Fuji & Golden Delicious Apples

Huge thanks to Alex and Becky for sharing with us their local farmers market in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.

Becky, is a kindergarten teacher and a mother of two boys, a preschooler and a one year old. Alex is a recent college graduate and an aspiring graphic designer. Visit his site www.alexfelts.com and follow Alex on Twitter @alexfelts or Digg (alex3540).

Farmers Market Update: Lansdale, Pennsylvania

by Becky Geremia and Alex Felts

The Lansdale Farmers Market is a newer market. This is only its second year, but the quality they deliver is fantastic. Lansdale is a suburb of Philadelphia, PA. The market is hosted in Railroad Plaza every Saturday from June to November.

Cheese

Summer Veggies

My brother and I have been loyal customers since it began. We both are big supporters of the revitalization of Lansdale and have enjoyed seeing the patronage coming to our town through the Lansdale Farmers Market.

The requirement of being a vendor is that you sell only what you produce. All products sold at the market must be grown, baked, crafted by the seller and must be done locally. The products vary but produce, meat, wine, breads, plants, herbs, cupcakes, and even furniture are for purchase at the market.

Melons

Meats

We begin the morning walking the few short blocks from my house to Railroad Plaza. We start with a stop by the Tabora Farm and Orchard stand, where my brother always gets breakfast, an orange cranberry muffin and my son gets a sweet treat, a happy face cookie.

Happy Face Cookies

Cranberry Orange Muffins

We continue our walk with a quick preview and then set our sights on buying. We have been hooked on corn and peaches all summer long. Now that fall is just around the corner, apples, squash, and pears are plentiful. A great buy is the all natural anti itch soap and the novelty soaps from Green Street Luxuries. This year, special kids events (bouncy house, crafts, story time, birthday cake, etc.) are scheduled too.

Tomatoes, Potatoes, Onions

Peppers

At home, it is a decision what to make first. While my son enjoys cutting the ends off the beans, my brother lights up the grill to cook us up some steaks. Now… if only we could find an occasion to pop the jalepano wine from Boyd’s!

Purchases:

• Orange Cranberry Muffin (Tabora Farm and Orchard)
• Happy face Cookie (Tabora Farm and Orchard)
• Pumpernickel Bread (Tabora Farm and Orchard)
• Onion (Windy Springs Farm)
• Tomatoes (Windy Springs Farm)
• Ground Beef (Windy Springs Farm)
• Hot Italian Beef Sausage (Windy Springs Farm)
• Fuji Apples (Orchard Hill Farms)
• Peaches (Orchard Hill Farms)
• Peppers (Orchard Hill Farms)
• Lettuce (Jett’s Produce)
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese (Jett’s Produce)

Black and Green Figs

It’s finally summertime in San Francisco. Woohoo! And what a beautiful day to return to my beloved farmers market.

Since I was sick and working on finishing my thesis I hadn’t been to the market in weeks, a lapse I haven’t made in years. It was terrible. But now that those things are behind me I was thrilled to return to the market today and stock up on delicious foods to get my healthstyle back on track. Life is good.

White Nectarines

Sungold Tomatoes

We are currently at the peak of summer: tomatoes are ripe, stone fruit is juicy and greens are plentiful. Now is your chance to get the best peaches, nectarines, figs, melons and pluots. I was so taken by the iridescent pink glow of these pluots I forgot to look at the name of the varietal (or maybe I’m out of practice).

Pluots

I was sure to grab enough lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes for salads this week. I also got some kale for dinner, and green beans for more pickling.

Sharlyn Melons

Green and Yellow Beans

I am also seeing the beginning of some of the fall fruits like grapes, pears and apples.

Comice Pears

Grapes

The apples looked amazing today. There are so many heirloom varieties I’ve never heard of, I grabbed a few different kinds just to get myself acquainted. I’m particularly excited about these pink pearl apples I found at the Apple Farm.

Jonathan Apples

Pink Pearl Apples

Nature never lets us forget that the next season is right around the corner. I spotted potatoes today and *gasp* winter squash. As delicious as they are, I don’t think I’m quite ready to make that leap yet, I’m going to enjoy the rest of my summer first.

