JFX farmers' market report
I didn't get my usual Waverly market report this weekend, so here's one from the Sunday JFX market.
My husband and daughter headed there this morning while my son and I watered the garden and played Monopoly.
They came home with some good-looking bacon and spareribs from Truck Patch Farms, a bunch of red-skinned potatoes, fantastic cherries and strawberries that were, well, kinda blah.
I know local strawberry season is winding down, but I've had more than one underwhelming basket from the farmers' market this year.
The ones my husband and daughter brought home were red to the center and all that. And the first one I bit into was wonderfully sweet. But the rest I tried just didn't have much flavor, even when I sprinkled on some sugar.
Anybody know if it was it a bad year for strawberries? Or have I just been buying from the wrong farmers?
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Comments
Back in 2005 I bought some strawberries from a guy just north of I-70 in Rte. 32 and they were wonderful. Since then I have been underwhelmed by Maryland strawberries.
Posted by: Elite Elephant Lover | June 13, 2010 1:13 PM
My husband was talking about the strawberries just this morning. I think it's fair to say that they have been highly variable this year. (I couldn't venture an opinion since I am allergic to them ...)
Posted by: Dahlink | June 13, 2010 2:19 PM
This has been a really, really good year for strawberries.. unfortunately youre not getting from the right people. Agriberry have been good, and I always like the people sort of in the middle near the green post. I also get berries from Burtons farm via Eddies in Mt Vernon.
I went today and I got lots of peas (next week might be the last week so says signage), sour cherries from agriberry (theyre just starting to ripen now), and squash blossoms from the aforementioned middle-of-the-jfx-I-cant-explain-better.
Posted by: turkeybone | June 13, 2010 3:55 PM
Down here in Sussex County, DE, I think the strawberries are done. I get them right from the farmer every couple of days= and they have been good, not great....and not all that sweet.
Posted by: joann | June 13, 2010 7:16 PM
Down here in Sussex County, DE, I think the strawberries are done. I get them right from the farmer every couple of days= and they have been good, not great....and not all that sweet.
Posted by: JoAnn | June 13, 2010 7:17 PM
Try this- cut up your strawberries and put them in a bowl with some decent balsamic vinegar. The tart vinegar will enhance the sweetness in the strawberries. Top with some fresh whipped cream and you will be impressed.
Thanks, Bob. I'll give that a try. LV
Posted by: Bob Kean | June 13, 2010 9:21 PM
Last week I bought beautiful, tasty berries at Weber's farm in Parkville. The week before, I took a chance and bought a quart of excellent berries from a produce truck that parks on Putty Hill behind the Pleasant Plains Elementary playing field. I'm hoping to find a "last gasp" at the Lauraville Farmer's Market on Tuesday. I must be VERY lucky, because all the strawberries I've found have been wonderful!
Posted by: Dottie | June 14, 2010 12:10 AM
I must be lucky, too, because the strawberries I've had this year have been nothing short of delicious. Bright red and so sweet.
Posted by: Nik | June 14, 2010 9:10 AM
Didn't see any strawberries at Waverly this weekend but I got some Queen Anne cherries which are HIGHLY nommable! Wish I'd gotten a 2nd box because the ones I got are going to be gone today.
Posted by: lisah | June 14, 2010 10:28 AM