Welcome to our October Newsletter.

This is my first time at writing a newsletter, so bear with me, and let me know what you think!  I am going to start off with telling you what the farmers have at the market right now.  They are still picking from their last crop of tomatoes, squash, cucumber, string beans, okra, peas, egg plant, watermelon, and peppers from the summer.  In the field they are digging sweet potatoes, and peanuts.  They are also picking the early crop of collards, and turnip greens.  We also have pears.

 

During the day when they are not at the market, they are cleaning the garden, so that they can plant their fall crops of collards, turnip greens, lettuce, cabbage, spinach, broccoli, onions, along with the root crops of: rutabagas, beets, and turnips.

 

Now some of you are saying, ick, I don't like greens.  Well of all the vegetables that there are, the green vegetable, collard, is the most nutritious for building up the blood, the broccoli is the best for anti-oxidants, so for the winter months when resistance is down, and flu and colds are running rampant, if you eat your greens, you might stay a little bit healthier this year.

 

 

Sue Lewis - She is the manager of the Tuscaloosa Farmer's Market.  Her farm is located in Fosters.  She has sold on the market since 1985.  Although she sells the usual vegetables in season, she is known for her eggs, flowers, live plants, fresh ground corn meal and home made goat milk soap.  She does an excellent job as our manager!

 

Jimmy McAtteer -  He is one of our biggest farmers.  He lives in Buhl, and has 10 acres that he is farming now.  If you want to buy in bulk or just be able to pick through, this is the seller to see.  He has an abundance of sweet onions, the Texas sweets, and the vidalia's.  He also said that he will have around 3 tons of sweet potatoes, both red and white and about a thousand pounds of pears.  He is picking 3 bushel of okra each time he harvests.  He also has all of the rest of the vegetables that are in season.

 

Smokey Smith - He is another big farmer.  He is from Brent, Alabama and is farming 10 acres this year, although he expects to farm more next year.  With this many acres he plants consecutively to be able to have all the vegetables that are in season.  If you want a variety of veggies this is the place to go.

 

Libby Turner - She is from New Lexington and is farming around 10 acres.  They have all the vegetables that are in season in abundance.  This fall and winter they will specialize in different kinds of cabbage, pak choi, napa, savoy and lettuce.  They will also have peanuts, plus all the other greens, like collards, turnips and mustard.  Stop by and she what she has.

 

Freda Holcomb -  She is from Fayette, Alabama.  They have all of the vegetables that are in season.  Be sure and shop around at all the farmers stands.  Come Christmas this is the place to check out for you Christmas greenery, wreaths, and garlands.

 

Alice and Charles Parker -  They live on Bone Camp Road in Northport.  They farm about 7 acres with 5 fruit acres and 2 vegetable acres.  They have all kinds of fruit and will have oranges come October and November.  They grow all kinds of vegetables, plus all kinds of herbs.  They have fresh and dried so be sure to stop by the stand!  See Alice's blog on the site, she is "The Herb Lady"

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Alice Parker
Tuscaloosa Farmer's Market