First Look: Farmers Market Preview

The days are warming up and your tongue is craving the sweet strawberries and juicy peaches of spring. Even with the occasional bright sunny day, it’s still just a bit too early for fruit, but the farmers markets are starting to bustle. This Sunday, the Dupont Market was alive with bustle, and lucky for the home cook, springtime is just around the corner.

I have to say, I’m a bit of a farmers market snob. Having spent the last three years shopping at the best markets in Los Angles, it’s hard not to be. But inspiration from this week’s Washington Post Food Section spotlight on farmers markets had me yearning for a trip to the market.

While April is still a bit too early for East coast produce, the Dupont Market was alive with farm fresh eggs from Smith Meadows Farm, Pink Lady apples from Quaker Valley Orchards, and bright green butter lettuce from Endless Summer Harvest. Local artists entertained with folk music and customers cooled off with a sweet bite of Dolcezza’s gelato. While the market was sparse on the produce end, shoppers happily purchased artisan bread from the Atwater Bakery stall, organic shitake, trumpet, and oyster mushrooms from Mother Earth Organic Mushrooms, and grass-fed cows milk from Clear Spring Creamery. As the weather continues to warm up, more produce will appear each week. With so much inspiration straight from the markets, this spring give your recipes a new look with products straight from the farm.