Potatoes and Winter Squash

There were a couple other interesting finds today in San Francisco. Langier Ranches was offering a fruit called paw paws, which look like a mango but taste more creamy and less acidic. I was also ecstatic to see my favorite bean company Rancho Gordo has started offering heirloom corn tortillas. Yes, I bought some.

Heirloom Corn Tortillas

Paw Paws

Today’s purchases:

• Early girl tomatoes (Dirty Girl Produce)
• Red leaf lettuce (Dirty Girl Produce)
• Japanese cucumbers (Madison Growers)
• Red leaf kale (Green Gulch Farm)
• Tea bouquet (Green Gulch Farm)
• Haas avocados (Brokaw Nursery)
• Heirloom corn tortillas (Ranch Gordo)
• Vaquero beans (Ranch Gordo)
• Empire apple (Devoto Gardens)
• Red gala apple (Devoto Gardens)
• Pink pearl apple (Apple Farm)
• Parsley (Chue’s Farm)
• Green onions (Catalán Family Farm)
• Emerald beaut pluot (Frog Hollow Farm)
• Flavor king pluot (Frog Hollow Farm)
• Asian pear (Kashiwase Farm)
• Pluot (Kashiwase Farm)
• Blue lake beans (Iacopi Farms)
• Pioppini mushrooms (Far West Fungi)
• Trumpet mushrooms (Far West Fungi)
• Eggs (Soul Food Farm)

What did you find at the market this week?

Delicata Squash

I haven’t spent much time in the South, but there is such a strong food culture there and I’ve been dying to know how the local farmers markets step up. Big thanks to Amy Morrison for giving us a peek into Atlanta, Georgia.

Amy’s Morrison’s new blog Fix the Food! focuses on food industry updates, navigating today’s broken food system and avoiding processed food and contaminants. Visit her blog at www.fixthefood.com, like Fix the Food! on Facebook, or follow her on twitter @fixthefood.

Farmers Market Update: Atlanta

by  Amy Morrison

I am thrilled to bring you a Farmers Market Update from Atlanta this week. I’ve been a fan of the Summer Tomato blog for quite a while, appreciating Darya’s infectiously upbeat attitude toward healthy, fresh food as well as her no-nonsense dedication to many of the concepts I feel everyone in America must strive to re-integrate into their lives.

For this update I’d like to take you through the Marietta Square Farmers Market. It is a local-only outdoor market, with their #1 stated rule being that all products must be grown or created by the vendors themselves. It takes place in the heart of downtown Marietta–a town just outside of Atlanta proper–that is typically known as little more than “just a suburb.”

I’ll admit, the first time I saw the Marietta Square I was very surprised. The entire area is so vital and charming: a beautiful old park flanked by lovely little shops, restaurants, and even a grand old theatre. In an area otherwise defined by big-box-stores and the need to drive everywhere, it was refreshing to find this historically-intact gem where people still can walk from place to unique place.

The farmers market takes place on the north end of the Square every Saturday morning from May through November. This year the market features approximately 60 vendors, nearly double its size from just a few years ago. The vendors there sell everything from fresh (a great variety of vegetables, fresh dairy and eggs) to hand-crafted (herb-infused oils, candied jalapeños–yum!, delicious-smelling soaps, etc.)

This week, the first thing that caught my eye wasn’t food, but instead the “angels of agriculture” themselves. A local beekeeper had brought an entire section of his hive for display. How could I turn down some of their very own handiwork? Not only was there honey (raw, of course!), but also bee pollen, one of nature’s most nutrient-dense substance.

Bee Pollen

Bees

The first vegetable that stood out to me was this lovely heirloom red okra. Okra may not be for everyone, but of course as a good southern girl I love it.

Heirloom Red Okra

One thing that almost everyone had this week was beans, from green to purple hull. But what really looked delicious were the Chinese long beans. Another late summer item on nearly all tables were peppers, both fresh and hand-canned pickled ones.

