stock Up!
	NC Blueberries are here, plump, juicy and bursting with flavor. Not only are our berries scrumptious, but they were grown "right down the road." Weaver Street Market, always your best source for local products, is ecstatic to offer these wonderful local blueberries. These berries are profoundly sweet and finish with a perfect note of tartness. Tossed with Georgia peaches and cut melon or baked between layers of flaky, golden WSM piecrust, is there a good reason not to eat a pint a day? After all, the blueberry is nature's choicest antioxidant. Just pop one in your mouth if you want to know the best virtues of this mighty berry.
Read more about other Weaver Street Market Specials.

Seasonal Grace: Peach Pies

As the Rhubarb season comes to a close and strawberries are tapering off, peaches become the fruit of choice for fresh berry pies in the Weaver Street Market Pastry Department. Our philosophy is to follow the seasons as closely as possible when choosing fruits to work with. This enables us to sources the freshest, best tasting, local fuits. Local fruit doesn't have to be picked early to accomodate a long trip, or bred with a thicker skin to survive the many bumps along the way. And really, isn't it better to delay gratification and re-learn to enjoy the anticipation of each seasonal specialty that passes in a rainbow of color and taste? Strawberries and rhubarb in the spring give way to blueberries and peaches in the summer and just when you think you can't wait anymore it's apple pie time! But that's too far ahead to think about now, so just go get a piece of peach pie and revel in the summer fruit fantasia.

Recipe: Fresh Salsa

I made this salsa almost daily the first year I had a garden and the tomatoes were going wild. Add and subtract ingredients according to your own tastes.

2 pounds vine-ripened red and/or orange tomatoes (about 5 medium)
5-6 tomatillas
2 fresh serrano or jalapeño chiles
1/4 medium onion (preferably white)
1/2 cup fresh cilantro sprigs
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

View other recipes here.



After Hours this Thursday

After Hours has grown to be one of the "best of the best" nights in Carrboro. It's old-fashioned fun with free music by local bands and the chance to relax on a blanket and picnic with your family on fresh grilled food by local charities. Kids of all ages can dance the night away or catch-up with friends. Weaver Street Market loves to see people enjoying our lawn and connecting with their community. To keep this event a safe and fun place, we ask that you only bring friendly, well-behaved dogs on leashes and please clean up after them. We want the children who attend our event to have a safe and happy time too, so we ask that they not be allowed to climb the trees or the Crepe Myrtles. Lastly, please enjoy the fountain from its perimeter. Thank you for your help in making this event safe and fun for everyone. June 16 - The Revelators - shoutin' the blues and rockin' the dance floor fusion June 23 - Wiffer Creek - traditional & Original jam-grass *After Hours & the ALE Regulations* We know how much fun it is to sit on the lawn and drink some beers, but unfortunately North Carolina law forbids Weaver Street Market from selling six packs for consumption outside. You can buy beer by the glass outside at the tasting table, singles, or half-gallon Growlers from Carolina Brewery, but please—be kind to our cashiers and don't buy a six pack to take outside. *The Orange County Rape Crisis Center Cooking at After Hours this Week* The Orange County (NC) Rape Crisis Center is a non-profit, volunteer agency which has been serving this community since 1974. Our primary focus is to provide services to victims and community education on awareness and prevention of sexual violence. Our services are confidential and include: a 24-hour crisis intervention service that provides support and assistance to sexual assault victims, their families, and friends; information and referrals concerning the law enforcement, medical, and legal processes; support groups and individual counseling for sexual assault and child sexual abuse survivors; programs on sexual assault awareness and prevention.
Find out about all of the Weaver Street Market Events here. Learn more about the Orange County Rape Crisis Center here.

Jazz & More! Brunch Band Schedule, 2005. Sundays from 11am until 1pm

Our popular Sunday music series is in full swing! Bring a chair or a blanket to enjoy an eclectic mix of music and feast on fresh breakfast fare from our hot bar and pastry case - eggs, pancakes, home fries, muffins, croissants, and loads of fresh, hot coffee! June 19 - Project Mastana - the world music band next door June 26 - Laura Ridgeway & Friends - combination of jazz, oldies pop and blues
Find out about all of the Weaver Street Market Events here.

Southern Village Music Series

Enjoy music on the green at Southern Village every Sunday evening from 5-7:30 pm. Make it festive with picnic snacks from Weaver Street Market.
View the summer schedule.

Animal Awareness & Adoption Day

Animal Awareness and Adoption Day, Sunday June 19 from 2-4 pm on the Carrboro lawn. Weaver Street Market is hosting Animal Awareness and Adoption Days this summer in an effort to help place our area's many, many homeless dogs and cats. At each event, you'll be able to visit with dogs and cats looking for their forever homes, get information on low-cost Spay and Neuter programs, find out what local rescue groups are doing for the animals in our area, and sample all-natural pet treats. It's kitten season and there'll be lots of sweet kittens to choose from! Our next adoption day will be September 18.

Ownership Changes

Hey owners! Click here for the first draft of the proposed changes to the Ownership Investment System. The Board of Directors is offering these changes for consideration, and they are very interested in receiving more input from owners about the values these changes are based on, as well as the changes themselves.

Please review the information in this special edition newsletter (or pick up a copy in the store) and join the Board at one of the Owner Forums, June 20 and 27, from 7-9pm in Panzanella. If you're not able to make one of the Forum dates, you can call the Owner Hotline to leave questions or comments at: 913-1642 or email board@weaverstreetmarket.coop.

Friday Night Wine Tastings

Wine Tastings: Need to stock up? Looking for something new? Peg will be tasting wines from the American Northwest on Friday from 4:30-6:30 in the Carrboro store and Marilyn will be tasting German wines from 5:00-7:00 at our Southern Village store.

New Music from Putumayo

Spice up your music life with new selections from Putumayo, an organization dedicated to connecting the traditional with the contemporary and supporting multi-cultural education around the world. Their music is "guaranteed to make you feel good" according to their company motto. Stop by the Wellness Department where you can listen to selections from our new music offerings featuring the following music genres: Italian Café, North African Groove, Mali, Afro-Latin Party, Acoustic Brazil, New Orleans, Music from the Chocolate Lands, and Women of Latin America.