Monday, May 26, 2008

Farmer's Market Monday - Week 1

I was a little premature when I added my Fresh From the Farmer's Market sign over on the right. You can get yours here at A Veggie Venture. I've been eagerly anticipating fresh Minnesota produce for a while now, say, since December. Unfortunately, our late arriving Spring means that the growing season will be shorter. For example, our Peonies that usually bloom by mid-May don't look like they're anywhere near opening. I'm lowering my expectations, but I'm still planting a garden this year. I'll be planting grape, cherry, and yellow pear tomatoes, along with a larger tomato plant a friend gave me, zucchini, basil, thyme, and chives. Yesterday was my first trip to the Saint Paul Farmer's Market in 2008. Here is what I brought home:



The veggies are still pretty sparse. Some farmers only had green onions to sell, or lettuce. There was also rhubarb-which I've never cooked with, radishes and spinach which had already sold out. I was pretty thrilled to get lots of asparagus. I'm going to roast some and make a terrific asparagus pasta dish later this week. I'll be looking forward to peas in the coming weeks.

Want to join me? I'd love to know if you picked up anything at your farmer's market this week. Let me know.

10 comments:

julochka said...

i'm lucky that my farmer's market comes to me on a weekly basis..in the form of a box of organic goodness. i've chosen the one with all local produce, and it's getting more and more interesting...this week white asparagus, some fresh parsley and lettuce greens, as well as some fresh, young garlic that looked a bit like spring onions. fabulous!

what a good idea to share local produce from around the world! :-)i always get inspired when i stop by your blog. :-)

happy monday!
/julie

StuckInABook said...

Mmmm... asparagus...

Tara said...

Julie, That would be fun - getting a box. I haven't done that yet since I enjoy picking out what I like at the FM. The contents of your box sound teriffic! And thank you - you're sweet.

Simon, I know! I eat as much as I can this time of year.

Alanna Kellogg said...

Hi Tara, I love-love-love the St Paul Farmers Market so it thrills me to no end that you've chosen to combine it and the Fresh from the Farmers Market logo! Since it's 10 hours away (!) I've only been twice but always try to come through the Twin Cities when it's open.

heather (errantdreams) said...

I've gotten a bit gun-shy of our local farmer's market... I get the impression they bring whatever leftover crud they can't sell locally to them into town to sell to the city folk who presumably don't know any better. I've had too many things from there go bad within 24 hours or dissolve into pests within 24 hours to go back.

However, this summer I am attempting to grow cherry, yellow pear, and Italian ice tomatoes!

By the way, I hope you'll join in the errant dreams author meme. :)

Danielle said...

I really need to go to my local farmer's market as it is not too far from my house (and very close to my favorite used bookstore!). I'd love to have a garden, but my house is not situated well and we don't get enough sun to make it work well. I do usually have some containers of flowers on my porch, though. So far I have two that are doing well. Of course by August the insects will have eaten most of the flowers....

Tara said...

Hi Alanna, thanks for leaving me a note! Isn't the St Paul market great?? I love that the growers have to be local unlike the Minneapolis market which sells bananas. Which we all know don't grow in Minnesota.

Heather, that's too bad! I don't feel that way about our market at all. What are ice tomatoes? I will check out the meme and do it this week.

Danielle, a great combination -books and veggies! Our garden is just a tiny patch that we overplant every year. I do love having some homegrown things, though. You know, you could do herbs on your porch - just a thought = )

heather (errantdreams) said...

Yeah, I was very disappointed. We tried it a handful of times, but were never happy with the produce we got there.

Here's a link for the ice tomatoes. They're a sweet, white, small plum tomato.

Maw Books said...

I love the farmer market! Sadly ours has not opened up yet, but when it does we go every Saturday. There are tons of vendors, food stalls, and arts and crafts. I told my husband that we had to go less this summer because it's to much fun and we spend WAY to much money!

Tara said...

Heather, those tomatoes look amazing! Send a few my way...

Natasha, I tend to spend too much money when I bring my daughter - I ususally go by myself b/c it's pretty crowded. She always talks me into honey, jam, bread, apple cider, lots of fruit. It's all good for her, but it eats up my cash fast!