May 25, 2019

Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
This Week's Vendors
Nothing's Better than Spring Shopping for Fresh and Local!

Whether you're firing up the grill, frying catfish, or cooking a traditional stove-top meal, below you'll find a list of  some  of the fresh things you should add to your shopping list for this Memorial Day weekend! Great finds are ahead:

Broccoli - Bell Peppers - Cabbage - Peaches - Variety of Greens
Lettuce - Brussels Sprouts - Carrots - Snow Peas
Onions - Cauliflower - Radishes - Beets - Herbs
Rutabagas - Hydroponic Tomatoes - Eggs
Milk - Cheese - Butter - Beef
Pork - Lamb - Honey - Mississippi-Grown Rice
Jams - Jellies - Salsa - Coffee
Works from Local Artisans
Fresh Cut Flowers - Herb Plants- Vegetable Plants
Carefully-Prepared Baked Goods
And So Much More!


While shopping, if you have any questions, our vendors have answers! They are always happy to help make your purchasing decisions a breeze!

Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Get Ready!
The Summer Kickoff Event Is on
June 1, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.!
(Note: The Mississippi Farmers Market will still be open as normally from 8 a.m.- 1 p.m. for shoppers.)
The Mississippi Farmers Market cordially invites you, your family, your friends, and their friends to the 14th Annual Summer Kickoff Event, which will be held at the Mississippi Farmers Market on Saturday, June 1, from 9 a.m.- 12 p.m. There will be fun games and activities for the kids. We have great things planned to keep the little ones engaged and happy! Farm animals will be outdoors for kids to see and learn about (weather permitting). Brief lessons about each animal will be given.

For adults, there will be burger grilling demonstrations provided by popular grilling expert Nancy Strickland of the Mississippi Cattlemen's Association. What better way is there to celebrate Beef Month than with a grilled burger demo, right? The timing couldn't be any better either--right before summer rolls in!

Do not worry about admission and fees. This event is on the house! We just want to see your smiling faces as we celebrate our lovely farmers market, Mississippi agriculture, Beef Month, the coming of summer, and our amazing community of vendors and customers.

While you're here, please don't forget to grab popcorn for snackin' or some Blue Bell ice cream to help keep you cool. We all know how sweltering this sweet Mississippi heat can be. (Pssssss...yes, these desserts are on the house as well!)

Of course, the Mississippi Farmers Market will be in the full swing of things inside as it is every Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Vendors will be present to sell something fresh and local or something handmade and artistic and local. Regardless, you are bound to leave the place with something from Mississippi that's worth bragging to your friends about. Come inside, and browse as you normally do for fresh produce, dairy products, meats, plants, jewelry, and arts and crafts.

Event festivities will take place indoors and outdoors (weather permitting). Don't fret! There will be signs to guide you and your loved ones along the way. (We promise not to let anyone get lost.)

Meanwhile, we look forward to seeing you there for the ultimate local food and art shopping experience, good Southern-style eats (The Farmers Table restaurant is located inside the Mississippi Farmers Market), and some good ole family fun outdoors!

Write the date in you calendar NOW: Saturday, June 1, 2019!
Produce Highlight: Bell Peppers
We see them everywhere. Green, red, yellow, and orange. They can be eaten cooked or raw. Native to Central and South America and often referred to as "sweet peppers," bell peppers typically grow in warm, moist soil in moderate 70- and 80-degree (Fahrenheit) weather. Mississippi has the perfect climate to grow this FRUIT (yes, botanically speaking, bell peppers are fruits, not veggies; however, for culinary purposes, they are considered veggies! There are likely chefs and botanists out there fighting over this as we speak somewhere!), and you can find them at various vendors' booths this Saturday. They make versatile entrees, side dishes, salads, snacks and add-ons for the spring picnic, Grandma's old-fashioned Sunday dinner, and quick lunches at work. You can fry them, stuff them, pickle them, slice them, grill them, sauté them, or roast them. The options are unlimited. Whatever you do to yours, let us know on social media, so we can see! Use the hashtag:

#MSFarmersMarket
Well, Did You Know?
Bell peppers are rich in vitamin C. In fact, one medium-sized red bell pepper provides about 169% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) of vitamin C. Vitamin C is important for forming blood vessels, cartilage, muscle, and collagen in bones.
10 Ways to Perk Up Your Bell Peppers Perfectly This Spring
The bell peppers are at the Mississippi Farmers Market, and they are dancing, twisting, shouting, and clapping. All right, maybe they aren't doing all these things, but they are sitting there silently, anxiously waiting on shoppers to pick them up, take them home, and make the perfectly-crafted entree or side dish with them.

