November 21st, 2020
When we moved the market outside in March in the face of a barreling health crisis, we really did not envision finishing out the season. Each week presented a new challenge. And, each week, we tweaked, adding some safety protocols, ditching others. We would not have lasted through Thanksgiving had you, our shoppers, not been so dedicated and cooperative from Day One.
Standing in long lines, dealing with pre-order glitches, leaving your dogs and kids at home...we asked a lot of you and you all came through for us, week
after week. Thank you.
Also, we owe a big thanks to our mayor, Niki Armacost, who, without flinching, agreed to let us switch locations on a dime. Not only did she understand the urgency of our request when farmers had already harvested
for the weekend, but she needed no convincing that this market needed to
stay open.
Our vendors also deserve a huge shout-out for how quickly they adapted to a new location with no bathrooms or electricity. Switching to online sales was a struggle for many but they, too, pivoted. Some even got very creative with their payment methods (Cooperstown Cheese and Bien Cuit, in particular. Pura Vida even added a dashing Brit to their crew to collect payment and avoid any co-mingling of cash and cod.)
And a huge thank you to our steady volunteers who managed the lines, recorded names and numbers for contact tracing, and gently reminded folks to "pull up" their masks as they entered the market. And to our express lane pit crew of rotating interns who logged quite a few miles this summer collecting multiple orders for shoppers who didn't want to enter the market.
And, of course, a huge thank you to our sponsor, the Riolo Team at Compass, for providing our shoppers and staff with a nifty hand-sanitizing station. It was truly the perfect gift.
Thanksgiving will no doubt look different this year. There will be fewer faces around the table and the table may be your own instead of your sister's. But the family recipes and traditions don't have to change. You can still make your aunt Jane's favorite sweet potato casserole even if it means you'll be enjoying it a thousand miles apart, via Zoom.
Or, this could be the year you break out and try new recipes since there will be fewer people and palates to please. Maybe even leaning toward the unfamiliar like this recipe for Brussels sprouts with pickled shallots and labneh (you can find labneh, a type of Greek yogurt that has been strained, at Yaranush on Central Ave.) Or you may decide to make this pear tart instead of your usual pumpkin pie (which you can buy at the market instead). Since we have Madura Farms and Harlem Valley Homestead mushrooms at the market, consider making this mushroom bread pudding. Make sure to pick up plenty of garlic, shallots, leeks, herbs and eggs to have on hand should you add a recipe or two at the last minute (guilty!). Mushroom broth from Two Birds Provisions is bound to enhance any soup base. Harlem Valley Homestead is taking pre-orders for pumpkin pie "kits." They provide all of the ingredients: you assemble. Easy Peasy.
It can be overwhelming to shop the market, especially before Thanksgiving. We have solutions!
1. If you need to keep your kids occupied so you can shop with laser focus, consider signing them up for a free skateboarding class courtesy of HOH Skate at The Good Witch for a free skateboarding class courtesy of HOH Skate. They are offering lessons for all ages and levels from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. You MUST sign-up in advance at hohskate@gmail.com.
2. Don't sweat it if you forget to buy something on Saturday for Thanksgiving. There will be a pop-up pre-Thanksgiving market at Ridge Hill on Tuesday, Nov. 24th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. right on Market St. Many of your favorite HFM vendors will be there! For a full list of vendors go to morningglorymarkets.com.
Finally this is, fittingly, the day we glean at the market. That means we take your donations and buy lots of fresh market food to bring to the Hastings Food Pantry. Click below to donate. No donation is too small. What family wouldn't appreciate some purple potatoes from Sun Sprout or a loaf of country bread from Bien Cuit?
See you at the market!