Farmers Market Update: Summer Fruit
I’m not sure if it is officially summer yet or not, but if we’re judging the season by what we find at the farmers market there is no lingering doubt: summer is here.
Normally I am a very disciplined shopper. I focus on vegetables, particularly green ones, and only pick up enough fruit to quench my sweet tooth. But there was none of that today.
I think I remembered to pick up a bunch of kale and some salad supplies, but for the most part I couldn’t pull my attention away from all the fruit that filled the farmers market today.
Cherries are still the most abundant (and enticing), but in addition this week there were also peaches, nectarines, strawberries, blueberries, plums and apricots. And unlike the sour fruit you usually find this early in the season, all this was sweet, plump and juicy.
(My apologies to those of you who do not live in California or do not have access to such wonderful produce. My number one complaint at Summer Tomato is about how I flaunt San Francisco produce and thus torture those who don’t have it. But my goal here is to share and inspire you to want fresh fruit and vegetables, so if it means making a few of you long for CA produce, so be it.)
But in truth there were a number of wonderful vegetables today. Green Gulch farm was back, with their typical assortment of breathtaking greens and herbs. Summer squash, peas, carrots, onions, cabbage, broccoli and beets also shouldn’t be missed.
Today’s Purchases:
- Strawberries (Dirty Girl Produce)
- Green shallots (Dirty Girl Produce)
- Red kale (Dirty Girl Produce)
- Cherries (Twin Girls Farm)
- Mediterranean cucumber (Happy Quail Farms)
- Cubano pepper (Happy Quail Farms)
- Summer squash (The Peach Farm)
- Green garlic (The Peach Farm)
- Princess Peach (Tory Farms)
- Avocado (Brokaw Nursery)
- Salad greens (Green Gulch Farm)
We’re quite a few months behind in Maryland. But I sort of see you as the “preview” of what’s to come (even though our season is quite a bit shorter). 🙁
The farmers markets here just opened in May and we’re seeing the stuff you say in Feb-Apr. My haul today included asparagus, spring greens, peas, garlic scapes, beets, and saskatoon fruit.
Saskatoon fruit is new to me! It tastes like a cross between a blueberry and a sweet apple to me. We’re thinking about putting them in pancakes. 😉 (If anyone has any healthier, vegetarian ideas for them, please let me know!)
http://twitpic.com/1uj417
I wouldn’t be very disciplined, either! All of that is so beautiful. 🙂
Jenn
Looks awesome. I am jealous as I live in NJ and my Farmers Market had like 5 things this weekend and none of it was organic. Maybe I’ll have better luck next weekend.