The Beauty of Local Produce

We are huge fan of farmers markets. And the fact that they’re full of fresh vegetables, fruit, herbs and plants isn’t even the main reason. The best markets are great places to hang out and socialize with friends and neighbors, and to catch up on local news. Most of them take place on weekends, so you’ll have a bit more time to hang out.Still, an important draw is the absolute abundance of great local fruits and vegetables. This morning, we went to the market in its home town and was dumbfounded by the sights and smells. Huge piles of sweet corn; tomatoes in too many varieties to list but imagine beefsteaks, heirlooms, cherry, plum and romas; basil, thyme, parsley, dill and huge sticks of rosemary that drew us to a local chef who was using the aromatic herb to infuse olive oils; onions; melons huge and sweet and small and sweet; blueberries, apricots and peaches, all grown within 25 miles of the suburb we live in; lettuces; spinach; broccoli and cauliflower; eggplant; grapes.

There were also breads and cookies, but we skipped them and bought two heaping bags of vegetables.

We thought about Mom, and how proud she’d be about our vegetable consumption. Proud and surprised.

Eat your vegetables. There’s never a better time of year to jump in, feel full and nourish yourself, body and soul.