Cubanella Peppers

Chinese Long Beans

Anyone who’s ever grown squash knows that when it comes in, it does so with a vengeance. Pleasantly though, there was not only yellow summer squash, but the lovely late summer squash varieties as well.

Delicata Squash

Yellow Squash

And of course I’m not the only one that needs good eats, my four-legged pal Penny needs good snacks too. I was delighted by these delicious (I didn’t personally eat one) doggie treats handmade from locally sourced organic ingredients.

Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits

Purchases:

• Honey and bee pollen – Hometown Honey
• Heirloom red okra – Indigo’s Produce
• Whole milk and buttermilk – Johnston Family Farm
• Chinese long beans, Cubanella peppers, canned pickled peppers – Zio Micu’s Garden
• Yellow squash – Allene’s Produce
• Delicata squash, Pink Beauty tomatoes – Turtle Bend Farm
• Peanut butter dog biscuits – Big Daddy Biscuits

What did you buy this week?

Blackberries

I’ve wanted a Seattle market update for so long. Huge thanks to Aubrey for making it happen.

Aubrey Bach is one of the co-founders of www.yay-today.com, a Seattle-based blog dedicated to sharing the best (and cheapest) things to do, see, buy and eat in the city.

If you’re interested in finding out more about the deals the girls at yay-today are busy finding, visit their blog www.yay-today.com, like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter @yay_today.

Farmers Market Update: Seattle’s University District

by Aubrey Bach

I am super excited to be representing Seattle for the Summer Tomato Farmer’s Market Update this week! I’ve been an avid reader of Darya’s for well over a year and love her enthusiasm for fresh produce and good food. Luckily, I live in Seattle, where you can find a neighborhood farmer’s market going on nearly every day of the week during the summer months, so I get to indulge in my own veggie voyeurism every week as well.

This Sunday, we headed to the University District Farmer’s Market, the oldest farmer’s market in Seattle (and one that’s been included in Huffington Post’s top 10 list).

Of course, I set out with my handy shopping list–it’s the only way to keep your grocery budget under control.

Blueberries

It hasn’t exactly been a hot couple of months, but the produce certainly looks like summer. The Pacific Northwest has the best berries I’ve ever tasted- blueberries are just barely hanging on, while blackberries are just coming into their own.

Who needs donuts when you have sweet, drippy donut peaches? YUM.

Donut Peaches

These baby carrots are pretty sweet too.

Baby Carrots

You can never have too many big bunches of fresh spinach. Of course, you don’t only have to stick to spinach when you have a variety of greens to choose from.

Greens

Spinach

I’ve been having a major moment with radishes lately. So good in salads and on buttered bread. If you frequent a farmer’s market, you know that green beans don’t always have to be green.

Yellow Wax Beans

Radishes

Of course, you can’t post about Seattle without mentioning salmon. It’s what we’re known for–whether it’s fresh, smoked, or even roe! And it’s freshest (and definitely the best value) when you buy it from fisherman at the farmer’s market.

Smoked Salmon

This week’s haul:

• Fresh and smoked salmon – Loki Fish Co.
• Blueberries – Ernie’s Berries
• Cherry tomatoes – Billy’s Gardens
• Padrona Peppers – Billy’s Gardens
• Donut Peaches – Martin Family Orchards
• Basil – Youa Her & Kaying’s Garden
• Carrots – Alm Hill Gardens
• Green Beans – Alm Hill Gardens
• Radishes – Growing Things
• Spinach – Youa Her & Kaying’s Garden
• Purslane – Stony Plains Organic Farms
• Kale – Stony Plains Organic Farms

Yellow Doll Watermelon

I’m extremely excited to welcome the Spinach Tiger herself, Angela Roberts, who is providing a beautiful visual tour of the Franklin Farmers Market in Nashville.

Angela Roberts  is a faux artist turned food blogger.  As an artist, her food has to look good as well as taste good. She always starts with fresh, local ingredients, combining healthy and hearty, which inspired  the tag line, “food a woman will love and a man will marry her for.”

