Linda Marrone: Layered salads you can take anywhere

This past week was National Farmers Market week and it was celebrated nationwide with the unveiling of a limited edition farmers market postage stamp. In her address to the crowd attending the White House FARMFRESH Market for the event the president of Farmers Market Coalition, Bernadine Prince, shared, “Everyday you eat fresh, local food, you are supporting America’s farmers and you are ensuring that farmland is being saved, one delicious meal, one delicious bite at a time.”

I couldn’t agree more and that’s what our local 3rd & Curry St. FM strives for every week. I think everyone knows by now how special our market is. It doesn’t just happen every Saturday. A lot of hard work and dedication by all those involved from the farmers to the support from the city, our non-profits, small businesses, musicians and all of our great customers who come out to the market every week. There’s a real sense of community at our market. You don’t see it in a lot of markets and that’s what really makes our market special.

If you want to know what’s going on in town just come down to the market and check out all our non-profits that are there promoting their events and their causes.

This is the last week for Jazz and Beyond. Barbara Baxter is our featured singer this week. We loved having the Carson City Library at the market with its summer reading program. Novella Carpender and Mark O’Farrell had a lively discussion about their different views on farming. If you haven’t read her book, “Farm City” it’s a great read and available at the library.

We’re again partnering with the USDA to help reduce food insecurity in our community. We will be collecting food on behalf of the Ron Wood Family Resource Center again Saturday. Last year, we donated more than 600 pounds of fresh produce. Last Saturday alone we collected 435 pounds and cash we will use this week to buy more produce from all our farmers who donated so generously last week.

A couple of reminders: If you have Senior Coupons you need to use them by Sept. 20. the last day for the market this year. The white coupons are for California farmers only. The green are for the Nevada farmers and all my Nevada Farmers have a NevadaGrown banner hanging from their booths.

The market opens at 8:30 a.m. I know some people like to get there early but it’s difficult for the farmers and vendors to have people walking around and trying to shop while they are trying to set up and move their vehicles. We try to have most all of the cars out of the market by 8 a.m. and once all the cars are out I don’t mind people walking around and doing a little shopping, but if there are a lot of cars still unloading and driving out of the market I ask for you to be considerate and sit at the tables in the front of the market. Everyone is in a hurry then and we don’t want an accident.

Enjoy the rest of summer. The days are getting shorter but the fruit and corn are getting sweeter and the tomatoes are just going to get better and better. On a last note, I want to give a special thank you to Kenny Fraiser who recently left the Parks & Recreation Department. He has helped me so many times during the course of these seven years. In the beginning the market might not have made it without his get things done attitude. So best of luck in your new job Kenny and Scott looking forward to your continued support. So far, so good!

•••

Layer salads are all the rage right now and no wonder. They are so easy to prepare and bring with you to work or anywhere. I like to make mine in a wide-mouth quart canning jar. Just be sure and put your dressing in first and then the rest of your ingredients. When you are ready to eat just shake and turn your jar upside down then right side up and lunch is ready. All you need is your fork! This recipe is not exact and use your judgment for however many you want to serve. You can use any vegetable you like and substitute for those you don’t.

Layered Vegetable Salad

Dressing in the bottom of your jar.

Assorted broccoli and small cauliflower florets.

Red, green or any multi-colored thinly sliced bell peppers.

Shredded carrots and some purple cabbage.

Sliced green onions or thinly sliced purple onions.

Small sliced summer squash.

Spring mix or spinach, your choice.

A few cherry tomatoes on top.

You can add some chopped or shredded chicken, too.

If you are pressed for time in the morning make this the night before. You can get all the ingredients for this salad at the market. You can also switch this up and it can be a fruit salad. Just make sure if you use any stone fruit to add some lemon juice to keep your fruit from turning and put yogurt in the bottom of your jar for dressing.

Linda Marrone is a longtime Carson resident, manages the 3rd & Curry Street Farmers Market and is the director of Nevada Certified Farmers Market. Association.