The 2nd Annual Farmer's Market Exchange Round-Up

Three continents. Two Y chromosomes. Six west coasters (that is, if the west coast of Norway counts). One mention in the Boulder Farmer’s Market newsletter. A tweet from the Minneapolis Farmer's Market. And multiple bottles of maple syrup (but really now, can a person have too much maple syrup?) 

 

 

The second annual Transplanted Baker’s Farmer’s Market Exchange ended with 9 happy exchanges. Or, 18 boxes sent from the likes of Alaska, Brazil, Vermont, Colorado, Sartell, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Oregon, Los Angeles, London, Minneapolis, and humble Førde, Norway!

My little exchangers made me proud this year. Not only because they helped nearly double the number of participants from last year, but because the exchange found people sending amazing things across the country and ocean, many of which were handmade, homegrown, home-canned, and even hand-thrown.

 

 

Things that I hadn’t even heard of before…

Like Elderflower cordial, which Rebecca sent Jes from her farmer’s market in London. Of course, Jes was equally nice to Rebecca  and sent her (amongst other things) dried apple slices, sweet peper jelly, and that home-thrown coffee mug.

 From atnumber98.blogspot.com

Molly in Anchorage sent (my sister!) Ingrid an Alaskan Ulu knife and chopping bowl. Check this puppy out! Ingird sent Molly some Minnesota jams to smoother on her morning toast. 

Everyone’s heard of heirloom tomatoes by now. But heirloom wax beans? And purple ones at that?! Neysa in Sartell, MN sent Greg in L.A. these beans that ended up under a warm bacon vinaigrette alongside some lamb chops. Greg sent Neysa the best of southern California- Tepin chilies, tomatilloes,  and garlic which she used to whip up some goood salsa.

Mallory in Brazil waited and waited and waited for her exchange box to arrive from Heather in Minneapolis, and almost gave up hope that it was confiscated by customs, until she finally chased down the mailman walking up her street with a USPS box under his arm, “The mail man never calls out my difficult to pronounce name (that's how mail is delivered, they clap and scream your name in the street. True story, no doorbell)”. Seems as though the handmade peppermint soap and roasted almonds made up for the long wait. Heather got a kick out of the brazil nut cookies and guava paste Mallory sent (she did her best relying on her Spanish while translating the Portuguese packaging).

 

Rachel in St. Paul, MN and The Redhead in Boulder coincidently exchanged chocolate products spiked with chilies! Rachel sent a jar of River Chocolate Company’s  Wicked (Good) Chocolate Sauce with Belgian chocolates, cream, Ancho, Puya, Serrano, and Chipotle peppers, while The Redhead sent Rachel a bar of Chilies and Cherries in dark chocolate from one of her favorite local chocolatiers, Chocolove. *I should also mention that The Redhead went above and beyond and sent myself three separate jars of her own canned Colorado peach specialties, including a few of these! The kindness of strangers, indeed.

 

Lauren in Eugene, Oregon received, amongst other things, Pop a Cob corn, homemade strawberry jam, and a Mill City Farmer’s Market tote from generous Kim in St. Paul, Minnesota.

 

And Siri in Førde, Norway picked up one heavy box with a return address from Lindsay in Massachusetts that was filled with the essence of New England- seafood spice rub, dried Boston beans, and a lobster lollipop. (I sent Lindsay a jar of some of my beloved homemade rhubarb-wild blueberry jam, along with some canned lump crab meat, dried herbs from a local organic Sogn og Fjordane farm, a bar of dark chocolate marzipan and a bit more- we’ll call it an even exchange).

Also part of the exchange was Josh, another Minneapolitan (and future organic famer),  Nicole of Fairbanks, AK, Jenn of Vermont (thanks for the soap and syrup, Jenn!), and Sarah of St. Paul, MN. 

 

Thanks to all who participated. And to those of you who now wish that you had...stay tuned for next year's (3rd annual) farmer's market exchange!

Comments

[Jenn AKA The Leftover Queen]

Thanks Siri for the awesome round-up and for organizing this event again! Can't wait until next year!

[sippitysup]

Great round up and a fun event! GREG

[-the redhead-]

Yah! The jam arrived. I was beginning to think it had been confiscated by customs ;)

Here's the direct link to my Fsrmers Market goodies - http://handcraftedwithaltitude.wordpress.com/2010/07/29/farmers-market-exchange/

Thanks for hosting this. I already have plans for next year.

The folks at my farmers market are already scheming to do something similar next year. Since I'm now working with the manager on some other things, I think we can make it happen ;)

I hope both you and your mom enjoy the jams.

-the redhead-

[-the redhead-]

Silly me - I clicked on all the links except mine. Of course you had exactly the right spot.

Here's the exchange mention in the newsletter

http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=00186bjBp797gu8kJUeP4xzUgfIq80gdNsHWy1zzhJreAH-MWKCGOVsGCGcUpHXqwljEM-p72EOo4U9AsuF_74FH9rkVceG6Hp9y2Eo8kL1x4OxG3txrhE9BeCN60iPBCP_wf45MnjDJ6ZVIcvSdD0v-PK411wXKtNM

I use the St. Paul Farmer's Market bag and little maroon bag +every+ Saturday at the market.

-the redhead-