You can follow her on twitter @spinachtiger or become a fan of Spinach Tiger on Facebook.

Farmers Market Update: Nashville

by Angela Roberts

When Darya offered me an opportunity to talk about our own farmer’s market, I got excited for two reasons. Summer Tomato is one of my favorite blogs, and one of the reasons is her weekly highlight of my all time favorite farmer’s market.

Although I live in the Nashville area, I have visited the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market several times. Just like Darya is at the Ferry Plaza every weekend, I can be found every Saturday morning at the Franklin Farmer’s Market, and this might seem a bit odd, but I usually spend a good part of my morning there.

Cherry Tomatoes

Music

The Franklin Farmer’s Market, held in an outdoor pavilion at the Factory in Franklin, has a lot of heart and much to be proud of. We even have music.

Franklin is a small historic town, in cahoots with Nashville, and the market serves all of Williamson County. It’s special for several reasons:

It’s a local only market. All of the meat, herbs and produce come from middle Tennessee. The people selling you the food are the same people growing the food.

It’s dynamic, growing by leaps and bounds, adding new food artisans and farmers every year. In 9 seasons, they have grown from 9 to over 70 vendors.

Watermelon and Tomatoes

Its open year round, and this says a lot about the commitment level of both the farmer’s and the local shoppers. I never knew about muscadine grapes, purple hull peas or yellow doll watermelon. Every week there is something exciting in produce that I’ve never seen before. But, at this time of year, I face the heat to get the season’s best tomatoes.

Heirloom Tomatoes

Green Tomatoes

I love purple foods, not just the health benefits, but the beauty.

Muscadine Grapes

Eggplants

The Produce You Expect to Find: Green Beans, Corn, Squash

Corn

Green Beans

Thai Chilies

Purple Hull Beans, Baby Limas

And, then there are the local food artisans, who seem to work 24 hours a day baking bread, making cheesecakes, jellies, jams, honey.

Local honey can help with seasonal allergies

There is never a Saturday that we don’t buy one of Lucy’s Super Muffins. For those desiring a richer treat, Lucy is known all over town for her cheesecakes. She also sells savory homemade dips and spreads.

My most recent purchases were a chick pea gluten free and yukon potato/truffle oil ravioli.

You can buy excellent quality grass fed meat from local farms, such as West Wind Farms, Bear Creek Farm and Hatcher Family Dairy to name a few.

Hatcher Family Dairy

Alfresco Pasta

I know many of the vendors personally, as I engage with them every week. I have even visited a few of the farms. You might be surprised how open the vendors are to a visit.

Once you meet the goats that bring you Nobel Springs fabulous cheese, you’ll head to market every week to stock up. I am a fan of Hatcher cream and Nobel Springs Goat Farm. I’ve seen first hand how hard they work and the quality of their product.

Nobel Springs Goat Farm

Cooking from the Market

I left the market with a bushel of heirlooms, happily taking home the discarded tomatoes that couldn’t be sold. In two days, I made bruschetta, tomato marmalade and tomato panzanella topped with farm fresh eggs. I also made homemade pasta.

Fresh Pasta

Fresh Eggs

The farmers have had challenges this year with the May flood and then the severe heat. Yet they have managed to do their best and bring food made with care. There are many organic farmers and many farmers who aren’t certified organic but heed exceptional farming practices to bring you the best tasting, healthy food. I am proud to honor them here at Summer Tomato.

Purchases:

• Eggplant from Rocky Glade Farm, Eagleville
• Carrots from Beaverdam Creek Farm, Centerville
• Green Beans from Kirkview Farm, College Grove
• Poblano and Serrano Peppers from Triple Springs Organic Produce
• Heirloom Tomatoes, Yellow Doll Watermelon from Rainbow Hill Farm, McMinnville
• Fresh Eggs – Gardner Grove, Lewisburg
• Chevre Goat Cheese from Noble Springs Dairy, Franklin
• Cream, Hatcher Dairy Farm, College Grove
• Super Muffins from Lucy’s Kitchen
• Purple Hull Peas from See Sun Vu Farms, Toone
• Corn on the Cob from Delvin Farms, College Grove

If you’d like to share your local farmers market with Summer Tomato readers, use the contact form to drop me an email.

