This week at the Market
 The produce looks great for your 4th of July picnics! This week you will find broccoli, green onions, radishes, kohlrabi, peas, beets, potatoes, herbs, lettuce, kale, carrots, green beans, zucchini, rhubarb and swiss chard. There will also be some strawberries, raspberries and blueberries but you will have to shop early as quatities are limited!
This Saturday, June 30th Bloomington Theatre and Art Center will provide a kids activity which will include mask making and face painting from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Also, come back after the market, at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, to experience the Camp Shakespeare Performance Weekend. The program will include a short performance by participants in BTAC's children's theater workshop, Camp Shakespeare, followed by a performance of The Comedy of Errors by the Strange Capers, a professional outdoor Shakespeare troupe.
We will also have our Master Tree Care specialist on hand this week from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. to answer your summer tree care needs.
Performing this Saturday is BLT, come and enjoy the great tunes while you do your shopping or take a break and enjoy the new seating area which is right across from the music stall!
Saturday, July 7th we will have our Master Recyclers on hand to keep you up to date on how to reduce your trash and recycle more. Bring your questions as they will be at the market from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Also on Saturday, July 7th Michael Riddle will be back performing from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., always a market favorite be sure to stop by and enjoy the great music.
Meet the Vendor - WagznPurz
We are thrilled to have Greg and Andrea Sarles of WagznPurz at the market with their wonderful pet treats. We love our four legged friends and although they aren't allowed at the market you can now bring a special treat home for your pet!
As their clever name reflects they make homemade treats for both cats and dogs. Four years ago, on one of their many trips to the farmers market around town, they realized there weren't any pet treats. Seizing the opportunity they quickly went to work trying many different recipes and have landed on three favorites - all of which are Lab tested of course by their own Lab Aries.
The great thing about these homemade treats is that they are made every week which means they have no preservatives, chemicals, extra salts etc. which helps keep our pets healthy. Greg is a High School math teacher who fills his summer up with making dog teats every week. The flavors you will find are Minty Breath Biscuit which has ingredients like mint and parsley as well as honey which sweetens up the biscuit. This is a crispy biscuit which helps break up tartar on dogs teeth. You will also find a savory biscuit and every dog's favorite Peanut Butter Cookie. All flavors freeze very well so you can stock up and still keep them fresh.
WagznPurz also has a great Kitty Salad for our cat lovers. A mix of both oat and wheat grass this blend is delicious, good for the digestive system, and helps clean teeth. Cats also love their homemade toys.
WaznPurz have been selling at Farmers Market around town for the past four years and one of their favorite things about coming to the Market is meeting great people with similiar interests and their passion for pets!
You will find WagznPurz on the East End of the Market located on the mulch median. Be sure to stop by and welcome them to the market and check out their great displays!
Kohlrabi - Featured Vegetable of the week!
 My family has been enjoying Kohlrabi for years but I recently discovered there is more you can do with it than I thought! We love to eat it in thin slices with a bit of salt on top, in fact my kids eat it like it is candy, so I have never given much thought to how else it can be prepared!
Thanks to "From Asparagus to Zucchini: A Guide to Farm-Fresh Seasonal Produce" there are many ways you can use Kohlrabi.
Cooking Tips:
- Kohlrabi is excellent cooked or raw.
- After washing, trim away any woody or tough portions of skin. Kohlrabi does not have to be peeled after cooking.
- Grate kohlrabi raw into salads, or make a coleslaw with grated kohlrabi and radish, chopped parsley, green onion and dressing of your choice.
- Steam kohlrabi whole, 25-30 minutes, or thinly sliced, 5-10 minutes.
- Add sliced or cubed kohlrabi to hearty soups, stews or a mixed vegetable stir-fry.
- Chill and marinate cooked for a summer salad. Add fresh herbs.
- Mash kohlrabi, mix with cooked potato, form into patties and fry in butter.
- Larger, older kohlrabi are good stuffed. Scoop out center, fill with chosen stuffing mixture and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.
- Kohlrabi leaves can be used like other greens. Just remove the center rib.
Storage Tips:
- Store kohlrabi globe and leaves separately. The globe will last for one month refrigerated in a plastic bag. Wrap leaves in a damp towel or place in a plastic bag and keep in hydrator drawer of refrigerator. Use greens as soon as possible.
Bloomington Farmers Market Information:
Pets
We love our four legged friends but there are no dogs/pets allowed in the market area.
Hours
Market hours are 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.; there is NO shopping before 8 a.m.
Parking
There is plenty of Free Parking on the West side of Civic Plaza during the market. There is also parking across 98th street in the VEAP parking lot and at Public Works off James Ave.
EBT and Credit Cards
Bring your EBT or credit card to the information tent to purchase tokens to be used at the market. EBT customers will also recieve up to $5 worth in Matching Bucks every Saturday they visit the market. The Market Bucks program is provided through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota. Visit the farmers market website for more information and guidelines.
We are looking forward to seeing you on Saturday!
Best regards,
Keri Lahl
Market Coordinator
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