It’s A State of Mind: Regional Specialties at Farmer’s Markets

Across America

Geoducks

Taylor Shellfish Farms Waterfront Farmers’ Market Gig Harbor, Washington

Background: A giant clam, one of the largest in the world, that can reach over three feet in length and live for over 150 years. Native to the Pacific Northwest, especially Washington's Puget Sound, geoduck is an American treasure, spawning a significant black market of stolen clams.

The prime meat comes from the neck, which may be up to 24-inches when fully extended, and the mantle can be cut or ground and used in chowders. The neck meat is often used in sushi or minced into patties and quick fried. The neck can be cut or ground and used in chowders. The body meat, when sliced, pounded and sautéed it resembles abalone.

Burgoo

Trunnell’s Farm Market Owensboro, KY

Background: Burgoo is Kentucky’s game stew, made with a little of everything and enough to feed a huge gathering, like the kind of crowds that attend the summer barbecues of Catholic churches in Western Kentucky.

There the burgoos are cooked and stirred so long that the soup is nearly like gravy, with bits of corn or lima bean appearing once in a while and the meat reduced to shreds. Sometimes you can find dressed squirrel or rabbit, or shank of venison, thrown into this.

Moco Loco Balls

Hawaiian Fresh Farms Pearlridge Farmer’s Market Aiea, HI

Background: “The loco moco. It's what you get when gravy is poured atop of a fried egg stacked on a thick hamburger patty, piled on top of white, sticky rice…

Whatever its origins, the loco moco has come to epitomize Hawaiian plate-lunch cuisine, satisfying a surfer’s raging appetite and curing the occasional hangover. It’s been called a gastronomical monstrosity and a cultural emblem -- comfort food on a paper plate.” - The HuffingtonPost

Stuffies

Uncle Jeff’s Homemade South Kingstown/URI Farmer’s Market Kingston, RI

Background: Stuffies have symbolized the “cheaper seafood option” in Rhode Island since they first emerged as tasty, filling, and low-priced meals in home kitchens during the economically-turbulent 1930s. Initially concocted to make use of inexpensive and readily-available ingredients—clams and bread—the stuffie still signifies the frugal alternatives to pricey seafood dishes.

The Rhode Island stuffie starts with the quahog (most often pronounced KO-hog), a large hard-shell clam harvested in the state’s Narragansett Bay. Traditional recipes instruct to shuck the quahog; mix the clam meat with bread, spices, and chopped onion and celery; bake the stuffing in the shell.- TheRhodeIslandStuffie.Blogspot.com

Chitterlings

Porky Pig Market Sweet Auburn Curb Market Atlanta, GA

Background: Chitterlings are a dish typically found in the American south, but they are prepared all over North America. They are essentially pig intestines. The presence of chitlins was typically reserved for special occasions and the holiday season. Although methods are easier now, they are still considered a specialty. Chitterlings are typically cooked by stewing, broiling, or frying them.

Special Event: Prairie Oysters

24th Annual Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry Saturday, March 12, 2016 Virgina City, NV

Background: Each year more than 3,000 people sack up in this historic town where more than 20 cooks compete in one of Northern Nevada's most popular tasting contests. These cooks serve up tasty testes all day long, competing for fame and glory as one of the best Rocky Mountain Oyster cooks in the West. This unique delicacy is a result of common ranching practices and cattle ranchers found a tasty use for the byproducts of castrating their herds.

References content brought to you by www.barnraiser.us

• Images Sources(Images are general representations, not specific dishes)

• http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/05/what-is-a-geoduck-clam-seattle-pacific-northwest-how-geoduck-are-farmed.html

• http://www.vwmin.org/kentucky-burgoo-recipe-simplyrecipes.html

• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/01/loco-moco-hawaii-food_n_5903898.html

• http://www.recipes100.com/recipe+new+england+clam+chowder+in+cape+cod

• http://www.coastmonthly.com/2014/12/fixin-chitlins/

• http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/05/the-nasty-bits-testicles-offal-grilled-deep-fried-rocky-mountain-oysters-recipe.html