In this issue
Farmers Market Week!
Have you taken the eat local challenge? It's not too late to pick up your "I eat local" bumper sticker or window cling. The MN Grown prize patrol will be stopping by this Saturday to help us celebrate Farmers Market Week. If a sticker is spotted on your car you could win a bag of market goodies! Now is the time to celebrate the peak of the season with all of the local fruits and vegetables. It is also a great time to meet your local growers.
Have slugs found your garden or maybe Asian beetles? Master Gardeners will be back next Saturday, August 14th to help solve your yard and garden plant and pest problems. Stop by the city tent from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. for some expert advise.
We have some great folk music coming up over the next couple of weeks too, BLT Folk will be joining us this Saturday and Rudy Rudesill will be performing on August 14th. Music will be from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Also, stop by the South Loop District Plan Public Open House this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Civic Plaza lobby. It will feature:
- Displays illustrating a draft future development scenario for the South Loop District.
- Displays illustrating design concepts for four "signature elements" within the South Loop District.
- City staff will be on hand to take comments and address your questions.
Finally, please remember the East lot is handicap parking only. Be safe while walking to the market, stay on the sidewalk! You can enter the market by Tollefson's meats without having to walk through the handicap parking area.
Thank you to those of you who have taken home a lawn sign! We still have a few left if you are interested in putting one in your yard. We are looking for people to help us promote the market by putting up a lawn sign to remind their neighbors to join us at the market on Saturday mornings. We are asking people to put the signs out each Friday, prior to the market, and take them down on Saturday afternoon, following the market. They are a great way for you to show community pride and help get the word out about our market. Stop by the City tent for more information or to pick up a sign.
Hansen Hidden Acres
Mickey Hansen of Hansen Hidden Acres farms about 10 acres of land in Buffalo, MN about 42 miles from Bloomington. Specializing in sweet corn, raspberries and rhubarb, Mickey has quite a green thumb, especially for a retired electrician. Studying agriculture at the experiment station in Grand Rapids gave him a good start. Mickey's parents were raspberry and strawberry growers too, but had gotten out of the business by the time Mickey was born. Mickey learned a lot about farming simply from chatting with his father around the kitchen table. When the time was right, in 1989, Mickey and his wife bought a little farm and started their own raspberry fields.
The raspberries have kept Mickey and his wife busy ever since. Making about a dozen different varities of jam is a great passion and he loves to let you try his recipes. Another way Mickey loves to share his passion for raspberries is by operating a U-Pick business where you can pick your own raspberries. This business is great fun for Mickey. He loves it when folks, especially kids, come out and pick raspberries "we eat a few, pick a few and have a great time"! This year's crop is the best he has ever had, when asked why this year is such a good year, Mickey's classic response is "because I get smarter every year!"
Mickey was hoping to add gladiolas to his booth this year but congestive heart failure has put that plan on hold. Many of you noticed his absence this spring and we are delighted to have Mickey back at the market. The farmers market is great fun for Mickey, he has gotten to know his customers and loves to see them every week, he also enjoys the comradeship between vendors and the great displays of produce.
One of the challenges for Mickey is getting his raspberries to grow and then being able to sell them all. He does have irrigation in the raspberry fields but also relies on mother nature. His favorite thing about farming is getting on his new tractor he purchased a couple of years ago and being outside!
If you are looking to pick your own raspberries, the season is just starting and will go into the fall. Hansen Hidden Acres is open Wednesday - Sunday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. you can also call 612-239-0456. Mickey was also featured in the Star Tribune Taste section last week and you will find the article at
You will find Mickey and his great assortment of jams, raspberries and sweet corn on the south side of the Market. Be sure to stop by and give him a warm welcome back!
Green Bean Salad - Eileen O'Connell, Bloomington Public Health
- 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
- 2 tablespoons chopped shallots
- 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup of chopped red or orange pepper (optional)
- 1/4 cup of feta (optional)
- Fresh cracked black pepper
Place green beans in a large saucepan. Fill with enough water to cover green beans, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium low, and simmer 10 minutes. Drain, and let cool.
In a bowl, stir together shallots, garlic, balsamic vinegar, and oil. Pour over green beans. Cover, and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Serve cold.
Bloomington Farmers Market Information:
Hours
Market hours are 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.; for safety and fairness there is NO shopping before 8 a.m. Also, for environmental health reasons, pets are not allowed in the Market.
Parking
The East Lot of Civic Plaza, where the Market is held, is for Handicap Parking only. There is plenty of Free Parking on the West Side of Civic Plaza. There is also parking across 98th street in the VEAP parking lot and at Public Works off James Ave.
We are looking forward to seeing you on Saturday!
Best regards,
Keri Lahl
Market Coordinator
