Even Sunny knows that hot and humid Maryland summer is here. She has been keeping her outdoor time to early mornings and evening strolls lately, and honestly, we do not blame her. It is about to be a hot one this Fourth of July weekend! But do not let the heat keep you away from the Easton farmers’ market this Saturday, July 4th. Come early when it is coolest, the market opens at 8am, and it is going to be a good one.
We are expecting a big, lively holiday crowd and we are preparing to bring plenty of everything. That said, we cannot stress this enough: if you have your heart set on something, especially our guacamole, pico de gallo, blue catfish ceviche, or this week’s frozen take-home meal, please place your order ahead of time at quarter-acre.com/shop. These items sell out fast on a normal Saturday, and a Fourth of July crowd means they will go even faster.
Saturday Special: Cochinita Tacos
This Saturday’s special is truly Chef Juan Carlos’ favorite, and one of our customers’ most beloved specials every season. Cochinita is a pork butt marinated in achiote and citrus, then slow-roasted wrapped in banana leaves until meltingly tender. Served on warm corn tortillas and topped with pickled purple onions for a burst of bright, tangy flavor. Deeply flavorful, incredibly juicy, and unlike anything else on our menu. Do not miss this one!
Take-Home Frozen Meal: Beer-Brined Pork Ribs with Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Ribs are practically made for the Fourth of July, and this Saturday’s ready-to-heat frozen meal delivers. Pork ribs brined in beer, lime juice, salt, and black pepper, then grilled to perfection and served with roasted sweet potatoes and a garnish of pico de gallo. Perfect whether you are planning a quiet solo celebration or picking up a few to share at a small gathering. Pre-order yours here so that the meal will be ready and waiting for you at our booth.
Tomato Season Is Almost Here
Our tomatoes are making good progress out in the field. We are still about two weeks out from harvesting our first cherry tomatoes, but once that harvest begins it will run all the way through Halloween. All of our tomatoes are grown outdoors in the field with no hoop houses, so the extremely dry and windy conditions we had this spring pushed our transplanting back by a few weeks. We are so looking forward to tomato season, and it really will be here before you know it.
Seedlings Worth a Closer Look
Our online shop still has a wonderful selection of vegetable, herb, and flower seedlings available for Saturday pickup. A few standouts this week:
Jing Orange Okra is a striking plant with bright red stems and thinly lobed leaves with red veins running through them, pretty enough to plant right alongside your ornamentals, though it is every bit as edible and delicious as any other okra. The 6 inch smooth, slim, dark red pods have great flavor and the plants grow 5 to 6 feet tall.
Lemon Spice Jalapeño is a beauty on the plant and a delight on the tongue. The fruit ripens to a bright, saturated gold color with a citrusy tang and moderate heat at 25,000 Scoville units. Use it as you would a green jalapeño, in salsas, stir fries, or sliced atop a bowl of hot pho.
Chamomile is a self-seeding annual herb with sweet-scented, daisy-like flowers that can be harvested and dried for herbal teas. A gentle and beautiful addition to any garden.
We will also have luffa sponges and white sweet potatoes by the pound at the booth this Saturday.
Order Online for Market Pickup
Place your order at quarter-acre.com/shop by Thursday, July 2nd at 8pm for Saturday pickup. The earlier you order the better, especially for the guacamole, pico, ceviche, and frozen meals. If you prefer to shop in person, take a page from Sunny’s book and plan to arrive right when the market opens at 8am.
We hope you have a wonderful Fourth of July, and we cannot wait to celebrate it with you at the market!