One of the greatest satisfactions of shopping at the farmer’s market is being aware of where the produce was grown. Britt’s Garden Acres is located just west of Manhattan, and they sell produce at the Downtown Farmer’s Market, the Capitol Midweek Farmer’s Market, and the Manhattan and Junction City markets on Saturday mornings. Richard and Angela Britt, owners of Britt’s Garden Acres, purchased the farm from Angela’s father-in-law just over five years ago. The farm has been in the family for 60 years, and Richard and Angela are third-generation farmers. (I can’t help but think of the song “International Harvester” as I write that sentence).
Produce currently in season at Britt’s includes two of my favorites: okra and eggplant. We have roasted okra as a side dish with dinners at least once a week, and I make a mean moussaka dish with their giant (and cheap!) eggplant. Tomatoes will be available for just a little while longer, and later in the year Britt’s will have fresh homegrown sweet potatoes, acorn, butternut, and spaghetti squash, sweet pumpkins, pie pumpkins, jack-o-lanterns, and funky decorative gourds.

Along with the many tables covered in fresh produce, Britt’s has a trailer full of fresh melons. I inquired about the black diamonds, and Angela Britt informed me that “we are kindof famous for them actually. It’s a seedless watermelon that is really sugary sweet.” I took one home to try for the first time, and kicked myself afterward for not buying one sooner. I am halfway through the watermelon and have yet to see a black seed. The flavor is fresh, juicy, and there is no mushy texture that is found in other watermelon I have tried.

Another produce item that makes Britt’s unique is their peppers. Last Saturday, Angela had seven varieties available: habanero, cerrano, jalapenos, poblanos, Italian frying pepper, banana pepper, and bell peppers. Most weeks cayenne peppers are available as well.

When I asked Angela if there was anything else she sold that market-goers should be aware of, she quickly pointed out the Mexican vanilla. The vanilla comes directly from Mexico, and is much more flavorful than the imitation vanilla available in the grocery stores. Bottles are $5.50 and $12.50, about the same price as the imitation stuff.

Britt’s is located at the Huntoon entrance to the farmer’s market. Try to show up empty-handed, as you will find plenty of produce to fill your arms before you leave. Take a tip from a veteran-a few reusable bags are much easier to carry than a bunch of plastic ones!

Danny, Bernie, and Joey DeCesaris work as contractors during the day, remodeling homes with beautiful wood floors, countertops, and entertainment centers. As a hobby, the brothers started to make cutting boards, butcher blocks, chess boards, and cheese boards. They use different kinds of wood and all natural stains and dyes to create colorful, artistic, and functional pieces. Bernie DeCesaris says “this is what we enjoy doing,” referring to their artistic woodworking.

Last year, the brothers started to sell their pieces at the Capital City Midweek Market, and this year they began attending the Downtown Farmers Market as well. Keep your eyes peeled for their stand, as they are not able to attend the market every week. The DeCesaris brothers also bring their art to the Maple Leaf Festival and the Wamego Tulip Festival.

If you don’t find what you are looking for at the DeCesaris’ stand at the farmers markets or festivals, let Danny, Bernie, or Joey guide you. They make custom pieces, and can help you design woodwork to fit your home and style. You can find pictures of some work they have done at www.decesarisbrothers.com.
[Story by Larissa Keller | Photography by EJ Drake]

The item that got my attention as I was walking around the Downtown Topeka Farmer’s Market was Abundant Life’s tea. Abundant Life has jars and jars of colorful loose leaf tea that is sold for two dollars an ounce (about one-quarter to one-half cup, depending on the tea). The smells coming from the jar teased my nose, and Victor offered to steep a cup of tea for me (Abundant Life sells glasses of both hot and iced tea for $1.25). I tried the ginger-peach tea, and the strong flavor made drinking hot tea on a hot
day totally worth it.

The Grueblers decided to start Abundant Life when they were having troubles finding all natural nut butters and organic tea in Topeka. “We had to drive to Kansas City to get tea. We like tea, so we figured there are a lot of other people who like tea as well,” Victor recalls. The tea sold by Abundant Life comes from Asia, India, and China. All of the tea is organic, and most is from fair-trade sources, which means the companies pay their workers a fair wage and take care of the farmers.

Abundant Life has two different iced teas every Saturday, and this weekend will be the perfect time to let a cup of organic iced tea make the heat at the market a little more bearable.

[by Larissa Keller | photography by EJ Drake]

Lucky for you, though, I visit David’s Herbs almost every week, and I can share everything I know about their market offerings. David’s Herbs is run by Susan Warriner, and her daughter and son-in-law

Elizabeth and Lee Kelley. David’s Herbs has been a vendor at the market since the early years, when there were only six vendors. Warriner sells ready to use herbs and herb plants, all kinds of jellies, farm fresh eggs and free range chickens, my two favorites. The chickens won’t be available until the second week of June, but eggs are almost always available (as long as you get them early – they sell out quick).

If you haven’t had farm fresh eggs from David’s Herbs, you are missing out on one of the best local foods the farmer’s market has to offer. The yolks are firm and golden, and you need an extra slice of toast to soak up all the runniness after frying them to over-medium perfection.

Two weeks ago, Lee Kelley sold me eggs from Americana chickens, which lay blue eggs. It was like getting Easter eggs without all the mess. The jellies, especially the jalapeno raspberry jelly, go great on roasted pork loin. Enjoy David’s Herbs wide variety of local, homegrown foods, and as the weather gets warmer, be sure to ask Susan about her free range chickens, available in mid-June, and her herb plants that will be available in the coming weeks.

Follow Larissa all season as she highlights local vendors and keeps us up-to-date on what to look for and when in her Farmers’ Market Grab Bag blog.

[ Larissa Keller | photos by EJ Drake ]

First Saturdays Presented by Topeka Blues Society

In the past, performances included huge names such as Duke Tomatoe (formerly of REO Speedwagon) and Buddy Flett, lured to the market by none other than the Topeka Blues Society and Suki Willison, the nationally-lauded booking agent for Uncle Bo’s Blues Bar. The Blues Society will be back at it again this year, bringing both traveling artists that happen to be in town on a Saturday morning and local acts that we know and love like Josh Vowell and the Rumble and Nick Hern Band each first Saturday throughout the spring and summer.

Second Saturdays Presented by the Americana Music Academy

This out-of-the-way music instruction academy, located in Potwin’s future “Fiber Arts District” has its feet deep in American roots music, with bluegrass, folk, country, blues and jazz. The students, teachers and musicians from AMA will not disappoint listeners at the market this season.

Music every Saturday

Volunteers are working hard to book acts, with just a few more spots to fill. Some of the performers already lined up for dates this year are:

May 21: Ellie Smith and Ryan V.

June 26: The Argyll McHaggis Memorial Pipes and Drums

August 27: Sam Billen

Check in often with seveneightfive.com and in print for features on the bands playing at Music at the Market, and a weekly schedule of performers. Or “like” Music at the Market on Facebook to stay fully in the know.

Now go out there and do some rocking, um, I mean, shopping. Or both, whatever! Music at the Market is cool like that.

[ April 2010 | Leah Sewell | photos by Leah Sewell | Sam Billen portrait by Micah Rolfs | image at top provided by Jeff Davis/courtesy of Music at the Market ]