Dawn Troutner Toledo Market Master

There was plenty of vendors and plenty of items to be purchased from them at this Toledo Farmers Market. The crowd was massive at the beginning of market and soon thinned out. This week Kristi had rolicky, rolls, kolaches, breads, pies, cookies, tomatoes, summer squash, cucumbers, sweet corn and purple plums. Cindy had loads and loads of tomatoes, along with onions, and taters. Darold had a nice assortment of zucchini, beets, taters, tomatoes, and egg plant. Chuck and Ginger had a table flowing with pies, breads, kolaches, onions, egg plant, okra, peppers, taters, walnut meats, onions, winter and summer squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, and popcorn. Dawn had beets, jams, fresh and dried herbs, houseplants, summer squash, taters, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, shallots, garlic, egg plant, asian long beans, okra, and rosettes. Cheryl had beautiful hand made towel sets, potholders, baby crochet sandals, and lots of colorful ceramics. Lois, Brenda and Ethan had cucumbers, egg plant, zucchini, green beans, and tomatoes. Jim was under his pine tree with his assortment of hand made leather goods. Joe and Barb had a few tables full of taters, leeks, egg plant, peppers, tomatoes, breads, granola, muffins, pens, key chains and Watkins products. Kellerberry farm slid in with aronia berries. Karen had her large selection of soy candles and soy products. Nina had pies, breads, and muffins. Kathy was here for the last Friday with kolaches, bread stixs, bars, snacks, nut coils, Danish, rolls, and cookies. Will and Thea had their Aromathea candles, melts, lip balm, soaps, body wash, hair bows. This week they also had tomatoes, green beans, and cantaloupe. Good lookin’ cantaloupe. Red Earth Gardens had tables set up on both sides of the sidewalk with carrots, beets, cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelons, cantaloupe, sweet corn, taters, egg plant, summer squash, and onions. There is still plenty of produce to be purchased before the end of the season. Be sure to mark your calendars for Friday nights from 5-7 pm on the east side of the courthouse to make all your fresh produce purchases.

As you can tell, the growing season is a little different this year. Many items are showing up later than usual. Everyone had cucumbers. Here are ten facts I bet you didn’t know about cucumbers.

The term “cool as a cucumber” is actually derived from the cucumber’s ability to cool the temperature of the blood. And when applied topically, cucumbers really do ease facial swelling which is why cucumbers are so popular in facial regimens.

So your out on the town and forgot your gum or breath mints. Relax, and ask for a sliced cucumber. Take the slice and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds. This will eliminate bad breath. The phytochemicals will kill the bacteria that are responsible for causing bad breath.

Cucumbers contain vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, and Zinc. Wow, what a multivitamin.

Cut up a cucumber and place in a boiling pot of water. This will cause a soothing, relaxing aroma to relive stress.

Rub a cucumber slice along the mirror in the bathroom. It will eliminate the fog.

IF you have a hard time drinking the eight glasses of water a day, eat some cucumbers. They are made up of 95% water and curb hunger.

If you make a mistake when using a pen, take the outside waxy coating of the cucumber and slowly erase the mistake.

Wiping the tarnished faucets with a cucumber will remove the tarnish and built up residue.

Had a few too many drinks. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins, and electrolytes to replenish the nutrients the body lost. If you eat a couple of slices before bed, you may wake up headache free.

IF you need a burst of energy and no time for a nap. Cucumbers are a great source of B vitamins and carbohydrates that can provide the afternoon pick me up.

So if you need cucumbers, I know just the place you can purchase them. The Toledo Farmers Market has cucumbers.