Lord knows we can all do with some Springtime cheer in the midst of the coldest winter we've had to shiver through for years, and the Clevedon Village Farmers' Market is planning the perfect mood-enhancer.

On Sunday, August 23, we'll be selling sunny daffodils picked fresh from Mary Tarbit's lovely garden at Willowbrook, with all proceeds going to the Auckland Cancer Society. Last year's market 'Daffodil Day' raised over $400 - and on one of the nastiest Sundays of the season.

If you're able to help us pick daffodils on Saturday the 22nd, please contact Helen on 021 523 616. A special thanks to Mary for donating her garden's glorious bounty.

And for an extra shot of summery cheer on a chilly morning, be sure to visit Anthony and Angela of Curious Croppers for - wait for it - winter tomatoes with real tomato flavour. Anthony has magic green thumbs and, using  a combination of ripening on the vine, nurturing and variety, he coaxes tasty heritage tomatoes from his greenhouse vines, as well as delicious aubergines and vine-ripened cherry tomatoes.

So put a big bunch of market daffodils on the table and serve up a platter of tomato and mozzarella-topped bruschetta (see this month's recipe) - those winter blues won't stand a chance.

It's in the bag
Look out for these sturdy but beautiful market bags – each one an original designed by Helen our market manager and handmade in Clevedon by Rewadee Murray. Incorporating recycled coffee sacks, gorgeous vintage-inspired fabrics, the market logo and badges, they are the perfect reusable tote for market shopping - not to mention beach-going, baby-gear hauling and picnic-packing.

Well schooled
Clevedon School celebrates being 150 years old this year with an anniversary reunion between September 4 - 6. Registration and tickets are available until August 7, so be quick to be part of this wonderful event, for more information ph: 292 8654 or visit www.clevedonschool.co.nz

Small goods
A big thanks to Helen’s father Roger Hames for building our very own kids' Shoppe (pictured).
This great little booth is available free of charge to those enterprising kids aged 12 and under who'd like to give growing a go and make some extra pocket money. It's also a great way for school groups to raise funds.
Kids must grow or make what they plan to sell and all products sold must be food or a farm by-product.
Call Helen for more information and bookings, or catch up with her at the market.

RECIPE OF THE SEASON
Buffalo mozzarella with green & red tomato bruschetta

We used Rouge du Marmone and a Spanish green variety of tomato to create this simple and delicious dish. You could also use prosciutto, figs, sun dried tomatoes, aubergine and - believe it or not - bottled peaches (hold the garlic) with your melt in the mouth mozzarella bruschetta. Serves 6. 

Bruschetta
Cut twenty 1cm thick slices of sourdough bread. Brush one side with olive oil and rub with garlic. Bake in a 220C oven for up to 10 minutes, taking care that the bread doesn't burn. Remove bruschetta from the oven, turn over and lightly brush with olive oil and rub with garlic.

Tomato salsa
In a bowl, combine:
2 cups of deseeded and chopped red and green tomatoes – 2 large red to one large green
3 teaspoons of capers
1 teaspoon of dried oregano – use fresh basil in summer
pinch of sugar
salt and pepper to taste

Wilt 20 - 30 spinach leaves in a steamer and place on top of the bruschetta, Top with the salsa.

Mozzarella
Cut your ball of buffalo mozzarella in half and gently squeeze excess milk from the ball. Slice into 5mm rounds, then cut rounds in half. Top each bruschetta with 2-3 half-slices of mozzarella and grill for 1 to 5 minutes*. Serve warm.

* Note: try not to over-grill mozzarella - it should be grilled lightly so it has the springiness of marshmallow.

CLEVEDON VILLAGE FARMERS' MARKET VENDORS & PRODUCE

• Anthony's Tomatoes - tomatoes that taste like tomatoes
• Holmbrook Produce – chutney jams, mustards, pickles
• Clevedon Animal Farm - pony rides
• Bentru - smoked specialty meats and sausages; traditional prosciutto

• Nina & Rocco at the market

  Schanzer Landscape - exotic plants
• Ardmore Valley Blueberries - blueberries
• Clevedon Valley Cheese - artisan cheese
• Piako Pete - wet fish; smoked fish & eel
• Pasta La Vista - fresh artisan pasta
• Pacific Skye - seasonal fruit; fruit juice
• Wild Bee - fresh local bush & field honey
• Cuconics - telegraph cucumbers
• Salmonman - hot smoked salmon cured in a variety of ways
• Heart of the Globe - Highland beef products; artichokes
• Running Brook Seeds - quality heritage flower & vegetable seeds
• Wild Wheat - artisan bakers of traditional and sourdough breads
• Paella Pan - traditional paella cooked on-site; fresh crepes
• I Love Pies – handmade pies with an NZ flavour
• Limes on the Firth - fresh limes; cooking demonstrations 10-11am
• Hungarian Twisters - traditional Hungarian pastries
• Alison's Pony & Trap Rides - pony & trap rides
• Willow Brook - lavender products; Iris plants and lavender
• Zakar - BioGro beef cuts; premium beef mince and sausages
• Eureka Nurseries - flowers and produce
• Sweet Art - cakes and chocolates
• Nature's Corner - free-range eggs
• Clevedon Catering - Cornish pasties, Eccles cakes
• Alvita - fresh & roasted nuts
• Clevedon Proteas - Proteas and Waratahs
• Wofem Bagels - traditional bagels
• Waiuku River Wines - red & white wines, verjuice
• Fancy Lettuce - lettuce; spinach; living herbs
• Market Espresso - great coffee and refreshments
• River Estate - premium olive oils and table olives
• Dullumbunda Farm - fruit; vegetables and herbs
• Hungarian Deli - traditional air-dried meats and sausages
• Clevedon Cuisine - gourmet provisions
• Listers - passion fruit and preserves
• Clevedon Juice & Icecream - juice and icecream
• David's Garden - Asian vegetables a specialty
• Roses - Fresh cut roses
• Ness Valley Nuts - fresh roasted and chocolate macadamia nuts
• Kipdale Farm - free range chicken
• Mamor - Exquisite hand made Chocolates
• Maxwell's - quality garden plants
• Miss Figgy - export figs and preserves
• Earth Energies - Kawakawa remedies
  

Clevedon Village Farmers Market
Every Sunday 8:30am-12 noon, Clevedon Showground, Monument Rd, Clevedon

Visit our website at www.clevedonfarmersmarket.co.nz
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