It's one of the tenets of the green movement: buy local. And Girlawhirl tries, but she's often waylaid by the “I'll-just-run-in-and-pick-up-dinner” timing and the bounty of distracting goodies available at the over-the-top mega health food store in her neighborhood. But on the weekends, she sashays right on by the mega-store – cloth bags in hand – and hits the farmers' market…
And this time of year there's so much to choose from! Berries of all kinds are in season – and the just picked smell surrounding the stalls beats shopping in the store by a mile. When the strawberries are perfect – so perfect that she knows they'll only be around for a few more weeks – she buys an extra quart or two, hulls them, and throws them in the freezer knowing she'll be having strawberry smoothies for months to come.
There are other summertime spectaculars at her market. Here's what's in season now:
Fruits: early varieties of apples, apricots, all kinds of berries, figs, mangos, melons, nectarines, papaya, passion fruit, pineapple, peaches, plums and watermelon.
Vegetables: avocados, beets, carrots, celery, corn, cucumber, eggplant, fennel, leeks, lettuce, okra, onions, potatoes, radishes, shallots, spinach, summer squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini.
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Find a farmers' market near you and more information on fruit and vegetable harvests around the country at farmersmarketonline.com. You can also order products from farmers and craftspeople who participate in farmers' markets all over the country.