To me, August in Amish Country means food -- and I'm not talking about chicken and dressing, mashed potatoes and noodles (although they're delicious too)!
Driving around the area, you can't help but notice the many roadside stands and farmers' markets advertising all manner of fruits and veggies, all fresh from area gardens. From vine-ripened cherry tomatoes to bushels of sweet corn (or "cob-on-the-corn," as my sister used to call it), you'll find your family's favorite selections, often at "bargain" prices! The selection may not be as staggering as in your regular supermarket, but one thing's for sure: the produce you'll find around here has not been shipped from the far reaches of the nation. It's all homegrown -- and more likely than not, it's organically-grown.
When I was growing up, my parents always had a large plot of vegetables. My sister and I nearly always escaped doing garden chores like weeding and picking. But there was the occasional afternoon of helping dad with something or other. Once, as I carried a huge armful of old green-bean plants to the compost pile, my father made a hissing sound -- just like a snake -- right behind me. I think I threw those bushes six feet in the air (and got a great laugh out of Dad).
But the hard work paid off, because in late summer, our family enjoyed entire meals from the garden -- sugary bi-color sweet corn, green beans steamed to perfection with a little basil, fat slices of beefsteak tomatoes.
Even though I haven't yet made my own foray into vegetable gardening, I readily take advantage of the many local opportunities to buy garden-fresh produce.
The Downtown Farmer's Market, held on the square in downtown Wooster, runs through mid-October and features an absolute plethora of goodies. Besides all the produce (much of which is organic) market vendors offer fresh flowers, herbs, baked goods, soaps and oils, even organic beef! And on occasion, a local chef visits the market to do cooking demonstrations.
"It's such a social event here in Wooster," said Karen Kalamaras, project coordinator for Main Street Wooster, which puts on the market. "People come out in the morning, get their coffee from Seattle's (a nearby coffeehouse) and browse ... you can get a huge bouquet of fresh flowers for around $5. It's just a really nice family event, lots of fun."
If you're looking for a great place to buy a lot of something (to can or freeze, for example), you should check out the Farmer's Produce Auction on SR 241 near Mt. Hope.
During the busy summer season, auctions are held mornings on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (call 330-674-7661 for times). Here, produce is auctioned off not by the pound, but by the pallet. Dont be daunted by that fact though; I've heard it's a wonderful place to get great bargains on fresh veggies and flowers. Many people will "go together" on a pallet of something, then split it between them. What a great idea -- you could buy a bunch of sweet corn to freeze at home, and enjoy the "taste of the country" when the snow flies!
Recently I heard a local Amish farmer say that the best "health insurance" is eating homegrown fruits and vegetables -- he even recommended eating them right out of the garden with some dirt still on them!
While you may not be able to do this at home, you can come pretty close in Amish Country. So take an afternoon -- or an entire day -- off, explore some outdoor markets in Amish Country and fill your car with fresh-from-the-garden goodness. I can almost taste the sweet corn now!
* See the calendar of events for local markets and auctions!August 2004 issue