Shopping for fresh, local food for your holiday picnic, party, or a quiet dinner at home for July 4th can start at your local farmers' market. By now, most summer markets in the area are open or about to open. Here is our list of opening dates and schedules for the major markets around the center of Boston.
Beyond Burgers
We've been reporting on seafood options at the markets this season. You'll find stands from Red's Best, C & C Lobsters, Global Seafood, and Cape Cod Fish Share at markets around the area.
For a small feast, you might consider making Farmers' Market Lobster Rolls. Our recipe is at that link.
And, if you make it ahead, you might include a bit of the South in your Boston celebration with some pulled pork or chili with full-flavored pork from Stillman's. Or, if you're making burgers, grill some great lamb burgers with their ground lamb as a flavor option.
The Word from the Farms and Markets
Lily Carone from Atlas Farm says, "The strawberry picking will be done after the weekend - possibly not making another appearance at Copley on Tuesday. But blueberries from River Valley Farm are very close behind! (Maybe in time for the 4th!)" and "Tender, sweet broccoli is on the stand now - along with the different varieties of beets & carrots! It's been a long wait, and the carrots are sweeter than I remembered!"
Ben Sommer, Copley Square Farmers' Market Manager said, " This past week at the market I spied the first glimpse of summer squash, hiding out amongst the luscious greens, adding a splash of yellow to the farmer's display. That burst of yellow is a sign of summer and a hopeful symbol for the sun, which has been sorely missed these past few weeks."
Ben added, "Another sign of summer is over at Hamilton's Orchard's tent, where you can grab an ice cool lemonade and lay on the grass with other sunbathers in the heart of the city. The farmers have a practice of adding some fresh strawberries to these lemonades and shaking them up to get that added sweetness and flavor."
In Season, Right Now!
Eggs, meat, and fish are always in-season and available at more markets.
We also saw: tatsoi, cut herbs (cilantro, parsley, basil, and dill), hakurei turnips, fennel, broccoli, mushrooms, garlic scrapes, salad mix, lettuce, arugula, radishes, beets, scallions, kolrabi, bok choi, chard, small onions with green tops, snap peas, sweet peas, herbs, hot house tomatoes, and honey.
Get Some Before It's Gone!
Marshall's farm tweeted, "The last of our own Asparagus so make sure you get your fill."
Strawberries! Enjoy them now this could be the final week for some farms.
And, the rhubarb to match with the strawberries will soon disappear.
Coming Soon!
Blueberries and early raspberries – Peter Ward, Market Manager at Central Square, Cambridge said, he expected to see some raspberries (variety Prelude) this week.
And, as we reported last week, Barbara Hamilton from Hamilton Orchards hoped to have ripe berries around the Fourth of July.
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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino
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