Purple Carrots & 2nd Grade Markets

Farm News

Every year in late October, Bertschi School holds an amazing second grade market for their entire school that supports local, organic produce from our farm, creative and beautiful natural crafts like cupcake bird treats and their incredible talent of organizing all of this bounty to raise money for the Pike Place Foundation. We are so proud to sponsor this event where sustainable agriculture can enter into the classroom and the curriculum can evolve into a very special, integrated approach.

The kids work hard at coming out to the farm in September and then head down to Pike Place Market and tour this amazing, local, culturally long standing farmers’ market. The kids then plan their own market around these two trips and decide what they want to sell, make and how they want to engage with their customers to create an experience for all ages.

This week marks one of my favorite times of the year when we get to showcase our fall veggies for two days in their Bertschi Bounty Market. Purple, yellow and orange carrots, Carnival squash, deep dark green Lacinato kale, pungent and vibrantly crisp leeks, red potatoes, pie pumpkins, red beets and wispy delicate fennel are all in attendance for this event.

This year, our purple carrots are really spectacular, and their intense deep cassis color is almost hard to eat as it is so beautiful. These purple carrots love to impart their color onto other veggies in many cooking dishes − they are, as we like to say, the alpha carrot. They are complex, earthy and a bit bitter in flavor − a nice change from their sweeter orange and yellow cousins. In our house at this time of the year, we love to do red potatoes, purple carrots and leeks braised and caramelized all together.

Our days are ever shortening and darkening, but the maple trees with their bright yellow and red leaves surround our fields reflecting the gorgeous colors of the winter squash, the beets and greens. On these days, we count our blessings for such clean, pure and healthy food.

Don’t forget to find us on Instagram (@fullcirclefarms).
– Wendy