Deborah Murphy, the late wife of Rob Murphy, played an instrumental role in starting the Geneva Green Market. She died peacefully Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008, at Delnor-Community Hospital in Geneva. Her absence is deeply felt at the market this season.
As a teacher, Deb was passionate about education. Donations to the Kids’ Corner were made in her honor to help further her life’s work. Starting last week, there are a series of Kids’ Corners devoted to teaching kids (and parents) how to make their school lunches sustainable. Deb’s memorial money purchased cloth napkins for kids to design their own reusable lunchbox napkins. Look for continued extra-special kids’ corners over the next few weeks. Sadly, Deb cannot be with us physically this summer, but her concern for children’s healthy development in all aspects will continue to positively impact the lives of the kids at the market, as well as the environment.
Everyone from cheese connoisseurs to parents shopping for string cheese for the kids will enjoy Curds and Whey Cheese Company. The owner of Curds and Whey, Rob Murphy, sells his cheese primarily at Inglenook Pantry, which is located on 11 North 5th Street in downtown Geneva, and this is Rob’s third season at the Geneva Green Market. Along with carrying Sassy Cow’s organic milk, Rob also provides some of the best cheeses, most of which are produced locally. Rob seeks out small artisan cheese makers and brings spectacular cave-aged cheeses to the market every week. Be sure to ask him what new types of cheeses he has each week.
Now that the growing season is underway, fresh mozzarella is cropping up everywhere. Fresh mozzarella is not just for tomatoes. Curds and Whey carries several different shapes of fresh mozzarella that can be put into salads or rolled with prosciutto and peppers. Whether it is for a party or daily dining, Rob is always happy to help with recipes.
The Kane County Chronicle did a cover story featuring the Fox Valley Farmers Markets and local food on August 8, 2008 entitled Think Local, Eat Local: Fueled by‚ buy local trend, farmers markets remain popular choice, by Jonathan Bilyk:
For more than 25 years, she and her husband, Phil, had hawked their homegrown produce at the Downers Grove farmers market.
But as fuel costs grew, the couple, owners of Stojan Produce in Maple Park, had to cut one of their weekly market appearances loose.
And Downers Grove was the one to go this year, swapped for a weekly appearance at the Campton Hills open-air market.
So, Stojan said she is happy to see that business at the other seven markets at which she and her husband vend their produce – including the markets in St. Charles, Batavia and Elburn – appears to be holding steady or, in some instances, picking up this year.
“We seem to be going along smoothly,” Stojan said. Read more
Curds and Whey Cheese Company owner, Rob Murphy, works directly with cheese makers to bring outstanding regional, artisan and select international cheeses and butter to Geneva. One submission to vitalinfo at AOL raves, “Curds and Whey is as well stocked as any cheese stand I know. Rob is passionate and extraordinarily knowledgeable. His stock is not wholly focused on local cheeses, but is almost entirely focused on artisan and farmhouse cheeses. As such he has several local cheeses.” For this Oak Park resident Curds and Whey was well worth the hour drive.
Murphy’s commitment to quality cheeses has led him to value dairy products that have come from grass-fed, hormone-free cows. He now carries Sassy Cow Creamery Farmstead Organic Milk, which is a small family-owned dairy farm and creamery located right outside of Madison, Wisconsin. Log on to sassycowcreamery.com to read how this up-and-coming organic dairy farm meets Murphy’s high standards. Curds and Whey is Geneva’s own trustworthy dairy supplier. To find out just how much of a genuine asset that is log on to cornucopia.org, where you will find accurate and detailed information on many of the organic dairy suppliers in the nation.
The Kane County Chronicle covered the record turnout of community support and enthusiasm for the opening day of the Geneva Green Market in the Fox River Valley with a cover story in the June 27 edition entitled “Geneva Green Market a Big Hit“:
… By the end of his 30-minute demonstration, Lycan paired the scallops he brought with arugula, carrots, eggplant and scallions, all of which were available at Thursday’s opening of the Geneva Green Market on River Lane.
Rob Murphy of Curds & Whey Cheese Shoppe, which is inside Inglenook Pantry in Geneva, said he sells more than 30 types of cheese and has lots of recipes that he’s willing to share.
… For those who don’t like to cook, Lycan said starting in July, Niche Restaurant will offer meals made with produce from two local farms and the Geneva Green Market.
For the next three months, six-course tasting menus will be available from Tuesday through Friday. At least one item from the farms or market will be used in each course, Lycan said.
Read the full article online at the Kane County Chronicle online here.
