At The Farmer's Market

It's Saturday afternoon and I've missed the Saturday Farmer's Market at City Island again. It's a shame too because I'm sure I missed fresh blueberries from Gainesville. Maybe Q still has strawberries. If I'd gotten there before nine, the little organic farm from Holly Hill might still have organic tomatoes, peppers, and onions. The guys from Samsula would have huge bundles of collards or mustard greens for $2. Their lettuce is always fluffy and damp and zucchini firm and dark green. In the summer, they have those beautiful pale yellow pattypan squash.

All this is from local farmers, some of it is organic, but all of it is fresh and usually pretty cheap. But you have to ask. Unlike California, where only farmer's or their employees may sell direct to consumers at markets, anyone can set up a table at a Florida farmers market. Many of the vendors at the City Island market are really wholesalers. They sell the same produce wrapped in plastic shipped from all over the world that you are likely to see at your local supermarket. If you ask them where their eggplant or bell peppers or potatoes or plums come from, they may not know, but they really don't care. They couldn't be bothered. But sometimes, you'll be surprised to learn that the mangos come from south Florida. The watermelon from central Florida, and the arugula from Pierson, Florida. Stock up on homemade jams and jellies made right here in Volusia County.

Know what's in season in your area and region. Check out this link from Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the interactive peak season map from Epicurious.com. In the summer, the best peaches Q sells come from South Carolina, not from Georgia. The strawberries from central Florida are best in February and March and if you are very lucky into April. The blueberries are here for only a few short weeks in May and June. Look for Okra from Gainesville (the same couple sells this who sells the juiciest, sweetest blueberries) in the summer. Wait until August for the ripest cantaloupe and buy them cheap even if they are about to rot. Cut them up right away for smoothies or snacking while you clean and cook your farmer's market haul. In the winter, buy oranges, grapefruit, and sometimes beets.

Carry your own basket and cloth bags. Offer to return and reuse plastic or cardboard containers. Be firm, but fun. Q, for example, does not want to release his perfect peaches to just any old basket. He'd rather wrap them in a plastic bag for you, but if you smile sweetly, he'll relent and might even carry your haul to the car.

For recipes, my favorite market book is The Santa Monica Farmer's Market Cookbook. Although the Santa Monica Farmer's Market is more diverse than our local market, Amelia Saltsman always offers me ideas and flavor combinations that bring out the best in fresh produce with eating seasonally in mind.

Locations

For strawberries, peaches, and cantaloupes, Qs stall is the first on the row furthest east, closest to the courthouse.

A nice family from Gainesville sells blueberries, okra, brussel sprouts, broccoli, onions, sweet potatoes, homemade tarts, and BB-Q from a tiny little table a few south of Q in the same row and on the opposite.

Walk around the corner to the last row, the row closest to Beach Street and in the last stall closest to the library, you will find local farmer's from Holly Hill. They sell out early so get there before 9.

Turn around and you'll be looking at another tiny table laden with jams, jellies, and eggs. Buy one of each.