There’s something strangely beautiful about produce for sale in the open air.
Maybe it’s the riot of colors or the soothing rhythm of all those similar shapes piled high in a basket.
Or maybe it’s the warm, rich smell of the earth everything just came from.
Whatever it is, a trip to a Farmers Market is a pretty sensual experience.
Early September is the produce sweet spot — there’s still tons of beautiful, fresh food in the markets and it’s cool enough outside that you might actually want to turn on the stove and cook.
If you’re in the mood for something incredibly fresh this week, here’s what’s in season in the upper Midwest.
Buy Right Now:
Potatoes
Melons
Tomatoes
Corn
Zucchini
Summer Squash
Onions
Buy Now Through October:
Pumpkins
Winter Squash
Spinach
Broccoli
(Dedicated gardeners often get in a second planting of spinach and broccoli, which is perfect timing for fall)
If you happen to be in the Fargo-Moorhead area, here are a couple of places I usually check out.
FM Farmers Market 349 East Main Avenue in West Fargo Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday: noon-6 p.m.
Dike East Park 2nd Street, south of Main Avenue in Fargo M, W, F: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. – Hosted by Down by the Dike Tu, Th, Sa: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Hosted by the Great Plains Producer Association’s Community Farmers Market (Holy…if you know of a market with a longer name than that one, tell me – I’m curious and kind of scared to hear it.)
I’m obsessed with new potatoes at the moment (ideally roasted with olive oil, salt, pepper and rosemary…I’m an enthusiastic, but not terribly ambitious cook), so I’ll probably be making a trip back this week to buy more while I still can.
What are you cooking? What’s your favorite thing to buy at the Farmers Market? What’s your favorite farmers market?
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