Farmers' Markets, Farm Stands, CSAs etc. Mid-Late June

[BostonZest]

Looks like we can go to slightly longer time periods now.

Brookline opens this week. I've had my email from Cindy the fish lady and look forward to seeing her and the rest of the great vendors in Brookline on Thursday.

What else is going on this week in the land of fresh & local.

Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/

[MargeLundgren]

Andover has a great Farmer's Market on Main St./Rt. 28 at the Historical Society, every Saturday AM during the summer...check it out! Local, fresh produce, home made soaps, other products...

[Aromatherapy]

Sour cherries at Union this morning, behind the pie stand. Only a few quarts. $7.

[BostonZest]

Hamilton has a sign on some "tart" cherries at Copley.

[gimlis1mum]

arrrrgh....we went to Winchester!

[bella_sarda]

I snagged one of those quarts of sour cherries! They were amazing. I stewed them (water, sugar, Cointreau) and used as a topping for vanilla ice cream. Can't stop thinking about them.

[gardengal32]

On Saturday, June 26, the Maynard Community Farmers’ Market season begins and will run Saturdays, 9 a.m. -1 p.m., rain or shine, through October 2 in the Main Street parking lot at Clock Tower Place (near intersection of Sudbury Street) in Maynard.
This year's vendor offerings include:
• Produce and cut flowers: Applefield Farm, Stow; Brigham Farm, Concord; and Millbrook Farm, Concord
• Beef, pork, lamb, chicken, cheese, and eggs: Balance Rock Farm, Berlin
• Coffee, beans, & breads/croissant from B&R Artisan Breads: Karma Coffee Roasters, Sudbury
• Cookies: Hill Street Baked Goods, Concord
• Breads and other baked goods: Big Sky Bakery, Newton
• Freshly dug perennials: Rob’s Perennials, Littleton
• Cut oriental lilies: Stow Greenhouses, Stow

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Karma Coffee
100 Boston Post Rd, Sudbury, MA 01776

[Ladycale]

Another great week for Luna Farm. This week (6/22) the share was:

1 quart of cherries
Pick of chard or kale
Pick of Broccoli Rabe or Mustard Greens
Collards
Fresh Herbs (Basil, oregano, and thyme maybe)?
Lettuce
Pick of shelling, snap, or snow peas
Radishes
2 bunches of spinach
4 summer squash of various types
Squash blossoms
Broccoli

[Spenbald]

First blueberries of the season spotted at Central Sq. today at Kimball's. They had those, raspberries, cherries, AND still some strawberries. Snatched some lovely broccoli rabe from either Dick's or Parker (can't remember, but saw the word Lunenburg on the truck). Still scapes and green garlic around.

[kobuta]

There was an elderly gentleman who sold fresh blueberries by the bucket last year at Central Sq. They were fabulous - so sweet and plump! I'm waiting for him to show up (he's there but selling regular veggies only).

[BostonZest]

I could be talked into making blueberry muffins IF I had really great blueberries.I guess Central Square or Kimball's will have to be on my list of target places soon.

Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/

[liamsaunt]

I went to Copley on Friday and got shelling peas, cilantro, arugula, and baby bok choy from Siena. A loaf of sourdough from Iggys, and from Atlas some of their hothouse tomatoes, basil, and mixed salad greens. One of the stands--maybe Stillmans--had summer squash and zucchini. I am hoping the squash blossoms come in soon.

[Ladycale]

It should be soon. My CSA (Luna Farm) distribution today is supposed to have some.

[Gio]

From Connors Farm on Saturday last it was: Boston, red leaf and green leaf lettuce; beets and beet greens; snow peas and shell peas; zucchini; cilantro; arugula; rhubarb; and a sage plant. Could have had more strawberries but DH didn't feel like picking... I have to say we still had some strawberries and radishes left over from last week and they were still viable at the end of the week. Used them up for Friday's dinner and dessert.

[ozinboz]

Went to Copley on Friday (18 June). Got some really nice carrots and easter-egg radishes from Siena farm. But highlight for me was Cooks farm orchard's (wild) blueberry pie. Oh I've been craving me some pie!

[rozziegirl]

1/2 share from Allandale this week: spring garlic, scallions, huge head of red leaf lettuce, fennel, kale, swiss chard.

[cassoulady]

Red Fire Farm included spinach, green leaf lettuce, beautiful kohlrabi, garlic scapes, strawberries, big beets, kale and carrots
So far its been great.

[gimlis1mum]

Has anyone seen sour cherries at a farmer's market? The ones from my little tree have been wonderful, but just aren't enough - I need MORE.

[bella_sarda]

I spotted them *one day* only at the Kimball Fruit Farm stand at Dewey Square market (South Station). Ever since, I've been asking when they're going to have them again, and the guy promised to set some aside for me, but they haven't had them again since. Good luck.

[gimlis1mum]

Thanks for the reply - I suspect that it is just too late, my tree is done. So many things are ripening early this year. But if you spot them again, please let me know (after you've gotten your fill, of course!) and I will thow the kids in the car and head over to Dewey Square.

[MichaelB]

In past years I've seen them at the Cook's Orchard stand - they're at Copley, Brookline, and several other markets. But you have to hit it just right - they usually have them for just a week or two and they often don't bring many to the market so you have to get there early. but they're great when they have them.

There's also a farm or two in New York that sends sour cherries our way - usually a little later in the season. I've found them at Stop & Shop (best prices) and also at Whole Foods and Wilson's Farm. Not quite as local, of course, but if you get a fresh shipment, they're superb cherries - as good as or better than the local ones. But of course sour cherries deteriorate very quickly so if they've been sitting out several days they tend to look a little sad. I've found Stop&Shop produce folks to be very helpful over the phone in checking if they've arrived yet.

