Meet and Mingle Blog

A Colorful Summer Meal
Guest Blogger - Jennifer Cordier

It was a perfect summer meal! My family gathered around the dining room table which had been transformed into an artist’s palette. Dark purple beets, yellow corn on the cob, green beans, bright red tomatoes, orange cantaloupe and huge, shiny blackberries filled our plates. “It’s almost too pretty to eat”, exclaimed my cousin. “This is what summer is all about,” was my response.

Early that morning we visited the Union County Farmers Market. The air was cool, the sun was shining and the market was full of local vendors with fresh produce and handmade crafts. Friends, neighbors, tourists and residents streamed into the market place to shop and talk. I headed for the local farmer growing fresh beets. I purchased some last week and I wanted more! I also wanted fresh corn and found a large selection from which to choose. There are always surprises at the market and this week I found huge, juicy blackberries (organically grown!), apple butter made from an old family recipe, apple sauce which I could sample before buying and handmade soap marketed by a very charming little girl.

As I shopped, visited with friends, and viewed the impressive array of locally grown food and handmade articles I thought, this is the true meaning of community. We are creative people working together to preserve our mountain culture and a life style too precious to be lost.