Summer Squash

It was a beautiful day today in San Francisco. I’m feeling much better and was super excited to hit up the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market and snap some photos.

Apparently though, I’m still not quite in top form. When I tried to take a picture of these beautiful grapes, my camera smugly informed me that it did not contain its memory card. PhotoFAIL. Luckily, I had my trusty iPhone 4.

Lovely Grapes

I was curious how the new iPhone would perform at the farmers market, and today it had it’s chance to prove itself. I still think I prefer my regular Canon SD900, but overall I was pretty impressed with my pocket phone. What do you think?

Not too much has changed at the market from last week. The late summer produce is beautiful, especially the eggplants, peppers, peaches and plums.

French Prunes

Rosa Bianca Eggplants

The beets have been marvelous (and impressive!), as are the summer squash.

Magda Cousa Squash

Impressive Beetroot

I’m happy to see green bean season is starting to take off. We are experimenting with pickling some beans this weekend. Recipe on its way.

Pickled Blue Lake Beans

Don’t forget the greens and onions either, they are all amazing this time of year.

Spanish Onions

Escarole

Fresh chamomile was nice to find today as well.

Seedless Grapes

Chamomile

Today’s purchases:

• Flavor king pluots (Frog Hollow Farm)
• Peaches (Frog Hollow Farm)
• Watermelon (Capay Organics)
• Blue lake beans (Iacopi Farm)
• Blackberries (Glashoff Farms)
• French prunes (Glashoff Farms)
• Piquillo peppers (Happy Quail Farms)
• Thyme (Star Route Farms)
• Chamomile plant (Orangewood Farm)
• Ham (Marin Sun Farms)
• Eggs (Marin Sun Farms)
• Whole wheat bread (Acme)

Bicolor Corn

You’re probably sick of hearing about how sick I am. Trust me, so am I.

On Tuesday I was diagnosed with pneumonia. Fortunately antibiotics are a miracle and I’m definitely getting better. But I still would have stayed home from the farmers market this weekend to rest up if the wonderful lady that was scheduled to cover the Farmers Market Update this week hadn’t come down with strep throat. Seriously, what’s up with all the summer illness?!

Flavor Grenade Pluots

Flavor King Pluots

Though my energy was low, a couple things were notable from the market this week. We are definitely seeing the transition into late summer. The flavor king pluots at Frog Hollow Farm have arrived. These are magical fruits. If you’re in SF you absolutely must find a way to try one in the next few weeks. I promise you won’t regret it.

We are also in the midst of melon season. I’ve only tried a few, but so far they are sweet and flavorful. Next weekend I’m getting a watermelon for sure.

White & Yellow Nectarines

Summer Melons

I was also surprised to see grapes appearing already. Though I love grapes, this makes me kind of sad. Grapes remind me of fall, and it has been so cold this summer in SF the idea of skipping the rest of the season is heartbreaking. Fingers crossed for a warm September.

Gravenstein Apples

First Grapes

Seeing these apples would have made me sad as well, but I recently learned (thanks Pim!) that Gravenstein apples are summer apples. I don’t bake pies, but apparently they work nicely for baking.

I hope the rest of you are healthy and happy, and having a wonderful weekend.

Today’s purchases:

• Passport melon (The Peach Farm)
• Cherry and sungold tomatoes (The Peach Farm)
• Heirloom tomatoes (The Peach Farm)
• Armenian cucumber (Payne Farm)
• Flavor king pluot (Frog Hollow Farm)
• Summer lady peach (Frog Hollow Farm)
• Rainbow chard (Dirty Girl Produce)
• Baby leeks (Dirty Girl Produce)
• Cilantro (Dirty Girl Produce)
• Zephyr squash (Lucero Organic Farms)
• Bicolor corn (G&S Farm)
• Sweet pepper (Happy Quail Farms)
• Poblano pepper (Happy Quail Farms)
• Mediterranean cucumbers (Happy Quail Farms)
• Collard greens (Green Gulch Farm)
• Tea bouquet (Green Gulch Farm)

Star Squash

“And, most dear actors, eat no onions or garlic, for we are to utter sweet breath; and I do not doubt but to hear them say, it is a sweet comedy.”

