What a fantastic season we are having at the Fort Dodge Farmers Market this year. We have seen a great turnout of customers and vendors each time the market is going on. Almost every week we have new vendors join us, which helps bring a wider variety of goods for our community.

We would like to thank the Webster County Extension Office and Webster County Conservation for presenting their work last Saturday. This week, our featured civic group will be Ignited Hearts.

Also, last week we had the very talented Abigail Rae Smith play classical guitar for us.

Sourdough bread has been around for a long time. It is one of the oldest leavened breads recorded and it is enjoyed by many countries around the world. Lately, there has been quite an interest in making homemade sourdough bread. Many people create their own starters by combining flour and water to develop a wild yeast. By doing this, you can make bread free of commercial yeast, processing aids, or artificial additives.This wild yeast produces lactic acid which gives sourdough bread its distinct tangy and sour flavor. Sourdough is known for its chewy texture on the inside and crispy crust on the outside.

Besides the wonderful flavor, there are some health benefits to sourdough. For some people, it may be easier to digest than white bread. It is an excellent source of calcium, potassium, magnesium, folate, and niacin. Some studies suggest that sourdough bread acts as a prebiotic, which helps feed the good bacteria in your intestines. These bacteria are important for maintaining a healthy digestive system.

Bread isn’t the only thing you can make with a sourdough starter. You can make cookies, muffins and more by using what is called the “discard,” or the unused portion, from your sourdough starter. The discard mainly acts to develop the flavor of what you are baking.

Country Oven Home Bakery is at the Fort Dodge Farmers Market and they have a wide variety of sourdough breads. They have traditional, cheddar cheese, jalapeÃ’o cheddar, blueberry lemon, and cinnamon swirl. You can get individual loaves or a bundle of four flavors. They also have cookies, scones, muffins, bagels, and banana bread, all made from their sourdough discard. I’m sure you will enjoy their products knowing that they are both delicious and nutritious.

The market is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.Wednesdays at 11 N. 25th St. in the Graham Collision parking lot.

Be sure to check out the Fort Dodge Farmer’s Market on Facebook for information on upcoming events. If you are interested in becoming a vendor, you can fill out an application on Facebook. If you would like to present your civic group at the market please contact us at fortdodgefarmersmarket@gmail.com. If you don’t have Facebook, contact Craig Stripling at 515-351-1736 or David Ash at 520-400-1900.