Farmers Market Fridays

early blush apricots. my favorite variety.  too many apricots is just right

Summer love for so many reasons. The sun and the pool, flip flops and freckles, coconut milk ice cream. Fresh local produce is up on the top of the list too. We spend our summers in the Catskills, and down the road, on Friday afternoons, we are lucky enough to have a farmers market. Farmers come from a 100 mile radius and share their produce. In addition to produce there are some other handcrafted goods. A local bakery, beautiful body products, goat's milk soaps, maple syrup, pottery and a vintner of apple wine.

white nectarines

melt in your mouth sugar strawberries

my farmer loves me. planted persian cukes by special request.

This time of year, almost all of our produce is local. We get potatoes, onions, garlic, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce of all kinds, spinach, kale, cabbage, swiss chard, parsley, cilantro, basil, dill, scallions, zucchini, mushrooms, peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums, apples, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, raspberries, gooseberries, turnips, carrots, green beans, snow peas, snap peas, radishes, kohlrabi, jalapeno peppers.... Am I missing something? Not sure, but in the next few weeks, we'll also get eggplant, peppers, cantaloupe, watermelon, and then in the very late summer, grapes, parsnips and sweet potatoes. I live for this time of year when everything is alive and fresh and beautiful and abundant. I have a tiny little problem of buying too much stuff, but why would I leave it there? The cucumbers and zucchini have little flowers attached, the green beans are so fresh, if you rub them on your shirt they'll stick like velcro - that only happens on the day of picking - where else can I get that? These local farmers are passionate about their food and the methods they use for growing and protecting. Their pride is contagious and I want to buy something from everyone.

the drying process

The buying is the fun part. Lugging it all to the car - not so much fun. Shlepping it inside, big groan, and then washing and processing it all - dread. Having a kitchen full of beautiful, washed produce - priceless. It smells like an intoxicating summer heaven, the colors vibrant and electrifying, and I'm filled with gratitude to our Creator for providing this bountiful array of nourishment.

kirbys, red potatoes - red, red, red all the way through! taken with our super duper canon 60d

What to do with all this beautiful food? Read on.... future posts to include:
* Help, it's Friday - there's still so much food in my fridge and I want to buy more. What now?
* Pickle making with Pinny Lew
* Homemade ketchup that tastes like ketchup

To good health and abundance of all things good,

Chana

A little disappointed that I can't find my picture of vintner - he's one cool guy. Have to wait for Pinny Lew to get back...