By Tonia Moxley
The Roanoke (Va.) Times
October 25, 2006
Kabocha, cushaw and carnival — there’s more to winter squash than the run-of-the-mill pumpkin.
Although Blacksburg Farmers Market organizers are calling Saturday’s winter squash celebration “Pumpkinfest,” all kinds of exotic fruits will be on sale there from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Buy lots because one of the virtues that [...]

The song of spring is best sung with your mouth full.
Only hearty vegetables grow during this tempestuous time of year. The past month at my local farmer’s market began the ballad of the hardy, cold-loving plants. End of winter foods taste wilder, but their sharp green flavors turn sweet under oil and salt and heat.
Chives, [...]

Blacksburg Farmer’s Market and craft vendors, music by The Porch Loungers, guess the weight of a big pumpkin and other fall food-related fun on Saturday (Oct. 27)  from 8 a.m.-2 p.m., corner of Roanoke Street and Draper Road in Blacksburg. More info at bbfarmersmarket.org.
Also, Historic Smithfield Plantation will celebrate heirloom apples and dedicate its new [...]

Most of us know celery as a clutch of stringy ribs in the supermarket produce case. But the celery plant also produces a tasty, long-keeping root vegetable known as celeriac.
It can be difficult to find celeriac in the supermarket in some areas of the country, but it is often available at farmer’s markets and natural [...]