Let's Make October a Perfect 10
Not too warm, not too cold makes a vivid transition season at markets
Pumpkins with a Side of Corn
This is what it looked like at the stand of Nichols Farm and Orchard (Marengo, Illinois) at Green City Market in Chicago’s Lincoln Park Saturday. September ended with above-average temperatures, typical of a month that was neither too hot nor too cold. So you have sweet corn hanging on into October, while the pumpkins pile up.
More below, but please visit our new Local Food Forum website. I’m sure there’s room for improvement and I’d welcome your feedback. And please tell your friends!
There is just a touch of fall color in the trees.
We are definitely leaning into fall, though. Mick Klug Farm (St. Joseph, Michigan) has a variety of delicious grapes (which are also popular with our local bees).
Nichols is the biggest diversified produce farm in our region, and they also have the widest variety of apples, many of them heirlooms.
The sign “Get This Apple” caught my attention. They weren’t lying about this Rosalee apple, a hybrid of Honeycrisp and Fuji.
More splashy fall color at the stand of Iron Creek Farm (La Porte, Indiana).
My market haul (from right): Jupiter grapes from Mick Klug Farm; SunGold cherry tomatoes and carrots from Tomato Mountain (Brooklyn, Wisconsin); zucchini, Empire apples and Rosalee apples from Nichols; apple cider from Ellis Family Farms (Benton Harbor, Michigan); lettuce from Wholesome Harvest Farm (Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin); and two peppers — shishito and nadapeno — from Froggy Meadow Farm (Beloit, Wisconsin).
Wait, nadapeno? Yep, it’s a heatless variation of the spicy jalapeno. Says Gurney Seed & Nursery:
Hot peppers without the heat are the latest gardening rage, and Nadapeno Hybrid Pepper is one of our favorites. The 3-in. fruits offer the great jalapeno flavor without the heat. They're great for adding flavor to fresh, mild salsas, no-alarm chili and other recipes-or just snacking on fresh right from the garden. The deep green fruits ripen to a brilliant fire engine red. Because they don't have the heat of typical jalapeno peppers, no gloves are needed for chopping, slicing or pickling.
They’re currently in the fridge… will let you know.
The week’s regional farmers market schedule follows. It’s already a little trimmed down from an early clutch of season closures, and it’s going to accelerate quickly through the end of the month. Don’t miss your opportunity to enjoy the bounty of the 2023 outdoor market season.
This Week’s Regional Farmers Market Schedule
Fired up to support local farmers? Here’s the easiest way — visit one (or more) of the regional farmers markets in this week’s schedule.