Owosso Farmers Market in Autumn

By Denise Davidson, Market Vendor

Shoppers still have another month to take advantage of finding fresh produce at the farmer’s market.

Signs of Autumn are present within the aisles of the market offering a large selection of beautiful mums to choose from, as well as corn shocks, colorful gourds, fresh apple cider and pumpkins in all shapes and sizes, ready to take home for Halloween fun.

Summer has come and gone and leaves us with thoughts of stocking our pantry with a bounty of produce for the winter months ahead. This includes vegetables such as potatoes, onions, carrots, winter squash, apples and other produce that may often be hard to find locally fresh during the long winter season. Storing these vegetables long-term sometimes presents a challenge when the days of root cellars are no longer a common addition to our modern day homes. It is best to store your excess produce in the coolest part of your home. An unheated area in your porch, basement or garage will be adequate until the weather gets too cold. Never allow vegetables or fruits to be exposed to temperatures below 32 degrees and store out of direct sunlight. Apples store best away from other fruits or vegetables, so separating them is important. Onions need air circulation and should be hung in a mesh bag for best results.

This is the season for dry beans in Michigan. At the market you will find fresh pearly white navy beans, black beans, Adzuki beans (Japanese), and mixed varieties of Heirloom beans. Fresh dry beans have the wonderful quality of cooking rapidly and a flavor unsurpassed by outdated prepackaged beans found in retail stores. Steaming hot fresh navy bean soup, made with local fresh market carrots and onions surely hits the spot on a cool Autumn Day.

Delicious red raspberries are available at the market until the first frost, as well as Michigan apples. These come in varieties of red, yellow, sweet and tart.

For the Holidays ahead, there is a nice selection of Maple Syrup, Honey, Jams, Jellies and Pickles to choose from. Pretty maple leaf-shaped glass jars filled with amber syrup and Teddy Bear jars brimming with honey make wonderful gifts for the holidays. There are specialty Michigan jams and jellies in a variety of unusual flavors alongside many pickled vegetables. Specialty cheeses, homemade breads and freshly baked apple pies are a weekly addition to the market. Trays of delicious fancy pastries by Kolache Kitchen are also nice to store up for the holidays. These may be frozen and enjoyed at a later date.

Unique wooden crafted items, Artist paintings, candles and jewelry, are all great holiday gift ideas, and readily available at the Farmer’s Market. Enjoy choosing your own items to create a Holiday gift basket for someone special.

Now is the time to make arrangements with market vendors, for purchasing any future items through the winter months. The Owosso Farmers Market will be open through October 25th and will reopen the first Saturday in May. Hours are 8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Denise and Rick Davidson, owners of Red Rooster Farm, tend their organic garden in rural New Haven Township, Shiawassee County.