The Foxy Baking Co. is the manifestation of the mid-life crisis of its founder, Katy Branson. After many years in the corporate world Katy asked herself the following questions: “What do you do best?”, “What do you love to do?”, and “If you could be doing anything else RIGHT NOW what would it be?” The answer to all three was “bake.”  She took it as a sign.

The Foxy Baking Co. is a small business that focuses on using high quality ingredients to create high quality baked goods. Almost all the fresh produce and dairy products used in the bakery are sourced locally. As a result, available products change with availability of ingredients. I have a new found love for this type of cooking because it makes you try new things and appreciate your favorites even more.

Along with being at our Market on Tuesday’s, you can find Foxy Baking Co. around town at the other Farmers Markets. I can’t wait to try all Katy’s goodies including these:

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Geraldine’s Pie’s are guaranteed to be the best Chess pie’s you have ever tasted. And I can promise you that they are. Upon meeting Geraldine, you instantly feel as though you have met your lost lost friend. She could have met you once  or 100 times, but you feel as special as her own daughter. Over many years, Geraldine has perfected her grandmothers recipe and elaborated it into several flavors including chocolate and lemon chess pie, just to name a couple. If you ask her what her favorite pie is, she will say “All of my pies baby” as she exudes her contagious laugh.  She gives all the credit and success to the Lord, and wants you to know it.  She says that, “They are the greatest because I put love and my heart into my pies.” She is the real deal ya’ll and I’m so excited that she will be at our Market.

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Who knew coffee was like wine, cheese or fine chocolate? I’m sure many of you are answering “Uhh.. me.” Well I had no idea until I met Brad Wood from Roast Inc. He was a true sommelier of coffee, if there is such a thing. The way he spoke about coffee was the way few are able to talk about the bouquet, aroma, the finish of a exceptional glass of wine. Brad roasts in what he considers the “West Coast trend” of independent coffee shops that allows for lighter roasts showcasing more of the flavor from the specific origins the beans come from.

He immediately expelled my notion that a darker roast meant a stronger more flavorful cup of coffee. Starbucks has ruined me with its dark bitter cup of defect covered coffee. The minute I tasted Roast Incs coffee, I realized what I had been missing. I could actually taste the citrus and floral notes in the coffee. I already felt like a coffee connoisseur. Roast Inc will be at the Woodbine Farmers’ Market selling 1lb bags of coffee and $2.00 20 oz iced coffees that “We will be sweetening with sweetened condensed milk… Can you say YUMMY!” Forget Starbucks, Woodbine be ready to walk around with your urban cup of coffee while shopping locally!

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I get so excited when I have the opportunity to work with amazing projects that share a similar vision.  Today I spoke with Liz Aleman, the manager for the Veggie Project through Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. What started as a research project, has grown into a full fledged repeat summer program designed to teach low income children how to shop for, eat, cook and distribute fresh local produce. The goal is combat childhood obesity and raise awareness of affordable local food and educate them in nutritional health.

Every week, the youth in the Veggie Project take field trips to learn how local food is grown, harvested, packaged and sold. Then they learn how to market, sell, and manage their profit of the produce.  According to the Veggie Project web page, “the children determine the volume of produce available at each market and set the prices for the fruits and vegetables.” This year, the Veggie project is teaming up with the Woodbine Farmers’ Market and will have a booth space where you will get to meet these amazing children who are learning the invaluable lessons of eating fresh, local and seasonal food. I am so looking forward to working with this project!

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Last week I went on my maiden voyage to my first local farm. Driving out I65-N I couldn’t wait to reach Austin, KY. As we drove, I was struck by the beauty of the farmland through TN and KY. Have you seen the Happy Cow commercials, “Happy Cows Come from California” with their pristine pastures and green rolling hills, I am convinced they filmed that in Tennessee. It was absolutely gorgeous. When we arrived at Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese we were warming greeted by Jeanette and she ushered us into the cheese making room to meet Kenny. I didn’t expect to see Kenny himself working to make the cheese. You could instantly tell that this process was a labor of love and he was intimately part of every step. No big machinery, no computer programing system, just Kenny and the milk. It was beautiful to watch, like a well orchestrated dance that had been practiced over and over again until you don’t have to think anymore, you just did.

Being a foodie and self proclaimed cheese lover and connoisseur, I was skeptical at the product. Surely local KY cheese couldn’t match up to imported cheese from Italy or France. I was sorely mistaken-no blown away! Kenny’s Cheese hit your palate immediately with it’s creamy texture and rich flavor. I couldn’t believe that this cheese was better than all the many many cheeses I have bought from Whole Foods, and I was standing with the maker in his shop! I am pleased to announce that Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese will be at the Woodbine Farmers’ Market. Get ready folks, this cheese really comes from happy cows.

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