– A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Act 4, Scene 2), William Shakespeare

It is hard to imagine having anything but sweet breath after leaving the San Francisco Ferry Plaza Farmers Market this weekend. I must have tried at least a dozen different varieties of pluots, and at least as many peaches and nectarines (my favorite this week).

Organic Yellow Peaches

Nectarines

There were strawberries, raspberries and blackberries. Apricots and figs. Melons and tomatoes. All sweet as can be.

Organic Raspberries

Even the greens looked tender and sweet. I couldn’t help but get some of this red kale from Green Gulch Farm. There is something amazing about fresh picked greens grown with care. They look so soft, yet crisp and nutritious.

Beautiful Collards

Red Kale

I would have bought some of the beautiful collards as well if I had been able to resist the beautiful chioggia beets, whose greens came attached for free (here’s my favorite beet recipe). I also grabbed one of their tea bouquets. Yes, we have some seriously sweet breath up in here.

Fresh Tea Bouquet

Chioggia Beets

I’m very excited to see that midsummer is in full swing and the eggplants are finally worth noticing. And being the chiliphile that I am, I was delighted to find that the peppers are starting to heat up.

Green Hot Chili Peppers

Rosa Bianca Eggplants

I noticed fresh green beans have appeared too (no wax beans yet).

And lastly, does anyone know what glacier lettuce is??

Glacier Lettuce

Fresh Green Beans

Today’s purchases:

• Rooted basil (Dirty Girl Produce)
• Romanesco (Dirty Girl Produce)
• Poblano pepper (Happy Quail Farms)
• Pimientos de Padrón (Happy Quail Farms)
• Charentais melon (The Peach Farm)
• Assorted heirloom tomatoes (The Peach Farm)
• Arctic jay nectarine (Kashiwase Farm)
• Honey crisp nectarine (Kashiwase Farm
• Cioggia beets (Green Gulch Farm)
• Tea bouquet (Green Gulch Farm)
• Red kale (Green Gulch Farm)
• Eggs (Marin Sun Farms)
• Yirgacheffe Oromia (Blue Bottle Coffee)

What did summer bring you this week?

Tokyo Turnips

At this time of year, salad might be my favorite food. I know, salad sounds boring. It sounds cold, tasteless and painfully healthy. The kind of healthy that no one really wants to be.

But in early summer health is the last thing on my mind when I choose to make salad. Truth is I just can’t wait to eat all the beautiful greens and fixings I find each week at the farmers market. Food like this is a treat, and probably not at all what you think of when you think of salad.

Any good salad starts with greens. The little gem lettuces, arugula, spinach, mizuna and even more untraditional greens like purslane.

Purslane

Salad Mix

Purslane is a succulent green that is supposedly high in omega-3 fatty acids. Personally I eat it for its lemony flavor and unique texture. It’s a great addition to any salad mix.

After greens I like to layer flavors and textures into my salads. Cucumbers from the farmers market are completely different from the flavorless, waxy beasts I remember from childhood salads.

Armenian Cucumbers

I love the long, curly Armenian cucumbers, but you can also find Mediterranean cucumbers, lemon cucumbers and several other varieties I’ve never tried. Most don’t require peeling. If you don’t have cucumbers, raw sweet summer squash are delicious in salads too.

Zephyr Squash

Lemon Cucumbers

Turnips, radishes and carrots are particularly good salad additions in early summer, contributing a distinctive crunch and deeper flavor than the delicate lettuces and cucumber. If you choose good quality turnips and radishes, their greens can be added to your salad mix as well.