Here are 10 quick and easy ways you can get your "bell pepper" on this Memorial Day weekend with your Mississippi Farmers Market-picked bell peppers:


  1. Baked Eggs in Stuffed Peppers (for breakfast, maybe?)
  2. Beef Stir Fry with Peppers (for dinner)
  3. Chicken Fajitas with Garlicky Peppers (one heck of an appetizer, huh?)
  4. Stuffed Pepper Soup (soup in the spring is acceptable, you know?)
  5. Cilantro Lime Salad with Peppers (salads are great on warm days)
  6. Roasted Pepper Sandwich (nothing beats a great sammie)
  7. Bell Pepper Chicken Casserole ( for dinner, of course!)
  8. Bell Pepper Pizza Bites (the kids will go wild for this!)
  9. Mashed Potatoes with Diced Bell Peppers (the perfect side)
  10. Tuna-Stuffed Bell Peppers (brunch)
Stuffed with Mississippi Love: Bell Pepper Recipe
Stuffed Bell Peppers
INGREDIENTS

6 large (8-ounce) bell peppers (your choice of color)*
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups chopped onions*
6 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley*
3 garlic cloves, chopped*
2/3 cup cooked white rice, cooled
1 tablespoon sweet Hungarian paprika
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
2 1/2 cups canned tomato sauce
1 1/4 pounds lean ground beef*
1 large egg*

DIRECTIONS

  1. Cut off top 1/2 inch of peppers and reserve. Scoop seeds from cavities. Discard stems and chop pepper tops.
  2. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions, parsley, garlic, and chopped pepper pieces. Sauté until onions soften, about 8 minutes.
  3. Transfer to large bowl. Mix in rice, paprika, salt, pepper, and allspice. Cool 10 minutes.
  4. Mix in 1/2 cup tomato sauce, then beef and egg.
  5. Fill pepper cavities with beef mixture. Stand filled peppers in single layer in heavy large pot. Pour remaining 2 cups tomato sauce around peppers.
  6. Bring sauce to boil over medium-high heat.
  7. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover pot and simmer 20 minutes.
  8. Spoon some sauce over each pepper.
  9. Cover; cook until peppers are tender and filling is cooked through and firm, about 20 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool, cover and chill. Rewarm covered over low heat.)

*Can be purchased at the Mississippi Farmers Market

Recipe Source: Epicurious
Photo Courtesy: Food Network
10 Commons-Sense Ways to Save Money on Food
The kids are out of school, so more meals are being prepared at home this summer. The van needs new tires. The mortgage is due. The curious little boy down the street "accidentally" threw a rock at the window of the house. Now, the duct tape is no longer holding things together. Bills are piling up, and food has got to be bought. How else can we survive, right? Big appetites and big expenses do not mean big bucks, unfortunately. Here are a few common-sense ways that we typically forget exist that we can use to stretch those dollars for food:

  1. Do not eat out unless it's absolutely necessary and you only have to buy food for one person. Sometimes, we just have to buy food while out on the road if it will be several hours before we arrive home. (Or be prepared for this and pack a snack or a "summer-proof" lunch.) You could possibly stop by a friend's and eat there. (Some friends just love to feed us when we stop by to visit, right?)
  2. Prepare your grocery list beforehand. DO NOT purchase anything that you do not need that is not on your list. (If it's something that you need but that you forgot to add to the list, it could possibly be acceptable to buy it.)
  3. Set a limit on what you're willing to spend in each food category and stick to it.
  4. Never shop on an empty stomach. You will buy the entire place!
  5. Carpool with friends for grocery trips. Schedule a rotation with your friends to help everyone save. At least then, you'll be saving on expenses incurred to buy food. These extra dollars saved on fuel can go towards food for dinner!
  6. Shop with your calculator. Calculate sales tax as you shop, too!
  7. Only buy items that are on sale at each location you shop. Combine these, and you have a collection of discounted foods to make a great meal.
  8. Create a meal plan, and stick to it!
  9. Get creative with the food you have already at home on hand. Buy what you need to spice those items up.
  10. Embrace leftovers! Spice them up, too!
Chart Source: Otto Wilde
The Farmer's Table
The Farmer's Table is located at the Mississippi Farmers Market. It is open for dine in or carry out breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until.
Mississippi Farmers Market
929 High Street / Jackson, MS 39202 / 601.354.6573 / Saturdays 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE
ANDY GIPSON, COMMISSIONER