Oh November, you are both the most joyful month (Scorpios rule!) and the saddest month (Thanksgiving, I STILL DO NOT LIKE YOU!). What’s sadder than a vegan at Thanksgiving? The end of the Farmers Market season, of course!
After this month we’ve got slim choices here in MN for local produce until rhubarb, the harbinger of spring, pokes its tarty fronds out of the cold earth and we begin again. So November is special.
We have a wonderful network of Farmers’ Markets here in Minneapolis. My go-to spot for fresh produce for the better part of the year is the North Lyndale Market (the one near the Basilica and IMS). This is the largest open air market in the region (Upper Midwest), with many local and organic/chemical-free vendors.
Each week my agave* and I go there with just $20 in my pocket and a slew of reusable grocery bags on his arm - which all get filled. When paired with the staples in our kitchen this feeds the two of us for the entire week, and leaves plenty to share with guests.
Of course I just HAD to do a Farmers’ Market week for Vegan MoFo!
Here is what I picked up this week for $20, all from LOCAL** farms:
Rainbow Carrots: $2
GIANT Cheddar Cauliflower: $3
Mixed Beets: $3
Mustard Greens (2 bunches so big that they don’t fit in the crisper): $2
Broccoli (x2): $2
Acorn Squash: $1
GIANT Butternut Squash: $3
Other Squash whose name I forgot: $1
Adorable Fingerling Potatoes: $2
Parsnips: $1
There are always some rollover items, too. We still have onions and garlic leftover from last week, plus some bread (2 whole grain loaves for $5!) we kept in the freezer. And, there is usually one thing our market doesn’t carry local that I just HAVE to get at the coop, and that’s mushrooms. (Really, no sad face for the coop. I HEART my coop. I will write about it another day).
Stay tuned for the creations made from this bounty.
*Translation in non-vegan-speak: “My honey.”
**BUY LOCAL! Support the local economy & keep the independent farmers farming. It’s easy. Here that means look for the ‘Minnesota Grown’ sticker proudly displayed by the vendors and steer clear of the people selling bananas.
