Life is Just a Bowl of These
Sweet cherries, English peas lead the parade of new seasonal crops
Life is Just a Bowl of These
Yes, sweet cherries are back. Mick Klug Farm (St. Joseph, Michigan) tipped this off in their email newsletter yesterday, so I made a beeline when I got to Green City Market Lincoln Park early this morning. They also were the only cherry vendor today but more will surely be coming soon.
The other big arrival (to me, at least) are this season’s peas in various forms: sugar snap peas, shelled peas, and English shelling peas like these from Nichols Farm and Orchard (Marengo, Illinois), which I purchased.
Because of my proclivity to cook from scratch and prep almost everything by hand, we have a little joke around the house that I’m part food writer and part Amish hausfrau. Peas are among Barb’s favorite vegetables, so I’ve offered to include her in on shelling the peas I bought.
Nichols also had a big ol’ pile of broccoli and the first hint that the always-abundant summer squash season is nigh.
Meanwhile, Iron Creek Farm (La Porte, Indiana) had lots of heirloom and cherry tomatoes, Frillman Farms (Prairie View, Illinois and Berrien Springs, Michigan) had a riot of greens, and Smits Farm (Chicago Heights, Illinois) had bushy piles of herbs. Anyone suddenly have a hankering for a big salad?
My June 18 Green City haul from left: bagels from Flat & Point (Chicago); garlic scapes from Bushel and Peck’s (Beloit, Wisconsin); oregano from Smits Farm; asparagus from Mick Klug Farm (they say it’s their last of the season); ginormous radishes from Frillman Farms; heirloom and cherry tomatoes from Iron Creek Farm; Japanese eggplant, also a season first, from Froggy Meadow Farm (Beloit); white mushrooms from River Valley Ranch (Burlington, Wisconsin); some of those English peas from Nichols; and cherries and strawberries from Mick Klug Farm.
Finally, for you Dogs of the Farmers Market fans, here are a couple of cuties:
I’m sending this newsletter out before 10 and most of our region’s farmers markets are open until 1. And it is seriously one of the most beautiful June days in Chicago history. So get out there and buy some delicious local food.
Welcome, you new crops!