Featured Producer: Rolf's Choice Salmon

Rolf’s Choice Salmon
(253) 884-1055
rolfschoice@harbornet.com

Rolf Torgerson, from Longbranch, WA has been fishing in Alaska for over 30 years.  Throughout June and July, Rolf goes to work in Bristol Bay.  He's been bringing home his catch of wild Alaskan salmon to sell directly for nearly seven years.  Before then the fish he caught would go to a processor.  As industry and markets changed, the price processors paid fisherman for King salmon became very low.  To remain a viable operation and receive fair pricing, Rolf decided to sell direct to customers.  If you’ve ever tasted Rolf’s salmon, not to mention seen his smiling face or taken him up on a free sample at the farmers market, you’ll know how fortunate we are to have him around.

Rolf specializes in fresh frozen and smoked King and Sockeye.  Sockeye fillets can be purchased in individual portions of 6-8 oz or you can get a whole fillet.  Smoked Sockeye ranges from $5-9 and King from $8-11.  Rolf is a pleasure to visit with and can help you solve the question of what to cook for dinner and how to cook it.  Ask him about recipes; for instance, the one for Smoked Salmon Pasta—mmmm.

During farmers market season you can find Rolf's Choice Salmon at Tacoma Farmers Markets on Tuesday (6th Ave - now closed) and Thursday (Broadway - Open through Oct 14) as well as Gig Harbor Farmers Markets (all now closed) on Wednesdays (Skansie Brothers Park), Saturdays (Kimball Drive Park N Ride), and Sundays (Key Peninsula, OCallahan's). 
 
During the winter months, you can sign up for monthly drop offs in Tacoma, Gig Harbor, and Key Center. You can reach Rolf at (253) 884-1055 or email rolfschoice@harbornet.com to be placed on the list or for special orders. They deliver!

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Pierce County TV News HarvestFest story

Click here to download:
HF POSTER 2010.pdf (420 KB)
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Pierce County TV News did a great story on the October 2nd HarvestFest featuring Terry Carkner of Terry's Berries.  You can see it at: http://www.piercecountytv.org/pc/abtus/ourorg/communications/pctv/pcn.htm
 
In this same episode, PCTV News also highlights the award winning Orting Farms Project to preserve 100 acres of farmland, now three new organic farms, all of which are participating in HarvestFest.  (Downloadable guide: http://www.pierce.wsu.edu/ag/harvestfest.html)

Trillium Creek Winery - Taste Wine on Key Peninsula

Get ready for a unique and delicious local wine experience at Trillium Creek Winery in Lakebay, WA.  http://www.trilliumcreekwinery.com/

Claude and Claudia Gahard, owners and winemakers, will welcome you wholeheartedly to their five acre vineyard, Alsatian Cottage Tasting room, and picnic area to taste the fruits of their labor.  They specialize in wines low in sulfites, a great fix for those who are sensitive to the sulfites found in most wines.  (Ever suffer from the post-wine headache?) 
They have nine wines available for tasting and sale: Meritage, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Muller Thurgau, Riesling, Merlot, Syrah Gris, Chardonnay, and Fruit Wine. 

Claude bottles about 18 to 20 cases of wine each week in the 1500 foot wine cellar on site.  Claudia tends the vineyard.  Together they enjoy hosting visitors.  Claude notes that coming out to taste is as much of a social thing as it is about the wine.  You can ask them questions, see where the wine is made, and really get to know the wines and the winemakers. 

The vineyard is also Salmon-Safe Certified (http://www.stewardshippartners.org/prog_salmon.html).  Salmon Safe is an Oregon-based certification program recognizing farm operations who adopt conservation practices that help restore native salmon habitat in Pacific Northwest rivers and streams. Salmon-Safe farms protect water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and overall watershed health.

Open Tuesday thru Sunday and Holidays from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., all are welcome.  Larger groups of up to around 20 can be accommodated, but call ahead so they can make arrangements.  They will even pick up boaters who dock at Longbranch Marina or Penrose State Park!  What a deal.

At a tasting you will also be able to enjoy award winning local cheeses from the Estrella Family Creamery.  At the 2010 American Cheese Society Annual Competition, Estrella Family Creamery out of Montesano (Grays Harbor County) won First in Class (smoked Italian styles) for their Weebles cheese.   They also won First in Class for their Caldwell Crick Chevrette (sheep or mixed milks).  A Second Place Award was given their Jalapeño Buttery (flavored, peppers).  

 

Ready to jump into the action?  As part of the Key Peninsula HarvestFest on October 2nd from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Trillium Creek will offer folks the chance to participate in a good ol' fashioned grape stomp!  (Ever watch the grape stopping episode from I Love Lucy?)  Here is your chance to take off your shoes, roll up your slacks, and jump in to help stomp grapes! 

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For more information on local food, farms, and events, visit our homepage at www.prideofpiercecounty.com.

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Grab some tomatoes at “The Farm” on Key Peninsula!

It is starting to get late in the season and some farms are close to, if not already, done for this season.  Out on Key Peninsula at The Farm it may only be another week or two.  The Farm primarily has plants and plant starts for sale such as Peppers, Lavender, and other herbs like Basil.  They also have some produce available.  I’ve been told that they have “Early Cascade Tomatoes” which, if you know your tomatoes, you know these are something special.  If you live out near or on Key Peninsula, you should check out The Farm, open from 10-6, and support your local growers!  

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Blue Willow Lavender Farm - And So Much More

Today a quick trip to the Key Peninsula and a "relaxing" visit with Blue Willow Lavender Farm....
 
With over 2,500 lavender plants and more on the way, you'll be amazed by the splendor of Blue Willow Lavender Farm--and relaxed by the smell in the air and wonderfully friendly farmers, Bill and Tracy Ketts.  What seems like a world away, Blue Willow Lavender Farm, is just a hop, skip, and a jump across the Purdy Bridge and out on Key Peninsula. 
 
Since 2008, Bill and Tracy have been planting this 15 acre lavender oasis with over 58 varieties, including many culinary lavenders as well as full garden and fruit trees.  Note: not all lavender is edible--good to know.  I learned this and so much more talking to Bill and Tracy, both incredibly knowledgeable about lavender.  Tracy showed me how they separate the lavender buds from the stems and I learned that there is a window of time when best to pick, between 10am and 2pm.  If you want to know why, I suggest you ask the resident "lavender cat" Binks... you can reach him on their website in the Ask Binks section ( = pretty great): http://www.bluewillowlavenderfarm.com/Blue_Willow_Lavender_Farm/Ask_Binks.html.  He's the feline Dear Abby of lavender, if you will, with a little assistance on the typing from Bill of course. 
 
The farm and farm store are open for visitors from Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  At the farm store, a 1914 built cottage, you can pick up all kinds of sweet smelling lavender products, live lavender plants, local artisan pottery and jewelry, as well as garden fresh produce like cucumbers, tomatoes, beans, and fruit picked right off the tree--chin dripping peaches and delicate yellow plums. (heirloom apples and loads of squash soon to come.) 
 
Take part in the fun at their upcoming lavender wreath making class on August 28th. (RSVP and details through their website, only 5 spots left!) or save the date for Saturday, October 2nd when they will participate in Harvestfest, a free tour of local farms throughout Pierce County!
 
You can visit Bill, Tracy, and Binks' website for more information, calendar of events, and most importantly, directions.  Another great reason to take a day trip out to the Peninsula!  www.bluewillowlavenderfarm.com.
 
 
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For more info on local farms, what's in season, and events, visit the Pride of Pierce County homepage, www.prideofpiercecounty.com
 
 
 

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