Berkley Bridge Closed Use Alternate Route

The Berkeley Bridge will be closed this weekend for repairs. Map Quest may be used to plot an alternate route to the Downtown Tunnel or you may elect to use the Midtown Tunnel. Directions from Hampton Blvd. in Norfolk are given below and shown above. Just Mapquest directions from where you are to High St. and Court St. in Portsmouth for more exact directions.

1. Start out going WEST on HAMPTON BLVD/VA-337 W toward GRESHAM DR. Continue to follow VA-337 W. 0.1 mi
2. Stay STRAIGHT to go onto MIDTOWN TUNNEL EXPY. 0.4 mi Map
3. MIDTOWN TUNNEL EXPY becomes US-58 W. 2.3 mi
4. Take the VA-141 S/LONDON BLVD ramp toward DOWNTOWN PORTSMOUTH/NAVAL SHIPYARD/NAVAL HOSPITAL. 0.3 mi Map
5. Merge onto VA-141 S/LONDON BLVD. 1.2 mi
6. Turn RIGHT onto EFFINGHAM ST/VA-141. 0.1 mi
7. Turn LEFT onto HIGH ST. 0.3 mi
8. COURT ST & HIGH ST.

Thanks to Mapquest for the map and directions.

Kitchen Prepared Food Labeling Rules for Vendors

This information is for those Portsmouth Farmers Market vendors who sell foods prepared in uninspected home kitchens that qualify for an exception to inspections, i.e., jams, jellies, breads, cookies, etc.--see regulation quoted below.

Typically you don't need an inspection by the state for foods from:

Private homes where the resident processes and prepares candies, jams, and jellies not considered to be low-acid or acidified low-acid food products and baked goods that do not require time or temperature control after preparation if such products are: (i) sold to an individual for his own consumption and not for resale; (ii) sold at the private home or at farmers markets; and (iii) labeled "NOT FOR RESALE - PROCESSED AND PREPARED WITHOUT STATE INSPECTION."

Please make sure your foods are properly labeled at the Portsmouth Farmers Market. The Farmer's Market volunteers are so happy to have your participation! If you have any questions, please contact Terry Danaher, PortsEvents Volunteer, at: 397-6395 or terryatwinc@aol.com.

Spring Has Sprung and The Freshest Produce Is Here

Fresh veggies, herbs, poultry, eggs, seafood, baked goods, and sassy sauces are just a few of the delights offered through the Portsmouth Farmer's Market. In addition to the produce, farmers, local growers, and hobby gardeners usually offer live plants, unusual as well as more common herbs, and cut flowers. The May 1st date will coincide with the Downtown Flea Market. The new space for the Farmer's Market is on Court Street and High in the heart of Olde Towne Portsmouth. I'll be there with camera in tow. See you there.

May 1st Grand Opening for 2010

We are looking forward to our first official Farmer's Market opening on May 1, 2010. There are new and better things in store for all of us.

Our permanent location is now at High and Court Street one block west of our old location on Middle street. We have banners flying to welcome you.

We will be participating once each month with Olde Towne's "First Fridays" at the same location from 5:00pm to 8:00pm on the first Friday of each month.

In addition to our "First Fridays" 1st and 3rd Saturdays, we will have an additional market on May 8th 9:00am to 1:30pm in conjunction with the Gosport Arts Festival.

So..... for the month of May, there are four dates you don't want to forget , Sat. May 1st, (Friday May 7th, 5:00pm to 8pm) Sat. May 8th, and Sat. May 15th.

See you there....

2010 Sneak Preview

This past Saturday, May 3rd, the Portsmouth Farmer's Market opened for a special preview. The market was held in the Museum parking lot just off Court Street. The market generally begins at 9:00 AM and ends around 1:00PM. Sometimes farmers stay a little later to sell out of their wares. However, the smart shopper comes early.

Arriving just after 9:30, I spied some freshly harvested, tender asparagus at the Brother's Farm Market booth and am glad I purchased them right away.

By the time I chatted for a few minutes with a friend and recommended he check out the asparagus, they were sold out. However, they still had leeks, fennel, and mint. In addition to the asparagus, I purchased some fresh scallops from Pat Taylor at the Old Man and the Seafood booth. Once home, I rinsed the asparagus and snapped off their lower stems. This ensures I save and use the only tender part. Next, I steamed them until they were a brilliant green.

Then it was to focus my attention on the scallops. After drying them thoroughly, I sauteed them in olive oil. I added both to cooked whole wheat linguine and included some steamed broccoli florets and cubed zucchini to create a scallop,veggie, pasta salad. I added a splash Newman's Balsamic Vinegret to add some flavor, and voila a cool spring luncheon was born. Needless to say the scallops were plump, fresh, and succulent. Sauteing them dry brings out their sweetness. My husband appreciated the fresh combination of veggies and scallops as it was a feast for the eyes and tastebuds.

I do enjoy going to the farmers market. Inevitably, I meet and chat with friends and vendors. The visit made for a pleasant, satisfying Saturday morning, lunch, with great leftovers to savor later.

Health Department Permit Now Required

PortsEvents will once again obtain the permit for the market as a whole, but Portsmouth Farmer's Market Participants are also required to have permits for each food vendor this year.

If you already have a permit from the Virginia Department of Health, you need not pay the $10 fee, but we still need to have the permit application from each vendor. A copy of the permit and application is attached; you can fill it out and fax it to: 703-783-0053. If you cannot fax the application, please e-mail the following information to terryatwinc@aol.com :

Vendor/Owner Name
Address
Work Phone
Home Phone
A list of all food and beverage items that will be sold at the Portsmouth market.

Please include the following sentence at the end of the listing:

"The above is true to be to the best of my knowledge, and I will comply with the Health Department Requirements, signed [your name and the date]."

I will fill out the applications for signature at the April market for those vendors who cannot fax the application with signature to me.

I look forward to seeing you Saturday--and to getting your permit applications, which should take approximately 5 minutes or less to complete, as soon as possible. I will be taking them to the Portsmouth Health Dept. on Tuesday afternoon, March 30, so I'd appreciate getting them back by noon. If you have any questions or for some reason can't make the Tuesday deadline, give me a call; I can be reached at 757-397-6395.

I'm sorry for the late notice, but at least the form is extremely short and uncomplicated, and the fee is minimal!

Sincerely,
Terry Danaher, happy purchaser of just about everything at last year's market!
PortsEvents Volunteer
phone: 757-397-6395
fax: 703-783-0053
e-mail: terryatwinc@aol.com

April 3rd and May 8th Have Been Added to the Farmer's Market Schedule

We have the opportunity to use the Courthouse Gallery Parking lot on April 3, for the Farmers Market. This will be our first themed market. The theme will be "Going Green in Olde Towne"

Bonsai demonstrations, art exhibits, music, Stealth Mobile Shredding will be here for free shredding Bring what you have and join us for a fun filled Sat. great time to get your legs for our official opening on May 1st.

In addition to our current dates, Sat. May 8th has been added to the schedule. This is the week-end of Gosport Arts Festival and Portsmouth will be buzzing with visitors from everywhere. This is A BIG EVENT!!! Market hours will be 9:00am to 1:00 or 2:00pm. or until you sell out.

The schedule below reflects the additional dates.

If you have suggestions, comments, questions please call Brenda at: 397 2616.