Rainbow Carrots

French Breakfast Radishes

Summer tomatoes add both sweetness and brightness to salads, because of their relatively high sugar and acid content. For salads I prefer the deeply flavored heirloom varieties such as cherokee purple and brandywine varieties. Roasted peppers can serve a similar function.

Sweet Peppers

Summer Tomatoes

To add substance I turn to foods that are higher in fat and protein, like avocados, nuts, eggs, grain or meats. Today I picked up some avocados and eggs from the farmers market. My favorite salad green of late is the chewy and rustic farro grain. If you haven’t tried it yet I highly recommend it.

I like to finish my salad with summer fruits and herbs. Any stone fruit is fantastic and pairs nicely with balsamic vinaigrettes. Figs are also delicious if you can find them.

Pluots

Other things I loved this week include the Ruby grand nectarines from Frog Hollow and organic cauliflower.

Organic Cauliflower

Frog Hollow Ruby Grand Nectarines

Today’s purchases:

• Yummy rosa pluots (Paradez Farms)
• Ruby grand nectarine (Frog Hollow Farm)
• Early girl tomatos (The Peach Farm)
• Purslane (Madison Growers)
• Zephyr squash (Lucero Organic Farm)
• Rooted basil (Dirty Girl Produce)
• Green shallots (Dirty Girl Produce)
• Cauliflower (Dirty Girl Produce)
• Armenian cucumbers (Payne Farm – I think)
• Tokyo turnips (Green Gulch Farm)
• Italian parsley (Green Gulch Farm)
• Salad greens (Green Gulch Farm)
• Mediterranean cucumber (Happy Quail Farms)
• Avocados (Brokaw Nursery)
• Eggs (Marin Sun Farms)

White Nectarines

Dear Readers,

I know that many of you enjoy the farmers market and visit it regularly, and if this describes you I’m sure you already know what I’m about to write.

For those of you who like the farmers market but find yourself cooking up excuses each week not to go, it is time to talk yourself out of that habit. At least this once. If you’re ever going to make visiting your farmers market a priority, now is the time. This is the season when a taste of a simple plum can change your life (I got mine from Paradez Farms).

Heirloom Tomatoes

Pluot Slices

There are only a few weeks of the year when berries and stone fruits haunt the market simultaneously, when you can get sweet cherries and perfect peaches. Even the tomatoes now would never be mistaken for anything other than a fruit. At this time of year it is possible to win friends with salad (I’ve done it many times already).

Summer Squash

Green Chard

Today I saw children begging their parents to buy foods that most of us grew up hating (beets!). And I even bought a bag of broccoli simply because it was so cute. That’s right, even vegetables are getting their moment in the sun.

Adorable Broccoli

Summer Beets

(the garlic and onions are photogenic??)

Summer Onions

Purple Garlic

An added bonus is the late summer produce is just beginning to arrive as well. Today I bought my first corn, and saw eggplants available at a few different stands.

Bodacious Yellow Corn

Mission and adriatic figs are also available, and surprisingly sweet for this early in the season. I even spied a few melons hanging out today, though I was too busy cradling peaches and nectarines to get one home safely.

Mission Figs

First Eggplants

And for today’s Moment of Zen, I present: kohlrabi.

Kohlrabi

Enjoy the summer! And if you discover or learn to love anything new this year, please come tell us about it.

xoxox
Darya

Today’s purchases:

• Heirloom tomatoes (The Peach Farm)
• Yellow corn (The Peach Farm)
• White nectarine (Paradez Farms)
• Yellow nectarine (Paradez Farms)
• Pluot (Paradez Farms)
• Basil (Chue’s Farm)
• Baby broccoli (Dirty Girl Produce)
• Green shallots (Dirty Girl Produce)
• Zephyr squash (Lucero Organic Farms)
• Mission figs (Knoll Farms)
• Red peppers (Happy Quail Farms)
• Mediterranean cucumbers (Happy Quail Farms)
• Salad greens (Green Gulch Farm)
• Red kale Green Gulch Farm)
• Purple garlic (Tierra Vegetables)
• Eggs (Marin Sun Farms)
• Yellow eye beans (Rancho Gordo)