November 2, 2009
Posted by Leah Greenstein, November 2, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Note: On Mondays, one of our various Market Scene correspondents checks in with what's fresh at farmstands, what's coming up, and what you better get while the gettin's good. This week, we hear from Los Angeles correspondent Leah Greenstein of SpicySaltySweet. Take us to the market, Leah!
Persimmons from Peacock Family Farm.
If fall had an official color—like poppies are the official flower of California, Humuhumunukunukuapua`a is the official fish of Hawaii and Crocs are the official shoe of Mario Batali—it would have to be orange. Vibrant, warm and evocative of piles of crisp leaves perfect for jumping in, or the jack-o-lantern shrapnel you wade through the morning after Halloween, orange permeates the season.
Here are some of my favorite orange things spotted at the Hollywood Farmers' Market (map) over the weekend:
Marigolds
Marigolds for El Diá De Los Muertos.
The brightest orange at the market wasn't from pyramids of pumpkins as you might expect. In fact, there were hardly any pumpkins (perhaps related to the jack-o-lantern shrapnel?). Instead it came from the near fluorescent marigold blooms at the South Central Farmers Cooperative stall. Marigolds are the traditional flower of El Diá De Los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, which started yesterday and continues through today.
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Posted by Nick Kindelsperger, October 26, 2009 at 3:30 PM
"You know it's October when the pumpkins outnumber the tomatoes."
[Photographs: Nick Kindelsperger]
I arrived at the Green City Market in Lincoln Park on a truly miserable morning. The infamous winds of Chicago were howling off the lake and biting me through my terribly thin hoodie. With my arms folded over, I made my way through the market, wishing I had worn a coat. The first person I talked to about vegetables just broke into laughter. She would have felt sorry for me, she explained, if I wasn't so irresponsible.
How did it end so quickly? Though Green City Market runs all year-round, after October it retreats in to an indoor location. I don't blame them. Though they can still sell some winter vegetables, along with other preserved items, this move indoors truly does signal the end of the fall bounty. It's kind of sad to think about if the possibilities for eating weren't so spectacular.
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Posted by BostonZest, October 19, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Note: On Mondays, one of our various Market Scene correspondents checks in with what's fresh at farmstands, what's coming up, and what you better get while the gettin's good. This week, we hear from Boston correspondent Penny Cherubino of BostonZest. Take us to the market, Penny!
[Photographs: Penny Cherubino]
The arrival of instant winter in the Northeast brought out hoods, muffs, and furry hats at farmers' markets this week. Shoppers and staff at the Copley Square Farmers' Market in Back Bay were all bundled up. This season is one of plenty for those shoppers who know that many Boston-area markets continue operating late into October. And, a few, like Copley, don't close for the season until Thanksgiving.
Farmer Chris Kurth (photo above) of Siena Farms showed off his beautiful baby bok choy. Cooler fall temperatures bring back some of the greens that are missing in the heat of summer. Baby lettuce and mesculn mixes are available again.
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Posted by BostonZest, October 12, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Note: On Mondays, one of our various Market Scene correspondents checks in with what's fresh at farmstands, what's coming up, and what you better get while the gettin's good. This week, we hear from Boston correspondent Penny Cherubino of BostonZest. Take us to the market, Penny!
[Photographs: Penny Cherubino]
It's autumn in New England and each week a few farmers' markets close for the season, but the Boston Public Market outside of South Station will remain open through the end of October.
Aside from providing shoppers in the waterfront, financial and shopping districts with fresh food, this market has symbolic importance. It's operated by the Boston Public Market Association and is a seasonal reminder that the people of Boston want a permanent, year-round public market.
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Posted by Leah Greenstein, October 5, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Note: On Mondays, one of our various Market Scene correspondents checks in with what's fresh at farmstands, what's coming up, and what you better get while the gettin's good. This week, we hear from SoCal correspondent Leah Greenstein of SpicySaltySweet. Take us to the market, Leah!
Carnival Squash at McGrath Family Farms. [Photographs: Leah Greenstein]
I'm tired of tomatoes. There. I said it. After two months straight gorging myself on Early Girls and Purple Cherokees, Green Zebras and Sun Golds, I think I've finally had enough tangy-sweet-tomato-goodness to last me until next summer—or at least until January, when I break into my stash of homemade canned heirloom tomatoes for lasagnas and stews.
Fortunately, the Los Angeles farmers' markets (and Southern California's farmers), from Hollywood (map) to Santa Monica (map) and everywhere in between, seem ready to oblige, with fall's delights finally making inroads.
Italian Prune Plums, aka Sugar Plums
There are, of course, some hangers-on that I'm grateful for. Namely Italian Prune Plums, also known as Sugar Plums or Empress Plums (prunus Domestica). More oval-shaped than Satsuma or Damson, they have a deep, purply skin with golden flesh and a freestone pit inside. These wonderfully sweet plums are perfect for baking or cooking (try them in a kuchen or with pork chops), and, as their name indicates, they're also great for drying. Store ripe sugar plums, unwashed, in the fridge. These will only be around for a few more weeks, so don't wait.
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