By De Anna Hoyle
Here in our small town we don’t have a Costco, but I have to admit that going to a Costco around lunch time can be a fun experience, to try all manner of food items.
I’m happy to report that we have a small-town tasting experience coming up at the Pagosa Farmers Market this Saturday, August 13, from 9:15am – 10:30am.
Local chef/baker and owner of Pagosa Baking Company, Kathy Keyes, will be doing a cooking demonstration, and Market shoppers will benefit, getting to taste her savory tarts.
This is a chance to see how all local ingredients will go into making the tomato and basil pastry. Kathy begins with her famous whole wheat pie dough made from flour that comes from Mountain Mama Mill in the Rio Grande Valley. Tomatoes are from local grower Canyon Farm, run by Kendall and Debbie McAlister (regulars to the market know their produce sells out quickly on Saturdays.)
Added to this will be basil from the Geothermal Greenhouse Domes along with green onions from the Small Grower’s booth.
All this combined will be baked in onsite ovens for a delicious treat.
If you are not familiar with the local Farmers Market, this week is a great time to stop by and check it out and meet the people who grow local food and produce products with local ingredients. This is a key project of Healthy Archuleta-Food Coalition, along with the Southwest Organization for Sustainability who has been a non-profit sponsor since its inception. Generous local grant support also makes the market sustainable.
The market accepts SNAP cards and with free Double Up Bucks for the first $20 SNAP spent, makes it easy to purchase locally grown produce.
In addition, Seniors who qualify can save with Farmers Market Vouchers. The Area Agency on Aging is how you obtain the vouchers by calling Debbie at 970-403-2164. You can use the $25 voucher by visiting the Pagosa Farmers Market any Saturday during the growing season. You’ll be supporting the local food artisans and growers in SW Colorado.
We hope you can visit this Saturday, and every Saturday, from 9am – 1pm through the end of September.
We are in the second year of running an online market in the off season. PagosaFarmersMarket.net brings bakery items, bread, honey, jewelry, toffee, brittle, and caramels and even socks, all that can be bought year-round and make great gifts. Holiday specials are featured as well. Check it out and become a regular to the Pagosa Farmers Market.