For the benefit of new readers: On Saturdays, I have a "Local Saturday" feature; Sundays "Civil War Sunday" (about the United States Civil War and its immediate aftermath), and Wednesdays "Spring Things". I am thinking about participating in the "Throwback Thursday" meme, but haven't made up my mind yet.
For today's Local Saturday, I am celebrating the return of the outdoor farmers market season in upstate New York by today's visit to the farmer's market in Ithaca, New York.
Ithaca is the home of both Ithaca College and Cornell University. Interest in "ethnic" and organic food is high. Unlike some farmers markets in this area, the Ithaca Saturday/Sunday market at Steamboat Landing requires producers to grow their offerings within 30 miles of the market.
Today, we purchased some Senposai Japanese greens. We love these, and we can not get these where we live, a bit more than an hour's drive from Ithaca.
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| Ramps are in top of photo |
We also purchased a bunch of ramps, a wild plant which we would like to try to cultivate in our shady back yard.We wonder if the harvesting of ramps, almost all of which are obtained from the wild, is endangering the plants or not.
Red mustard greens and spring greens.
The market also had radishes and some beets (which I suspect were from last year). After our hard winter, we are so thrilled to have our farmers markets again.
Happiness is a warm green. Hopefully, our community garden plots will be ready soon. We are ready to plant. More on that Tuesday.
Do you have a local farmers market? Is it your growing season yet?
What a neat idea. I have several markets within shouting distance and of course, the large Eastern Market in downtown Detroit. Never thought of blogging about them.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics - makes me want to make a big salad! I have to check and see if one of local growers has their farm stand up yet. They are conveniently located on the way to the grocery store I go to, so I'm looking forward to stopping by as soon as they are open.
ReplyDeleteOne of the sad facts of my life in this part of France is that I don't get organized to go to our farmers' markets. They are in Rodez three times a week, but Wednesday morning I work and Saturday morning, I am usually feeling too wiped out from work to head into town. There is a small one on Friday evening and now that days are longer and the weather is nicer, I should try to get there.
ReplyDeleteI make up for this, though, by buying a lot of local food through various other outlets as well as a "click and collect" system that allows me to buy local, organic products that are delivered once a week to a pick-up outlet. I haven't set foot in a large supermarket since December, actually, although my husband does go occasionally to pick up a few items.
We do not have any local farmers market here as yet. It would be so good and healthy to have such fresh greens.
ReplyDeleteThose greens look fantastic. I haven't heard of ramps or Japanese senposai but I'd love to try them. We can't get out much any more, but the nearest farmer's market is about half an hour's drive away. A few years back when we were still working, we could afford to have local produce delivered to our door every week by a local scheme.
ReplyDeleteLuckily for me - UK has lots of markets most of them within the city and I know that my American friends love visiting them. Yesterday, I went to the farmers market where they sell lots of plants, food and even fish and meat. People flock to the market as all the produce is home grown.
ReplyDeleteI haven't yet been to our local farmer market yet. I sure love greens and actual my mustard greens are up now.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on
My local growing season has started. It is time to get the plants and seeds in the ground if it hasn't happened yet.
ReplyDeleteI love local farmers markets. I believe in supporting the local farmer and gardener.