The Fish Monger’s Wife Comes to Sweetwater!

 
New Vendor!
 
The Fishmonger’s Wife of Muskegon
When Amber Mae first married Eric Petersen, she always joked that she was going to open a fish market and call it The Fish Monger’s Wife. Eric thought the market was a good idea, but hated the name. After their first daughter Anna, was born, the couple revisited the idea of opening a market but didn’t want the overhead or time commitment involved with a store front. Luckily for us, they found the perfect solution: Farmer’s Markets! They started at the Muskegon Farmers Market last year and were an instant market favorite. Now, they’ve decided to try our market as well.
Eric has fished commercially with his family at Petersen’s Fisheries since he was old enough to hold a dip net. Meanwhile Amber Mae grew up working with her own family’s retail business.
Each week, the couple purchases fish from Petersen’s Fisheries and then cleans, pin bones and packages the fish for greatest freshness. From there, Amber Mae takes the fillets to Market.
Area residents are initially surprised to see fresh, locally caught whitefish at the market, but then they are delighted. Amber Mae says with a laugh, “We have an agreement. Eric goes on the boat, I go to market and the two shall not cross. That’s how we’ll continue to have a wonderful marriage!”

Read our newsletter Fish Wrap for Fish Folk at http://sweetwaterlocalfoodsmarket.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/fish-wrap-for-fish-folk-vol-1-issue-22.pdf
 
Harmony Gardens CRC of Montague
We are now Harmony Gardens Community Resource Center, and this season we’ll be bringing lots of exciting organically grown heirloom veggie, herb and flower transplants for your gardens. Now you can buy a tomato and help grow the local food movement too! All purchases will help us offer plants to Community Gardens in the cities of Muskegon and Muskegon Heights at low to no cost.
Gardeners: Ready to plant cool season veggies? Check out our kales, lettuces, cabbages and more! We will also have a limited amount of fresh picked Cilantro, Osaka Purple Mustard, Parsley and various lettuces.
Check out our Open House on May 13-14: http://sweetwaterlocalfoodsmarket.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/hargar-open-house-poster-may-2011.pdf

CJ Veggies of Zeeland
New this week: Baby kale and parsley plants. We’ll also have more fresh picked organic spinach, and cilantro. Charles and Judy have been growing produce since 2005, slowly expanding land and varieties while learning.  Certified Organic thru MOSA for five years and farming 1 3/4 acres of specialty veggies.  Charles and Judy are passionate about growing food that will help achieve optimal health.
 
Earthscape Farm of Hesperia
Quarters of BEEF for sale.  Talk to me or email for more information!  www.earthscapefarm@gmail.com
EGGS!  Our chickens are HAPPY! We will have eggs.
VEGGIES this week ~ Fresh from our small hoophouse ~ Spinach!  Salad Greens! Carrots and parsnips from Mike and Amanda Jones at Maple Moon Farm.
BEEF ~  Try our beef!  Our steers were on lush rotational pastures from May to November.   They are hung to age and processed by Ebel’s Meats in Falmouth, a family-run USDA operation.
HIGHER GROUNDS COFFEE in 1# bags ~ Various types, beans or ground, dark or light roast, full caf, half caf or decaf.

Creswick Farms of Ravenna
Pastured Raised, Antibiotic & Hormone Free, Artisanal Meats
Featured this week Gourmet Burgers (1/3 Pork + 2/3 Beef)
Place a Special Order (see below) to insure availability of the meats you want.
PORK
Pork Chops
Pork Tenderloin,
Bacon, Apple Smoked
Bacon, Hickory Smoked
Pancetta
BEEF
Ground Beef in 1 lb. packages
Stew Meat
Gourmet Burgers
Soy-Free EGGS (Limited Supply – First come, first serve)
SPECIALTY SAUSAGES & MEATS
Garlic Kielbasa Sausage
Chorizo
Deli Ham Slices
Pepperoni Slices
Hot Italian Sausage Links
Breakfast Sausage (Bulk)
Breakfast Sausage (Links)
Meat Snack Sticks
Chicago Style Hog Dogs
Important Notice Regarding Pre-Orders: If you pre-order meat you will have to pick it up on Saturday by no later than 12:00 noon or the items will be put back in stock. If you have an emergency and can’t make it you can call the phone to reach me before the noon cut-off at 231-769-6514. Thanks! Pre-Orders: Email Chris Bedford at chrisbedford@charter.net by no later than midnight on the Monday evening before the next market and he will have it ready for you to pick up on Saturday. For a complete list of products, please see the website: www.CreswickFarms.com

Grassfields Farm of Coopersville
Raw Milk Certified Organic Cheese
Gouda, Gouda w/dill, Gouda w/chili flakes, Gouda w/cumin (Leyden), Gouda with Garlic and Onion, Lamont Cheddar. Edam

Shady Side Farm of Holland
Do you know how old those dried beans in the grocery store are, or where they come from? Have you tried our dried beans yet? Try cooking with our pintos and black beans and see and taste the difference a locally grown and harvested dried bean makes! We’ll be back this week with soybeans, pinto beans, black beans, wheat and corn. Plus remaining stocks of wool socks, roving and rag rugs. We are Mike and Lona Bronkema of Shady Side Farm and we have been farming since 1992 and have recently transitioned to organic in parts of our operation, certifying through Global Organic Alliance (GOA). The farm is home to 150 or so sheep and some chickens. Wool from our sheep is dyed at the farm, and in our spare time Mike makes beautiful, warm wool socks and Lona makes hefty rugs from recycled fabrics. http://shadysidefarm.etsy.com
http://shadysidefarm.blogspot.com
 
