To Contact Us

Athens Locally Grown
athens.locallygrown.net
On Twitter: @athlocallygrown

Recipes

Roasted Tomato Basil Pesto

This variation on pesto is so delightful it’s amazing that it’s not more common. The roasted tomato flavor is superbly highlighted by the sweet aromatic basil—but a very ripe regular tomato will work well too. Don’t limit this pesto to just pasta; try it on pizzas and roasted potatoes, in an omelette, or over grilled vegetables. You can make an equally delicious variation by using cilantro instead of basil. From Farmer John’s Cookbook: The Real Dirt On Vegetables

Serves 2

2 pre-roasted tomatoes or 1 large
fresh tomato
2–3 cloves garlic, peeled, halved
3 tablespoons pine nuts
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 cup fresh whole basil leaves
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons butter, softened
salt
freshly ground black pepper

1. Combine the tomatoes, garlic, pine nuts, and oil in a blender and process until just combined. Add a handful of basil and processagain briefly; continue adding the basil in small amounts until all is combined.
2. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and butter and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Market News

About 25 of us had a great time on Saturday over at Dancing Sprout Farm, being farmers for a day. The weather was great, so we spread out in the morning and transplanted some strawberries, seeded a good number of veggie seedling trays, weeded and mulched a big bed, and even picked some corn that we fed to their chickens. We then had a nice lunch in their work barn, and after that Geoff Lewis told us all about what they’re doing and their plans for the future. Finally, we played with their friendly chickens some more before calling it a day.

If you’ve never joined us for a Farmer for a Day event, you’ve got two next month to choose from, both within Athens-Clarke County. They’re free, including lunch, and are a great way to connect with the land and people that grow your food. Spots are limited, so you will need to make reservations. Look on the website under the “Event Reservations” category for all the details.

We’ve reached that point in the summer where pretty much everything is available, all at once. The choices are almost overwhelming. I see 750 items available on the website right now, from heirloom tomatoes, squash of all sorts, melons, eggplant, exotic peppers, okra, field peas, an abundance of flower bouquets, basil and other herbs… you name it. It’s weeks like this that we dream of in January!

As always, thank you all for your continued support of our local growers and local food. Without your business, the growers wouldn’t be here to supply this diversity, and we’d all be a lot worse off. We’ll see you on Thursday from 4:30 to 8pm at the old market on Broad Street!

Coming Events

P.L.A.C.E. is sponsoring the second annual “Taste Your Place” series of events this week throughout Athens. Several restaurants are serving special menus, educational events & cooking demonstrations are being held, and this year’s slate of Local Food Awards will be given to deserving people. You can learn more about this impressive event on their website.

Our fourth Farmer for a Day event is on Sunday, August 9th at Mills Farm in Athens. Many of the slots have already been filled, but you can make reservations for some of the last openings for this event by adding them to your order. Look in the “Event Reservations” category.

The Athens Farmers Market is held every Saturday morning at Bishop Park from 8am to noon. It’s a totally separate entity from Athens Locally Grown, but you’ll find many of the same growers at both. And of course, you can learn more about that market on their website.