Top Ten first-day farmers' market finds
The Baltimore Farmers' Market opens under the JFX Sunday, but don't get too excited.
Most of the local produce we've been longing for all winter isn't ready for picking yet. Red-to-the-center local strawberries won't be here for weeks. Juicy peaches are months away.
Still, no one needs to go home empty handed.
Which brings us to this week's list:
Top Ten first-day farmers' market finds
No. 1: Many Rocks Farm goat meat
While visiting this Washington County farm last week, I bought a pound of spicy Italian goat sausage. It was delicious browned in a pan and served over a bed of Swiss chard, which I'd sauteed with a little butter and sprinkled with Parmesan. The best part: my family had no clue it was goat.
No. 2: Asparagus
It's one of the few local crops that's ready to go -- the only one Pahl's Farm of Pikesville will have Sunday. "Next thing we'll have is strawberries," Jennifer Pahl tells me. Look for those the end of May or early June.
No. 3: Lettuce
Though it's still be too early for most farmers, those with "high tunnel" greenhouses will have lettuce, Pahl tells me. See ya later, slimy, bagged supermarket mesclun!No. 4: Falafel
Don's miss the wrap sandwiches from the falafel guy's booth. Last time I had one, he put grated beets and local strawberries inside. Yum! I assume Sunday's sandwiches will be berry-free, but I'm sure they'll still be great.
No. 5: Bicycle-powered smoothies
I haven't had the chance yet to sample a drink from Wheely Good Smoothies, a new vendor at the downtown market, but I love the concept of making smoothies in a blender powered by a bicycle. Do the pedaling yourself and save 50 cents.
No. 6: Tomato, eggplant and cucumber plants
Really, it's too early to put them in the ground, Tom Albright of Albright Farms tells me. But he'll have the plants there for sale anyway for the eager beavers who just can't wait. I'm one of them. "People want to buy it," he said. "You have it there and you give them a warning." He suggests putting baskets or milk jugs over the plants until the weather really warms up.
No. 7: Chicken
Albright Farms will sell pasture-raised birds through a chicken co-op for the first time this year. Details are kind of complicated, but here's the gist: customers who commit to buying 12 chickens over six months will get a 10 percent off Albright's retail price of $3.75 a pound. Even with the discount, it's not exactly a steal by supermarket standards. But these are pastured birds, raised in Baltimore County without antibiotics or added hormones.
No. 8: Truck Patch Farms scrapple
A co-worker tells me the pork from this Carroll County farm is great.No. 9: Honey
We like to buy it in great, big jars and use it with abandon -- baked in homemade bread, drizzled on homemade ricotta, mixed in homemade ice cream, etc., etc., etc.
No. 10: Milk in glass bottles
Just make sure you make the South Mountain Creamery stand your last stop, so you don't have to lug those bottles all around the market.
Also see: The Farmers' Market Challenge and Baltimore-area farmers' markets
Many Rocks Farm goat sausage. Photo by math-hubby
Comments
Long-suffering husband went to Waverly this weekend and came home with three bunches of asparagus, NC strawberries, and a big bag of sorrel. We went to Wegman's and picked up some lovely wild-caught halibut. I made a sauce from the sorrel and creme fraiche, and we grilled the fish and asparagus. Divine!
But scrapple? Gack!
Posted by: Dahlink | April 27, 2010 6:47 AM
We love the Truck Patch meat (their thick cut bacon is the best!) and my husband loves scrapple. Should I break my no scrapple in the house rule to celebrate the opening of the market? Hmm...
I really just can't wait for milk from South Mountain again.
Posted by: Beth | April 27, 2010 7:31 AM
No matter what you buy @ THE JFX Market it's an experience. Walk around, buy/talk to the local farmers and graze the vendor booths. The JFX Sunday is a wonderful experience for locals and visitors. It has something for everyone.
See ya @ 7:30!
Posted by: Alan M - Regi's | April 27, 2010 12:56 PM
Dahlink, it would be helpful if you post the meal plans ahead of time and let us know what time we should be there. That sounds awesome.
Posted by: Spoons | April 27, 2010 3:34 PM
Sorry, Spoons--that was more or less a spontaneous collaboration between my husband and myself! But I'll pass along the comment.
Posted by: Dahlink | April 27, 2010 4:10 PM
Is there any farmer's market, or other market, where I could get some ramps now?
Posted by: joanie | April 27, 2010 6:48 PM
Well Dahlink, I think the world is ready for a collaborative local foods home dining enterprise. Your house sounds like a great place to start! We buy and bring the ingredients we are told by the home chefs, our own plate, knife, fork and spoon and we'll wash the pots and pans for you in thanks for whipping up a fantastic meal. (Woe! are those of us with no cooking talent.)
Posted by: Spoons | April 27, 2010 7:26 PM
In the event that people are looking frantically for Truck Patch Farms, please be aware that they are most likely at the "west market," i.e., across the street and a wee bit north of the diner, or Holliday & Pleasant Streets.
Posted by: baltoellen | April 27, 2010 8:37 PM
Looking for ramps. Try Earthy Delights web site out of the Northwest. Hurry because the season it almost over. You will also find many other tasty treats!
Posted by: Alan M - Regi's | April 28, 2010 9:46 AM
I tried googling Earthy Delights and got nothing that indicated a site selling produce. Would you like to give me a URL?
THX
Posted by: joanie | April 28, 2010 7:00 PM
I tried googling Earthy Delights and got nothing that indicated a site selling produce. Would you like to give me a URL?
THX
Posted by: joanie | April 28, 2010 7:02 PM
joanie, a Google search for Earthy Delights brought it up as the first search result. The URL is www.earthy.com (although its location, in Michigan, is hardly what we'd call "out of the Northwest").
Posted by: hmpstd | April 29, 2010 7:48 AM
The mushroom lady at Waverly Market had ramps when I was there two Saturdays ago. I didn't need mushrooms this past week, so I don't know if she still has them. Last year they were available at her stand for several weeks.
Posted by: Claudia | April 29, 2010 12:49 PM
what does one do with ramps? they smell pretty awful....
Posted by: Joyce W. | April 29, 2010 2:18 PM
Chez Panisse puts them on pizza.
Posted by: Elite Elephant Lover | April 29, 2010 3:40 PM
I was googling "Earthy Delights northwest baltimore" - I thought that was the "northwest" to which Alan M. was referring. LOL
Thanks hmpstd
Posted by: joanie | April 29, 2010 10:54 PM
I do not usually have the time to read blogs that are off my main interest. But I ran across this post while looking for articles on cycling. Not quite what I was expecting but overall a pretty organic post. You are making me hungry thanks alot.
Posted by: Bell | October 9, 2010 3:25 PM