Farm Fresh and Local Produce - 05/31/08

Author: swampkitty05  //  Category: Columbus, Eating Local, Farmer's Market, North Market, Produce

Well, it’s been a rather busy weekend (the grill finally arrived, more about that later) so now is the first opportunity I’ve had to sit down and talk about my trip to the farmer’s markets yesterday. To say that yesterday was a breathtakingly beautiful day would be an understatement. Clear as a bell, not too hot, not too cold - if every day could be like yesterday I would be in heaven.

We got another super-early start, getting to the North Market a few minutes before 8am, and surprisingly, most of the farmers were already set up. First things first - I made a beeline for these lovely strawberries at Rhoads; to say that I’ve taken an oath to eat my weight in strawberries this season would be an understatement. I still have plenty of preserves left from last year, though - so thankfully, no canning to do this weekend.

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Happily, we’re also still smack dab in the middle of asparagus season, so needless to say I picked some up for some recipes I have planned in the next couple of days. These particular asparagus are from Wish Well Farms.

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I don’t know why, but I have had an intense craving for tomatoes recently. Tomatoes and mozzarella. Tomatoes and goat cheese. Fried green tomatoes. Tomatoes in just about every frickin’ thing. Needless to say, I picked up some more grape tomatoes for snacking.

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After getting some mushrooms from Toby Run and some French breakfast radishes from Wayward Seed Farms, I ran inside to grab a cinnamon roll at Omega and chat with John Hard for a few minutes, before heading off to Worthington.

If we thought we got to North Market early, we made it to Worthington even earlier, about quarter to nine, and it was already pretty crowded. Again, there were flowers as far as the eye could see.

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At Worthington, I picked up my requisite meat at OMC Farms, some needed potatoes at HW Organics, and was out of there almost as quickly as I got in. We made it to Clintonville by 9:15. My first stop was to 2 Silos, where I had to fight my way through the line waiting for strawberries from the vendor set up right next to Denise. They sold out, to much disappointment, within 5 minutes or so. In addition to my weekly 2 dozen eggs, she also set aside some guinea hen eggs and some partridge eggs for me. Stay tuned for a post sometime soon doing a tasting of the different types of eggs.

Of course, had to pick up more chive blossoms this week. Still not sure what to do with these yet, considering I’ve already made chive blossom vinegar. Maybe some chive blossom compound butter? We’ll see….

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And Just This Farm had some green garlic, which I didn’t pick up but should have.

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Where did you go and what did you get this week?

4 Responses to “Farm Fresh and Local Produce - 05/31/08”

  1. OhioMom Says:

    I am still so jealous that you are getting strawberries before us, there was some more rhubarb last Saturday at the market, but I missed out …. we do have a new vendor, Lake Erie Creamery, a local Cleveland artisan and her goat cheese is wonderful. Actually we have 2 new vendors, Herban Ninjas is the second. I just love all the flowers and spring veggies. Soon soon soon we will have strawberries :)

  2. Anne Says:

    We hit the “big three” markets as well, and had many of the same purchases as you. I did get some of the green garlic, which has graced almost every meal this week. Tonight it may join the mushrooms and asparagus in a risotto.

    We fought our way through the strawberry crowd near 2 Silos for some bread and donuts. I wish I’d got some strawberries - I’ve been trying to taste test the ones from each vendor. So far Bird’s Haven at Westerville are my favorite.

  3. Alan Woods Says:

    If you hit the Clintonville Farmers’ Market tomorrow at or after 9:30, stop by and say hello at the organizer tent on the corner of Dunedin and High; I’ll be there with produce bags from the Clintonville Community Market and other goodies–

    Alan

  4. Kathleen Says:

    http://www.yougrowgirl.com/thedirt/2008/06/09/an-edible-bouquet-chive-blossoms/

    I came upon this post regarding chive blossoms. If you have a whole bunch, you could make yourself an edible bouquet!

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