Liberty Family Farm & Bakery of Hart
Easter Weekend Goodies!
Hoophouse Offerings
Arugula come and glean the last of it .
Spinach & Kale and a little swiss chard.
BAKERY OFFERINGS
New! Apple Galette made with fresh organic apples and organic cheddar cheese.
New! Spinach & Feta cheese Galette.
New! Easter Pie, a traditional Italian favorite made with ricotta cheese and wheatberries!
New! Easter Rings another Italian favorite bread shaped in a ring and topped with roasted
almonds and toffee.  They are about the size of a bagel.
New! Herb Bread made with fresh rosemary, sage, thyme and parsley, shaped into cute bunnies,
perfect for your Easter Brunch.
New! French Bagettes and Epi.
New! Nutmeg and organic Fig Coffee Cake.
As always we will offer our full Selection of Breakfast Cookies, Quiche- Gluten Free and Regular,
Beef Empanadas, Vegetable Beef Turnovers. Blueberry Crumb Cake, Gluten Free Granola, Cashew
Granola and more…. LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!

Earthly Kneads Bakery of Muskegon
Stock up for Easter dinner! Busy baking up a batch of goodies including our Saturday bread specials, scones, muffins, granola, cookies and cupcakes!
 
Laughing Tree Brick Oven Bakery of Hart
Laughing Tree Brick Oven Bakery breads are all made from 100% organic flours and grains.  Nearly all of our breads are naturally-leavened using a levain that we cultivate on site in our bakery.  All of our doughs undergo a long, slow fermentation process that produces extraordinarily flavorful and easily digestible breads.  The grand finale:  our breads are baked in a handbuilt, wood-fired brick oven which creates loaves of amazing texture and beauty! Come early!  We often sell out by noon…
NEW BREAD THIS WEEK!
COBMOOSA ONION RYE !!!
Six months in the making, this naturally-leavened rye bread is made with Michigan-grown rye flour, carmelized organic onions, and just a hint of ground caraway.  This is a rye bread worthy of the ultimate reuben sandwich.  We can’t wait to share it with you!!  ($6.00 a loaf)
Just in time for  Easter we will be baking:
Auntie P’s Triple Chocolate Cherry. A decadent dessert bread made with three dark chocolates and Michigan cherries. $9.25
Cranberry Orange Almond. A celebration bread for the ages made with toasted almonds, sweet-tart cranberries, and organic orange zest.  $8.75 a loaf.
 Also for Saturday April 23rd:
Homesteader’s Wheat. Formerly known as West Michigan Wheat, this is a light wheat bread with a wonderfully chewy crust. $5.00
 Oceana Round. Rustic Italian country bread $5.00
 Third Coast Three Seed.  Sunnies, Sesames, and Flax in a light wheat $5.50
Annie’s Raisin Spice. Sweet organic raisins, organic cinnamon, and freshly ground cardamon $6.00
The Michigander. Made with Michigan-grown whole wheat—dark and soulful $5.50
Griff’s 8-Grain. Hearty, hearty! Eight organic grains and a bit of Michigan honey $6.50
Finn’s Pecan Raisin Pecan. Jam packed with pecans and organic raisins $7.75
Elbridge Parmesan Olive. Sumptuous parmesan and Kalamata black olives $8.00
Irish Cheddar Peppercorn. Smooth Irish Cheddar and tongue-tingling organic black pepper $8.00
Pastries for Saturday April 23rd:  We will be baking our Almond Raisin Scones, Cranberry Orange Scones, Truly Ginger Scones, Michigan Cherry Scones, Simply Currant Scones, Expedition Cookies, Tree Hugger Peanut Butter Cookies, and our Deep Mud Brownies.

Maple Creek Sugars of Fremont
Doug & Tate Luchies have been producing wonderful maple syrup & honey for almost 8 years on their farm.  Sizes will range from quarts to pints.
 
Hickory Ridge Family Farm
Eggs this week! We’ll be bringing plenty of eggs from our Delaware, Barred Rock, Araucana, and Black Australorpe flocks. You can still get your order form in for pre-ordering chickens.
 
Bee & Botanicals of Spring Lake
Nature inspired…pretty, practical and organic!
Bees Wax Candles – Pretty carved egg candles, angel, Bee skeps, Bears,  3″ and 5 ” pillars,  tapers, votives,and tea lights.
Clean burning! Long Burn Time! Non-Petroleum!  100% Michigan beeswax!
Organic Soaps –  A full selection of great organic soaps: Blood Orange & Bergmot,Lemongrass Tea, Lavender, Peppermint, Oatmeal Spice (made with certified organic oils, and botanicals – no artificial fragrances or colors, only essential oils).  Soap Gift boxes with Easter Colors & gift tag – $1 each ( make great hostess, Easter basket, birthday and any time gifts).
Lavender – Sachets A variety of styles and sizes to choose from, Organic Lavender dryer bags (2 pack or bag of 5 available).
Organic Bath Tea, made with certified organic botanicals and bonus bath salts.
Hand made cards and gift tags, Rabbit Easter tag nice to add to a basket or bottle of wine for Easter presents.
Look forward to seeing you at the market!
 
Last but not least
 
Sweetwater Hugs & Thanks! To new and renewing Friends of the Market: Don & Virginia Kunst and Madeline Hassberger!
As always, if you would like to become a Friend of the Market for a suggested donation of $10.00, which entitles you to a free cup of coffee at every market you attend for a full year, please see me at the market this Saturday! We will also have  Higher Grounds Coffee by the Cup for a suggested donation of $1.00.
Sweetwater is on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Muskegon-MI/Sweetwater-Local-Foods-Market/111077177535

Hope to see you at the market!
Diana Jancek
Market Manager

We are an authorized Bridge Card farmers market!