In commemoration of National Farmers Market Week, members of the DC Central Kitchen team joined the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), community partners, and market vendors along Independence Avenue last Friday for a special celebration at the USDA’s Farmers Market.
“Working with the USDA Farmers Market is always a wonderful experience,” says DC Central Kitchen Procurement Specialist Hannah Brenner. “Each week, we glean produce that otherwise would go to waste and bring it back to our kitchen to cook into our scratch made meals. This year, as part of the USDA’s annual Farmers Market Week event, we were able to engage firsthand with marketgoers to explain how our gleaning program contributes to the hundreds of thousands of pounds of fresh produce we use each year to create locally-sourced meals for our community.”
In addition to distributing information about DCCK programs to customers, two of our current Culinary Job Training students joined Workforce Development Coordinator Angela McRae and our nutritional education team on the main stage for a cooking demonstration of our beloved Tomato Salsa using fresh tomatoes and seasonal ingredients shoppers could pick up while at the market.
“The USDA’s Farmers Market was a great way to interact with the DC community and to teach customers about how to pick, store, and prepare tomatoes, as well as their nutritional benefits,” says DCCK Nutrition Programs Specialist Taylor Coleman. “Your local farmers market is a fantastic place to purchase fresh produce and support smaller businesses.”
Please enjoy the delicious tomato salsa our students created by using our recipe below, and join us in supporting local farmers and growers by shopping for fresh produce and products at a farmers market near you!
DCCK Salsa Recipe
Ingredients
- ¾ lb tomatoes, chopped
- 2 Tbsp red onion, chopped
- 1 Tbsp jalapeno, chopped
- 1 Tbsp lime juice
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp cumin
- 2 Tbsp cilantro leaves, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse and slice tomatoes and jalapenos (remove seeds for less spice).
- Dice red onion, wash and chop cilantro.
- In a bowl, add tomatoes, jalapenos, onion, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix to combine the ingredients.
- Refrigerate the salsa after making, serve cold.
