Farmer's Market
After a LONG winter, i got to spend about an hour at my local Farmer's Market this morning. they've been open for about a month, but it took me a while to get a free saturday morning. I'd forgotten how much i love going to the farmers market! i got sugar snap peas, the sweetest bibb lettuce i've ever had, cucumbers, beefsteak tomatoes (everyone had these cardboard signs that said "safe tomatoes"), potatoes, gigantic green onions, peppers, all sorts of good stuff!
do you have a farmer's market near you? do you enjoy going there? what's your favorite thing to buy there?
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15 Comments:
We don't have a farmer's market near us (I used to and it was fabulous! I miss it!) but we do have several farm stands that are pretty good, so long as you are sure the produce is labeled "grown in MI" as they do sell shipped-in things also)
We went yesterday afternoon and I got piles of goodies! After eating and tasting the stronger and fresher flavors I remember how tasteless and waxy grocery store veggies and fruits are..and wish I could get them fresh-grown all year long like this!
We do a lot of U-pick here in the fruit belt, and I do preserve as much as I can so we can taste the goodness all year rather than resort to plastic tasting things in mid-winter shipped in from who-knows where.
Fave thing to buy?? I have to pick one?
sadiepix at 8:54PM on 06/14/08
I just went to our summer farmer's market on Friday. I like our Fall one better, with the fresh apples, etc....
Anyway, I still did enjoy the one I went to yesterday and got a delicious loaf of Iced Cinnamon Raisin bread from one of the Amish farms. There were also fresh strawberries, homemade cookies, tons of flowers, and dairy at some of the other vendors. I just love the fresh, local, healthful food! I don't know about anyone else, but I just feel better eating food that I can actually trace back to where it came from.
luswim06 at 9:18PM on 06/14/08
It's only the 2nd week for our small town farmer's market and pickings are slim but will pick up fast soon enough.
We got some heirloom cherry tomatoes to plant with the rest of our goodies. Awesome strawberries, asparagus so tender you could eat it raw, garlic scapes, zucchini, green beans, and baby cucumbers.
I can't wait for the heirloom tomatoes to be everywhere, they're my favorite part!
bobcatsteph3 at 11:52PM on 06/14/08
I'm lucky in Southern California. Our town has both a swap meet with a wonderful farmer's market that's open daily. The fruits and veggies are better than any in the grocery stores. Then, every Tuesday night, there's the farmer's market on Grand Ave. that focuses largely on local organic produce, fresh baked goods, and street foods (crepes, Greek foods, street tacos, etc.). I just bought my first ever cherimoya.
beth1 at 12:04AM on 06/15/08
I live in Amishland. There is fresh produce all over the place.
On the way home yesterday I got safe tomatoes, sugar snap peas and a few cantalopes.
This place is a great place to be at this time. Also NC, the farmers market in Raleigh is another of my fav places. It is full of wonderful things at this time of year.
JerzeeTomato at 8:30AM on 06/15/08
When I lived in Colorado we had one in the largest parking lot in the center of town. I had a friend who baked these amazing "mini" pies and she sold out in the first two hours even though she spent the whole week baking.
I used to bring my own "flair" to this remote place where they thought there were two kinds of people: White and Native American. I'd make jars of marinated sun dried tomatoes and unusual jams like Chipotle Peach and Plum/Peach/Ginger and I used to get those bitter "pie" cherries from a local grower and make jam out of those. It was great fun.
I'd love to participate in a Farmer's Market here in FL and if the opportunity presents itself in the Fall, I just may!
@Jerz - Re: Safe Tomatoes... My BF's dad grows beautiful tomatoes in his garden, he's a little north of here. I asked him if he's been approached by local restaurants and also if he feels like a "rock star."
