By De Anna Hoyle
The time of harvest is upon us, and nowhere is that more evident than visiting the Pagosa Farmers Market on Saturdays, from 9am – 1pm, located on the east side of town. Parking is available on the mountain side of where the Eastside Market resides. You’ll find the row of growers, makers and producers who make up the offerings of this season’s bounty. From local beef to fresh cut flower bouquets, you will find this and more when you visit.
This coming Saturday, September 3, we have another local chef who will offer a cooking demonstration and an opportunity to taste Gazpacho, a cold soup made with locally grown tomatoes, cucumber, and blended with spices.
Chef Derek Dietz, will share his expertise and comes to us from Tara Mandala Retreat Center where he is the chef. Originally from Philadelphia, and by way of Denver where he owned a farm-to-table restaurant, we are thrilled to have Chef Derek this Saturday.
More recently, Derek spent time in South America where he offered his culinary skills and big heart to serving children at soup kitchens in poverty-stricken areas of Medellín, Columbia.
The next two cooking and food demonstrations will be held September 10 and 24, where we will highlight green chile with tortillas and vegan dips respectively. Plan to join us each Saturday in September to celebrate the bounty of the season as we explore a variety of ways to create good food while supporting local growers and artisans.
The Pagosa Farmers Market partners with several area non-profits, such as Healthy Archuleta, in supporting local food sourcing and eating consciously for better health. Our goal stems from creating community and assisting in providing locally grown produce and offering ideas how to cook it.
As we look for ways to stretch our food dollar, those who qualify can use SNAP benefits at the market with Double Up Bucks. Seniors can apply for a $25 voucher to use as well. Contact the Area Agency on Aging for details.
And as a reminder, you can shop online through the week at PagosaFarmersMarket.net, which will run year-round.
We hope to see you at the Market!