Southeast residents Cynthia Benincasa and Marilyn Foley look forward to visiting the Brewster Farmers Market every week.
They usually pair the outing with a stop at Dunkin Donuts for coffee, and "make a day of it," Foley said while perusing the natural lotions and soaps at one of the stands Wednesday.
The two split a loaf of sausage bread—last week they went with baguettes—from the Brewster Pastry table. They picked up fresh veggies, too.
"We wanted to go back to Pickle Licious but they're not here," Foley said. "They had sundried tomatoes and sauerkraut and mixed olives."
Pickle Licious is slated to return Saturday, according to the New Jersey-based company's website. The stand drew a nice turnout last week, Nick Barbara and Mike DeBeauvernet of Brewster's Bacenti Specialty Foods said.
On Wednesday, Bacenti's products included fresh and smoked mozzarella, made by Vinny's Deli in Pawling. There was sopressata and a line of gluten-free pastas—including tons of ravioli, Barbara told Patch.
A few feet away, Allison Patrick of Southeast's Ryder Farm was selling out of the "merlot lettuce," which is named for its deep red color.
"What we have going on this time of year is lot of greens and herbs," she said.
Other popular items included swiss chard, with red, golden and white stems; and four varieties of kale. Patrick recommends the former be sauteed in garlic and oil for a "nice, colorful side dish."
"It's amazing," she said of the vegetable.
Goshen-based R & G Produce Growers, LLC., veterans of the Brewster Farmers Market, were also busy selling produce. The fifth and final vendor to sell Wednesday was Dutchess-based Smellz Good, a newcomer.
Run by Donna Wacker, Smellz Good launched about nine years ago, around the time Wacker was researching items for a family members with very sensitive skin.
She sells everything from "doggie shampoo" to Dead Sea mud soap to Four Thieves Oil Blend, a recipe rooted in the era of the Bubonic Plague. Her most popular items are all natural bug spray and lemon body lotion, made from goat milk.
The Brewster Farmers Market runs Wednesday and Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., until November. Rain or shine. It's located at 208 East Main Street.
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