My only problem with shopping at farmer's markets is - I need more hands to carry all that beautiful produce.
chiff0nade at 10:36AM on 06/15/08
i know when people think of new york city, they don't necessarily think "fresh produce" but there is a greenmarket practically everyday in sooooo many different neighborhoods. We are very lucky to enjoy this convenience.
midgepingleton at 11:14AM on 06/15/08
@ Sadiepix - "grown in MI"? "fruit belt"? where are you? i'm not far from 94 and 131. do you have any U-pick recommendations for strawberries and cherries?
redhead at 11:17AM on 06/15/08
I am in K-zoo..hi!
For strawberries we have been going to Mandgio farms and just love the berries we have gotten from them, even in years when things are rough. They offer two kinds for picking as well. Yum.
http://mandigofarms.com/index.html
For cherries we usually either end up in Comstock (Everyone knows Comstock fruits! :)) at one of the orchards there, or we go to South Haven to the Mc Intosh orchards and make a day near the lake.
These are some good sites for finding a U-pick near you in SW MI-
http://www.pickyourown.org/MI.htm
http://www.mda.state.mi.us/market/u-pick/result_template.asp?whichpage=15&pagesize=10&sqlQuery=SELECT+FarmMarket_Name%2C+City%2C+State%2C+%5BCounty+%23%5D%2C+WebSite%2C+Region%2C+%5BBusiness+Phone%5D%2C+Email%2C+%5BMisc+Info%5D%2C+Directions%2C+%5BMonths+Open%5D+FROM+Upick_Farms+ORDER+BY+FarmMarket_Name%3B
There are quite a few around, and if you google "U-pick cherries in ***, MI" you will get a big list to go thru.
sadiepix at 1:41PM on 06/15/08
Sunday morning trip to the farmer's market (I live in northern california, the market is year round) has become a ritual for me.
My favorite stand is the one that sell asian vegetables (everything are either $1 /lb or $1 a bunch). It's the main reason I have to get to the market early, else I would make it into the two people deep vicious mob (seriously, it's bad, I got elbow today) that surround it. Also I go for the lady with the multi-colour eggs. The eggs are super fresh, I could select which ever I want, as much as I want (there are weeks when I don't need a whole dozen, or even half a dozen).
Currently seeing lot's of cherries, strawberries at the market. Just started getting some heirloom tomatoes, and stone fruits. Loving the white nectarines right now.
gnomatic at 2:51PM on 06/15/08
i love the union square greenmarket! it was so nice to start going again and say hello to all my favorite vendors.
right now i'm heavily into the sugar snap peas {normally i eat them raw, but today i blanched and shocked them and then tossed them with butter, mint, tarragon, and shallots} and garlic scapes {which i sauteed with aparagus tips and dill, then mixed with eggs, coriander and saffron and baked for a new york style kookoo sabzi}. i'm also seriously looking forward to sour cherries, apricots, and sun gold tomatoes.
cybercita at 7:26PM on 06/15/08
@chiff....I have a little pull along cart I take to the farmer's market when I go...reminds me of the one my grandmother used to have, and I definitely spend more $$ because I can cart more along, but it's great for loading up my goodies, and keeping my hands free to check more goodies along the way!
mepolo at 9:10AM on 06/16/08
@ Sadiepix, i'm in Kzoo too!
That "PickYourOwn" weblink you posted is exactly what i've been looking for, a good directory of everything around here! it's awesome!
i'm SO going strawberry picking this weekend! after the saturday morning farmer's market, and before going to Musique, in downtown.
redhead at 6:40PM on 06/17/08
@sadiepix and redhead! I lived in Kzoo for 3 years!!!! Where are you guys???? I still have great friends there too. I will be coming out there this year for a party. Good times!!
izatryt at 6:46PM on 06/17/08
My Sunday morning outing is a trip to the local farmer's market in Southern California. Fruits and vegetables are amazing this time of year and I'm enjoying wonderful summer stone fruit, cherries, sweet onions, tomatoes and zucchini, cucumbers, etc. The fish vendor has wonderful wild salmon. Also love the Greek food vendor - olives, Manouri cheese, and olive oil. The last stop is the cheese vendor for some Burrata cheese to enjoy with the heirloom tomatoes and fresh basil.
Catharine56 at 7:43PM on 06/17/08