Health & Fitness
First Trip to the Kings Park Farmers Market
Here are a few tips to make your trip a success.
My daughter and I ventured out to the first Kings Park Farmers Market this past Sunday. I was impressed to see it well attended so early on a Sunday morning. The farmers were a bit overwhelmed as they were not expecting the large turnout. I heard a farmer on the phone trying to have another truck brought down.
We purchased a variety of lettuces, cucumbers, zucchini, corn, and beets. We then waited on the longest line of all, for pickles! They were fresh and delicious, as was the fresh chocolate croissant.
Here are a few tips for your trip to the market:
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1. Go early
For the best selection, go to the farmers market early. The best goods go first. Popular-but-limited items may even sell out in a few hours. It’s as simple as that.
Find out what's happening in Kings Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
2. Bring "green" bags or a basket
Market vendors offer bags, but they tend to be thin and flimsy plastic ones. Make sure everything gets home from the market without crashing onto the pavement or spilling onto the floor of your car by bringing your own sturdy canvas or nylon bags.
3. Be spontaneous
Don't expect to fulfill your shopping list at the farmers market. However, you need to leave a bit of room for those strawberries you didn't know would be at market so early, or the zucchini blossoms you've never tried before. Trying new things is part of the fun of going to farmers markets!
4. Not the supermarket variety
Think in terms of how food grows and comes to the farmers market without being processed first. Carrots come whole and unpeeled. Beets still have greens (and dirt) attached. Lettuce will be sandy. Learning to handle just-harvested produce can take some getting used to, but the superior flavor is worth the adjustment. Don't forget to clean everything thoroughly before eating.
5. Keep it simple
You’re buying ultra-fresh produce when you shop at the farmers market; let its natural flavor show when you cook it. Keep it simple. You’ll make cooking easier and you’ll be likely to try (and eat) even more local foods from the market next week.
