I've set myself the challenge of having at least one new product every week, and so far I have yet to miss the goal. Most of the time, these delights just walk through my door and this week was no exception. Coffin Ridge Winery, an unquestionable local success story, has brought me their "Verjus". Literally "green juice" this product of unripened grapes has been used for centuries in European and Mediterranean cooking in place of an acid like lemon juice or vinegar. The acid does not conflict with wine, so it is the perfect ingredient for wine-lovers to use in their marinades and salad dressings. Pair it with one of our two olive oils. We have a Palestinian olive oil, Fair Trade, with the profits supporting family farms, and our ice-pressed, low acid extra-virgin "Owen Sound" oil, from the orchard in Greece owned by a local Owen Sounder.

Imagine this dressing over chilled organic asparagus from Forget-Me-Not Farm, or on a blend of spicy greens - mustard, cress, arugula - from Twin Creeks and pea shoots from Beaver Valley. A little of Axel's feta on top? Perhaps on the side of a bison medallion? or pork tenderloin spread with Laura's lemon sage mustard?

The spicy Mexican asparagus chips are back, or perhaps you prefer the plain low-salt variety with Trudy's salsa verde or red bean and mango salsa. A great warm weather snack with some chilled rhubarb punch or Finchaven's sparkling apple cranberry cider.

In the "things in jars" department, we now have kefir in glass jars www.pinehedge.com/products.htm. This tasty relative of yogurt has many more of the probiotics that seem to have allowed some eastern Europeans to live to 107. We sampled it with a little of Ken's strawberry jam last week. Mmmm. Or with maple syrup...over Marketside granola?
If you return the jar, we'll give you the $1.00 we paid as a deposit to the producer. And if you return any of our producers' jars (the sealer kind) we'll give you 25 cents just to keep them out of the landfill.

Look on the baking table for asparagus bread from Forget-Me-Not Farm - with a hint of allspice. Vitold's brownies will be there too, and Williamsford Pies will be in the fridge - just ask