The second of a two-part look at where to buy locally grown goods in the Shoals.
In the last issue, the two-part article, “Eat Well Buy Local”, both famed restaurateur and chef Alice Waters and Barbara Kingsolver, author of “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle”, were quoted as praising the local farmer for his organic relationship with nature and his proximity to the dinner table by shortening the period of time (and boxes and coolers and fuel tank fills) from the land to the table. Now that financial prudence and healthy, organically grown produce are on everyone’s minds, not to mention support of local farmers, the primary question remains, what should we have for dinner? This sequel to a two-part article on buying locally will map out an afternoon jaunt through the Shoals on where to get the goods this fall.
Start with the Spring Park Farmers Market in Tuscumbia where the summer-long Thursday evening event continues through the last week of September. Live music serenades buyers and sellers of organic and naturally grown produce such as winter squash and home-baked goods. Organizer Sherry Campbell has lined up guest chefs for the 6 p.m. cooking demonstration in these last few days of warm weather.
Make a stop in Sheffield at the Colbert County Farmer’s Market on South Raleigh Avenue where farmers keep a looser schedule dependant entirely on harvest size and demand. Teresa McDonald, organizer and spokeswoman for the market, explains that in dry years, such as last summer, the harvests are so small that farmers sell off their produce by Labor Day. Given ideal conditions, shoppers can expect to find various greens, cabbage, beans, potatoes and sweet potatoes through the holiday weekend and possibly later in the month.
Cruise over to Muscle Shoals where the Jack-O-Lantern Farms naturally certified hydroponically grown produce is open all year on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. In addition to heirloom tomatoes, various peppers and leafy greens, Steve and Connie Carpenter sell other organic goods from Alabama. From Elgin, there’s the award-winning goat cheese, Belle Chevre. His delicious, creamy cheese elicits, in one spoonful, daydreams of the French countryside with undulating lavender fields and lush vineyards. From central Alabama, Oakview Farms Granary is a family-owned and operated stone burr gristmill established in 1998. They offer stone ground cornmeal, grits, whole wheat and unbleached flours and a healthy mix of wild rices.
Also in Muscle Shoals, O’Guirres Butcher Shop has been serving the Shoals community with choice beef since 1976. They offer custom-cut Kansas steaks, Tennessee raised pork and various sausages in addition to Sugar Hill bologna from Tuscaloosa – it is not your run-of-the-mill beef bologna but a trip to Italy in a sandwich. Slice it thick, add ripe local tomato and baby Vidalia or local spring onion and mayo for a savory lunch. O’Guirres also carries various frozen vegetables such as sweet corn, baby limas, okra, breaded and not, and breaded green tomatoes for frying when time is short.
Cross the bridge into Florence and peruse the Chisolm Road Market. On Saturdays only in September, farmers from local counties will sell their naturally grown harvests, plants and eggs.
Next stop, at Aliyah Acres on County Road 23 in Florence, proprietor Mary Janis harvests heirloom corn that has been in her family for five generations. Shitake mushrooms, growing quietly in the shade all summer, should also be ready to be picked and eaten. Mary and Gary Janis grew shitakes for several years in western North Carolina but moved to Alabama because “I can have a garden here,” explains Mary, who jovially conveys the difficulty of farming on a mountain side. She farms all her vegetables, herbs and plants sustainably and organically, and the farm will soon be awarded its naturally grown certification.
Back on Highway 20, take a left and cruise a few miles to County Road 16 where Renee and Adam Cox run Cox Butcher Shop. The storefront business is just more than two years old but the couple has raised cattle for years. Adam Cox grew up in a cattle family and always wanted to open his own business. The impetus to finally open came from a desire to offer the community a natural, local product. After working in a supermarket and observing product shipped in from overseas, he realized his small herd was a favorable option. The Coxes now raise 20 head of cattle, grass and grain fed, free range, without steroids or preservatives. Renee says their product is “better for people and tastes better” because of the animals’ natural lifestyle. The Cox also sell Tennessee pork raised in the same manner as their cattle and process game deer during hunting season.
Plan an afternoon and pack up the kids for a U-Pick pumpkin experience at the McGee Farm in Florence. Hayrides through the pumpkin patch provide an educational opportunity. The family-owned and operated farm is open to the public September through Oct. 31.
While we rush around to mark off school shopping lists and lament the loss of summer we can, at least, rest assured that dinner comes from a good source. Those large, shiny supermarkets in Huntsville, Athens and Decatur promise abundant supply in choices and foreign produce, but our gas tanks are kinder to the earth, our wallets stay a little fatter and our local economy remains healthy when we buy in the Shoals.
Where to Shop:
Cox Butcher: Free range, grass fed steroid and preservative-free beef and pork; 1901 County Road 16; closed Mondays; phone: (256) 766-2051
O’Guirres Butcher: Premium Kansas beef, Tennessee pork since 1976; 1012 Avalon Avenue; phone: (383) 5540, No credit cards.
Farmer’s Markets:
Jack-O-Lantern Farms: Naturally certified hyrdoponic grown vegetables; Garage Road, near TVA; Thursdays 4-7, Saturdays 9-2; phone: (256) 386-2335
Chisolm Road Market: Area farmers, September, Saturday, only 6-12;Chisolm Road near Cox Creek Parkway; contact: Thurston Harper (256) 764-7125
Spring Park Market: Live music and cooking demonstrations; Spring Park; Thursdays 4-7 through September; cityoftuscumbia.org
Colbert County Farmers Market: Local farmers gather on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; South Raleigh Avenue, Sheffield; contact: Theresa McDonald (256) 386-8570
Farms:
Aliyah Acres: Organically grown seasonal veggies, melons, shitake mushrooms, native plants and herbs; 2030 County Road 23; Wednesday-Friday 8-7, Sunday 1-4; contact: Mary Janis (256) 766-1447; www.aliyah-acres.com
McGee Farm: U-pick pumpkins; 8211 County Road 7; Open September through October 31; phone: (256) 766-2725; mcgeefarm.com
Favorite Buys:
Belle Chevre Goat Cheese: Award winning goats cheese from Elgin, available at Jack-O-lantern Farms, bellechevre.com
Oakview Farms Granary: Family owned and operated stone burr gristmill; oakviewfarms.com
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