Parent to Parent By Patti Hermes
Summer is here and finally our local Farmers' Markets are back!
Summer is here and finally our local Farmers' Markets are back! Yay! I love poking through the stalls, seeing what's in season.
Used to be, generations ago, people grew up just knowing what's in season. Now, strawberries may be in season in California while we still have snow on the ground here in the Midwest, but the local supermarket has plenty of them. Apples used to have their own season, too, but now they are available year round, just like most supermarket produce. But try a local orchard, when they are at their peak ripeness, and you will get a taste of what an apple is really supposed to taste like.
So the local farmers' market has all the local flavor. Sure some of them come some distance, but not more than a day's drive. And the people at the market are usually the same ones working the farm - just check their fingernails. Our local farmers' market is pretty small, and we have a bunch of farmers that come every single week as long as it's open. But a few new ones show up every once in awhile, and often bring specialty items that aren't so readily available.
I like talking to the vendors. They sometimes can tell me when to expect the first ears of corn, or the last blueberries of the summer. If I'm unfamiliar with certain vegetables, they might share their own favorite preparation tips. Every week is a little different, so it pays to know what's coming up, if only for menu planning purposes.
While some farmers' markets may be strictly organic, many are not. You'll often find a mix among growers, so if organic is important to you, it's best to ask. Most farmers don't mind explaining exactly how their produce doesn't meet strict organic standards, and yet it still is not soaked in the usual chemical cocktails you find at the supermarket. Remember, even organic spinach from across the country isn't guaranteed to be safe.
Nothing is. But looking your local farmers in the eye and listening to them talk about what they love - providing fresh produce for your family as well as their own - is mighty comforting. Something about having the person who picked the fruit right in front of me always makes me smile. As a small vegetable gardener, I share their enthusiasm for growing and providing food for my family. And I also appreciate the convenience of the market when my own efforts fall short.
There's more to the farmers' market these days than just fresh produce. I get to choose from an assortment of jams, jellies, preserves, pickles, pies, breads and pastas, too. And there's always a few local craftsmen and artisans selling their wares, as well. Everything from handmade jewelry, wood crafts, quilts and the always busy knife sharpener, who sharpens my sewing shears while I shop. It's a regular community gathering, with some grabbing an ice coffee and hanging around to chat awhile with old friends.
If you haven't been to your local farmers' market, or don't even know about it, I highly suggest you check around with your neighbors and get in on the fun. It makes the weekly shopping a little less drudgery and more like a social outing, instead. If you don't have one close by, it may be worth even up to a few hours' drive to find one. And if you're lucky enough to have a few of them around, on different days of the week, well then you've got to be careful not to get too excited over your vast choices. Oh, ok! Go ahead and go crazy!
I've got opening day on my calendar, and I can't wait to see what's happening at my local farmers' market!
