New organic pork vendor at JFX this morning. They didn't have any leaf lard, despite it being on their price list, but I got some sausage to try.

Check out Denise Dingle at the Waverly Farmers' Market for meltingly delicious homemade candies, cookies and macaroons. She deserves all the success she's gotten, and then some.

My husband has rediscovered the truck selling produce on Joppa Road. Great looking produce and much better prices than Waverly, in his opinion, but a smaller selection, of course.

Where on Joppa Dahlink? It's long, and parts of it are awful. Can we get a cross street?

Parts of Joppa Road are awful? Boring, perhaps, but I wouldn't have thought awful.

My apologies, chez G--as RtSO pointed out elsewhere on the blog, the one I had in mind is really the one on Ruxton Road off 83 north. Sorry!

It was mostly plants for me, this morning. I met my 84-year old mum there and she wanted lots of hanging baskets. She was thrilled that they were half the price she paid at Watsons last month and the selection was lots better.

I got lavender blossoms, dog biscuits (thx Key!) and sweet potato vines, and she got hanging baskets, basil, some bedding plants and strawbs.

We were there "late" at about 9:30 and it was MOBBED.

I bought basil, thyme, and parsley plants from Reid's. And some sugar snap peas, which are really good, at least the few I've eaten raw.

I got there later than I should have and crowds freak me out a bit, so I didn't stay long.

Hal--I think if you stay on Joppa heading east from Towson and tackle the part that takes you to Perring Pkwy/695 you will find all reason leaving you. It's worse than boring. Check it out--I want a full report.

chez G said: Hal--I think if you stay on Joppa heading east from Towson and tackle the part that takes you to Perring Pkwy/695 you will find all reason leaving you. It's worse than boring. Check it out--I want a full report.

I'm quite familiar with that area. I grew up around there (a long time ago). There's a lot more of the suburban crap now than there was when I lived around there, and I'm sure traffic is worse. I have no interest in living around there again, but I don't see why I'd flee in terror any more than I would from any of another gazillion suburban locations.

Perhaps you should say what you mean by "awful" in this context?

Lissa - I gave them a try myself and was pretty pleased with the sausage links. I snagged some pork chops and brats as well for some future grilling.

*** Hal--I think if you stay on Joppa heading east from Towson and tackle the part that takes you to Perring Pkwy/695 you will find all reason leaving you. It's worse than boring. Check it out--I want a full report. ***

That stretch of Joppa is just very Vintage and old Baltimore.
It does look like a time warp, but its much more lively at all times rather than York Road in downtown Towson after 5!

At the risk of appearing ignorant (but which of us Sandboxers hasn't at least once), how does one go about certifying something as organic. I mean, is there a process a la Kosher certification? Is there an army of Organic Food Police armed with certificates of organic authenticity? I'm just asking.

Interesting story here about the economic impact and financial clout of farmers' markets:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=759857

Piano Rob, there is a horrifying, paperwork-stuffed process for getting USDA organic certification. It is rather controversial, as it is nearly impossible for a small family farmer to get through the process, yet large factory farms (including those that keep chickens in small cages or never let their cows outside) can easily get certification.

So, the lovely beef from Hickory Chance isn't organic, technically, but ask them how they raise their cows.

It is worth noting that there is another farm vendor with a similar name to the one mentioned in EL's lead. Calvert's Gift farm -- http://www.calvertsgiftfarm.com -- is an organic producer that we see at the Bel Air Saturday market. According to their website, they also go to Takoma Park on Sundays and Catonsville on Wednesdays. The fabulous greens, heirloom tomatoes and beets are among our favorites, but their best offering is the fresh garlic -- which should be arriving any weekend now.

Hal asked:

Perhaps you should say what you mean by "awful" in this context?

Traffic. Didn't mean to offend.

Piano Rob, it is easier to get a clue about organic produce in the supermarket, because the product codes are different. I believe all organic produce starts with the number 9 and has 5 digits instead of the usual 4. But in a farmer's market you have to trust the word of the vendor.

Something to watch out for: genetically engineered fruits and vegetables have 5 digits and start with an 8.

Dahlink - Geez, it's tough enough in some supermarkets to locate the price of the items. Now you want me to try to read those product codes? Perhaps it's time for a personal shopper - LOL.

I got used to reading the product code at Wegman's. The nice cashiers always thank me for weighing my own produce.