IN SEASON
The weather may be cooling but fresh produce is bountiful at the Clevedon Village Farmer's Market. This month you'll find tamarillos, mandarins, apples, feijoas, kiwifruit, pears, lettuce, broccoli, culinary herbs, salad greens, spinach, kale, collard, root vegetables, sprouts and oyster mushrooms - in addition to our stallholders' plentiful non-seasonal offerings.
* For a full list of our stallholders and their produce, click here.

NEW VENDORS
We're constantly working to bring you the very best in ethically-produced market produce - and to make Clevedon Village Farmers' Market a unique 'one-stop' shopping destination.
This month we warmly welcome Hamlin Road Nurseries, with their wonderful range of perennials and potted colour plants; Soggy Bottom Holdings with rare-breed meats including free-range pork and bacon; Estuary Orchards with fresh-picked mandarins and persimmons; and The Clevedon Bowling Club who are raising funds with delicious locally-grown kiwifruit.

MARKET BITES
TIME Goes Local
We know we're onto a good thing, and TIME Magazine agrees. Their March 12 cover story examines the benefits of GIY (Grow It Yourself) and supporting small local food producers. Such a philosophy, says TIME, is good for your health (fewer additives and chemicals); the environment (no air miles; fewer chemicals) and your wallet (no middle-man). We hate to say we told you so, but, well, you know…

A Guide for Life
Plan to travel and eat well at the same time? Make sure you buy a copy of the '2007 Guide to Farmers' Markets' (available for $19.95 from our coffee stall), which profiles authentic farmers' markets around New Zealand.

Plastic Not Fantastic
At the Clevedon Village Farmers' Market we encourage the use of re-usable and bio-degradable packaging materials. Our stallholders work with the environment, not against it - and they'll provide ecologically-responsible packaging where possible. If not, ask them why - chances are they're looking for an alternative.

RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Apple and celery herb soup with blue cheese

Ingredients

• 1 generous knob of butter
  
• 1 onion roughly chopped (use leek if preferred)
  
• 1 large bunch of celery herb (available from Dullumbunda Farm stall)
  
• 1.5 litres of vegetable or chicken stock
  
• 2 - 3 fresh market apples peeled, cored and chopped
  (choose from several spray-free and organic varieties at the CVFM)
  
• 2 tblsp thickened cream
  
• 80 gm Port Ahuriri or Coromandel Blue cheese, chopped into small chunks
  (available from Clevedon Valley Cheese stall)
  
• Salt and pepper

Method
Saute the onion and celery herb in the butter for four minutes, or until softened.
Add the stock, season to taste, bring to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes.
Add the apples and simmer for a further ten minutes or until apples are soft.
Blend in a liquidizer until smooth.
Stir in the cream and sprinkle with the blue cheese and torn celery herb leaves to serve.

Cooks' note: celery herb is a great healthy alternative to celery, which is difficult to grow without the use of chemical sprays.

CLEVEDON VILLAGE FARMERS' MARKET VENDORS & PRODUCE

• Dullumbundra Farm - kale and collards; root vegetables; sprouts; oyster mushrooms; tamarillos; culinary herbs
• Pacific Skye - apples (including heritage varieties); pears; figs; fruit juice; feijoas
• Fancy Lettuce - lettuce; bok choy; broccoli; living herbs
• Clevedon Bowling Club - kiwifruit
• Estuary Orchards - citrus fruit; persimmons
• Sunset Coast Organics - certified organic fruit and vegetables, including culinary herbs and gourmet salad mixes
• Wild Bee - fresh local bush and field honey
• Natures Corner - free-range eggs
• Clevedon Café - fresh baking; pesto; dressings and gourmet ready meals
• Hungarian Deli - traditional air-dried meats and gluten free sausages
• Waiuku River Wines - merlot and cabernet Bordeaux style blends
• Paella Pan - traditional paella cooked on-site; fresh crepes
• Cathedral Cove Macadamias - fresh macadamia nuts and macadamia nut products
• Heart of the Globe - Highland beef products; salami; fresh artichokes; marinated garlic; fruit pastes
• Blackwood’s Gourmet Breads - freshly-made bagels and flatbreads
• Wenvoe - handmade jams, chutneys and jellies
• Bentru - Smoked speciality meats and sausages; traditional proscuitto
• Clevedon Valley Cheese - select goudas; handmade cow's, sheep's and goat's milk cheeses
• Piako Pete - smoked fish; fresh flounder and snapper; smoked eel (when available)
• Salmonman - fresh smoked salmon cured in a variety of ways
• Zakar - BioGro beef cuts; premium beef mince and sausages
• River Estate - premium olive oils and table olives
• Nourishment not Punishment - fresh gluten-free baking
• Alvita - fresh nuts
• Running Brook Seeds - quality heritage flower and vegetable seeds
• Wild Wheat - artisan bakers of traditional and sourdough breads
• Market Espresso - great coffee and refreshments
• Philippe’s Chocolate - handcrafted chocolates
• Soggy Bottom Holdings - purveyors of rare breed free-range meats
• Willowbrook Lavender - lavender soap and lavender preparations
• Clevedon Animal Farm - pony rides

Visit our website at www.clevedonfarmersmarket.co.nz
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