Simple pleasures of a local farmer's market

On my recent vacation to Florida, I asked my sister, a Floridian for decades, if there was a farmer's market nearby. I admit, I had the bug to get out and discover wonderful local produce, products and crafts.

"Sure", she droned. "Down the road about a mile, there's a great market called Brown's that has organic milk, raw honey and lots of stuff you like." She knows me well.

My sister and her family are Gulf Coast dwellers, planted comfortably in a nice suburban community of middle class houses that circle a man-made pond. Every morning storks and prehistoric sounding birds  wander aimlessly on the streets, asserting the right of first refusal to leave Dodge.

It came as a surprise that they are minutes away from commercial farms that grow much of our tomatoes, produce and fruit. And they have cattle ranches with cowboys. Really. In Florida.

When we arrived at Brown's Farmers Market, my sister, niece and I were drawn by the smells of fresh picked produce mounded on the wooden tables, organic milk from cows peering at us behind the fence line, and a fish monger of sorts: a friendly, talkative chap who agreeably discussed the pros and cons of fish farming vs deep water catches.

But my eyes were fixated on the shelves that lay ahead, with amber and caramel colored jars gleaming  under the streaming sunlight. Nirvana. Local honey. And homemade jam minimally processed of course, with cloth and ribboned caps, lined up in neat rows like homespun art that beckoned... choose me!

 

I live in the Philadelphia region, where we brag about the famous Reading Terminal Market.

Whereas Brown's has an open-aired roadside rustic appeal, Philadelphia's Market is an expansive melange of ethnic and traditional foods, cuisine, crafts and more. It's a cultural delight, a hodgepodge of sounds, smells, and tastes that satisfy any craving.  

Hey, Adam Richman, host of Best Sandwich in America, recently named DiNic's roast pork sandwich, the best sandwich in the country!

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Reading Terminal Market, but give me the country road stands and farmer's markets any day. There I can linger over produce, chat with the farmer, and be lured in by the hypnotic dance of the honeybees skipping from flower to flower in the wide open fields.

For those who are curious where you might find a great Farmer's Market near you, check out: Local Harvest. Great organic food awaits.

Now, if I can only get used to those strange sounding crane-like birds in the morning...
Let us know your favorite market and why! Best ever market is ????

~Lynne
Garden Media Group
photo credit: GMG, Brown's Farmer's Market
Photo credit: Reading Terminal Market: Philadelphia.about.com & Wikipedia Commons

'Occupy local': Farmers Markets and CSA's!

No matter your political stance, we can all rally around a  heap of ripe cantaloupe and fresh-picked veggies as we 'occupy local' and support our local farmers market.

According to our own Susan McCoy, trendspotter and garden expert, "Farmers markets are our new backyard veggie gardens and are becoming our local grocery store. 'Occupy local ' means chickens in your own backyard, buying produce at the local food shed and CSA's (Community Supported Agriculture) and gardening with a purpose."

Although it's technically still winter, some winter farmers markets are open and provide year-round fresh produce and local specialties. Check 'em out!

The USDA is actively engaged in developing partnerships with farmers markets via their initiative: Know your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative. In 2011, they've counted over 7,100 operating farmers markets in the nation and over 170 food hubs. And Local Harvest has a great list of organic food grown closest to you. Their tag line: Real food. Real farmers. Real Community seems to say it all.

Tell us what market you prefer, fabulous finds, and whether you'll be joining a CSA this year.

And "occupy local" to support your local farmers and CSA's for better tasting, healthier, fresher food with a nod to a more sustainable future and a "happier" Mother Earth.

~Lynne

GMG 
photo credit: Garden Media Group
Kennett Square Farmers Market

Gotta' love the Farmers Market!

Yay! Our local Farmers Market is open on Fridays with tables brimming with local fresh produce, plants and hard-to-find specialty foods.

This past Friday, the farmers and merchants had just set up and I couldn't wait to scarf up the tubs of creamy savory goat cheese, herbal honey and buy a huge bunch of leaf lettuce.

Ah... so many choices, so little time.

One farmer had cherries. That's all. A table buried in rich, dark, sweet cherries that were just harvested.

Unfortunately, I recently bought a pound at a store, but these beauties looked so much nicer. He's getting ready to harvest peaches in a few weeks. Worth the wait.

More people arrived who began the ritual of picking up and inspecting, pinching and thumping fruit and produce piled on the tables, and chatting with like-minded souls who love these marketplaces.

I grabbed some zucchini and made a mental note to buy kale and rhubarb, next visit.

As we meandered through the market, we saw a table with info and cool t-shirts touting 'Buy Fresh, Buy Local.' Indeed!

I was tempted to buy the dill, basil and sage plants (now regret I didn't) and some fresh, organic eggs from the local Amish folks. But there's always another Friday, and this time, I'm bringing along an extra sturdy, very large canvas bag!

If your town has a Farmers Market, it's definitely worth a visit. Let us know what great buys you discovered and send us your photos. Love to see!
~Lynne
GMG