[chowmel]

Not a farmers market, but Parlee Farms in Tyngsboro has their own cherries. Haven't been myself, saw it in their email.

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Parlee Farm
95 Farwell Rd, Tyngsboro, MA

[fesenjan]

Salem Farmers Market opens tomorrow. Green Meadows CSA in Hamilton was supposed to start this week, but had so much produce ready they emailed members and let us come in the past 2 weeks for bonus distributions. Hoping this bodes well for the year!

[Ladycale]

Another great pickup this week (June 15th) for Luna Farm. This week the share was

1 quart of strawberries
1 pint of cherries
Beets
Bok Choi (red and green)
Choice of Mustard greend, broccoli rabe, or tatsoi
Kale
Garlic Scapes
2 heads of lettuce
Choice of snap peas, shelling peas, or snow peapods
Choice of radish or turnips
Scallions
Spinach

I had a great salad tonight with the lettuce and radishes

[Bob Dobalina]

Wow...cherries - nice!

Waltham Fields Community Farm had a "pick seven" for its first week (June 6-12)

3 heads of lettuce (as one)
Scapes
Green onions
Tatsoi
Rainbow swiss chard
Napa cabbage
Spinach (one pound)
Bok Choy

Pick your own:
Sugar snaps (pint?)
Snow peapods (pint?)
Strawberries - a couple berries to taste

[gansu girl]

My Picadilly share from last week (first one) was great: bok choy, cilantro, pea tendrils, romaine & red leaf lettuce, salad turnips, red radishes & red Russian kale - all beautiful and tasty too! Next one's tomorrow and I'm looking forward to it already . . . .

GG
http://www.semisweetonline.com

[marcreichman]

Was at copley about 45 mins ago. It was a mob scene. Veggies (real veggies!) abound, though. I saw all kinds of beets, some early cabbages, a bunch of leaves, garlic scapes, some squashes, and the usual assortment of baked goods.

It seems that the lunchiness of things is finally starting to settle in after a few meh weeks. I saw iggy's had their sandwich sign up with decent stock finally, and a few other people offering sandwiches. It was really crazy though. Next time I'm bringing a non-frozen lunch so I can eat it out there!

[cassoulady]

RedFire pick up last week included two heads of green leaf lettuce, a huge bag of mixed greens, a huge bag of spinach, little white turnips, garlic scapes, bok choy, strawberries. All wonderful.

[Gio]

First pick-up at Connors Farms on Saturday was 2 Romaine, 2 Boston Lettuce, mesclun including arugula, 3 bunches radishes of diffrent varieties, 2 quarts strawberries, potted chives plant. 6-pak of tomato plants. Everything looked like it had just been picked and as we work our way through it tastes wonderful. Three days later and I have to scramble to get those plants into the garden.

[BostonZest]

And, Just had a e-newsletter from the Harvard University market and they are opening tomorrow.
http://www.dining.harvard.edu/flp/ag_market.html

Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/

[Allstonian]

And the affiliated Allston market opens Friday.

[BostonZest]

Thanks Allstonian, I missed that one. I'll have to get over there and check that one out.

Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/

[nonaggie]

I stopped by, and the market was in full swing. 3 or 4 stands selling a good variety of produce (peas, including sugar snaps -- my favorite!, salad greens, kohlrabi, turnip, beets, garlic scapes, etc.). Plenty of potted plants (mostly herbs, but there were some small tomato and pepper plants); I got a chocolate mint and am eager to see if it really has a chocolate taste. There was also a stand selling olive oils and vinegars (there were people sampling, but I didn't try any), and the usual bakeries.

[BostonZest]

We visited the Harvard U market too. It really does have a nice vibe. My husband commented on the fact that it is in a park setting and quieter than most of the markets with traffic buzzing around them.

We love them all but do enjoy this one. They have added a couple of vendors.
Ward's had beautiful currents and the cheese chive scones from Mariposa are a special treat.

Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/

[MichaelB]

I agree - that is an especially nice market. I got some strawberries from Ward's - the best by far that I've found so far this season; some excellent snap peas from Silverbrook (not *quite* as sweet as the ones I got friday from Siena farms at Copley - their produce is just stunning; but vastly better than the starchy and old-tasting English peas that Kimball sold me on monday; end of pea comparison); and some very good yogurt from Narragansett Creamery, which is one of the new vendors that Penny mentions above. They were also giving out samples of their cheeses and spreads. One note: the farmer who had pork and beef as a sideline the last few years - I've forgotten his name - smaller stand, with very nice produce, next to Mariposa - isn't raising any this year, which is too bad. He does have some (frozen) beef cuts from last year but said it just wasn't practical for him this year. Still has eggs though.

[BackBayGirl]

I love the Harvard U. Market. I was there last week and got the nicest and tastiest strawberries from Ward's. I also got raspberries and tomatoes from Lanni Orchards and some lettuce from another vendor, but I forget which one. It was a beautiful head of organic Boston lettuce and man, was it good! The Harvard U. Market definitely has a great vibe. I like that there are tables nearby you can sit down at and the variety of vendors is wonderful. This will be a regular Tuesday stop all season long for me. I'm so lucky to work at Harvard myself!!

[cods]

Waltham Farmers Market had it's first day this past Sat., produce selection was a little thin, but what I did see looked pretty good and I got some nice strawberries and arugula. Seemed like a decent turnout early, also had a nice chat with the "pork guy" from http://www.burnshirtvalleyfarm.com/.

[y2000k]

I too was at the Waltham Farmers Market this past Sat. Only 1 stall selling a variety of produce (lettuce, herbs, radishes, strawberries, bok choy etc), the rest are all selling just strawberries & potted herbs.

Bought a pretzel-baguette from SwissBakers. Are they new this year? Love the bread!