Monday Morning Market Report
Central Ohio is finally starting to get into the swing of growing. It's interesting to see the difference in availability based upon the location of the farm - Southern Ohio farms have strawberries and peas already, where Northern Ohio farms still have asparagus and a week to go yet for strawberries. It's good to live right in the middle!
My CSA box this week included a quart of strawberries, nice fat green onions, a bag of lettuce mix, radishes, 1/2 dozen eggs (they really are the best eggs), and a green which, I'm ashamed to say, I don't recognize. I was a little jealous to hear Mr. Eigel from Just This Farm was giving garlic scapes in his box this week; guess I'll have to hit him up next week and see if he has any more hiding about. I supplemented my CSA box with a few more radishes and a bag of arugula from Pop and Judy's Farm at the Worthington Farmer's Market (by the way, they carry the absolute best ruby red popcorn), another quart of strawberries (number of slugs found therein while husking: 7 - you gotta love organic) from Crum's Strawberry farm - they always have the biggest line at the market, and some outstanding ribeyes from Up the Lane cattle, who I plan to profile very soon (both also at Worthington Farmer's Market).
I also purchased a second red pear cherry tomato plant, since I accidentally beheaded my other while planting it last week. The folks at Good Start Growers were nice enough to give me some growing advice, and even took a dollar off my plant even though it was my own stupid fault! I chose the larger, already-flowering, instant gratification plant because that's the kind of girl I am.
Even more asparagus was purchased - and consumed, along with these outstanding shitake mushrooms 
from Toby Run farms. I am not kidding you, this is the best shitake I have ever eaten. Husband drizzled it with a little olive oil and salt, and then cooked it, along with sweet onions and asparagus, in a grill basket for dinner last night. I would have taken more pictures if we hadn't been eating at 11pm, in the dark, watching the season finale of the Sopranos. I also bought my first kohlrabi of the year from Toad Hill Farms, which I would turn into pickles if only I could find my Japanese Kitchen book, which seems to be missing in action...
There were a few sweet peas at the market this week, and I know a lot of farms have pick-your-own, which I plan to do later this week. The growing season is rapidly picking up, and I encourage you to get out there, buy some local produce and meat, and talk to some farmers. You won't believe the difference from the stuff purchased at the grocery store, I promise.
On this day last year, we had a very healthy Chicken Salad with Curried Yogurt. Yum!
Sources for this week:
CSA from Elizabeth Telling Farms - sold out, but try again next year, PO box 178 Barnesville, OH 43713; also have a stand at the North Market Farmer's Market.
Toby Run Mushrooms are available at the North Market Farmer's Market, Saturday Mornings
Toad Hill Farms has kohlrabi and all manner of green things at the North Market Farmer's Market
Up the Lane Cattle is sold at the Worthington Farmer's Market on Saturday Mornings, some delivery is available for large orders. 740.892.9026
Crum's Strawberry farms keeps everyone in strawberries in early summer, and again, with smaller berries, during the brief second fall season in September. You can pick your own at their farm in Marion, and they are at the Worthington Farmer's Market every Saturday Morning: 740-389-2161
Good Start Nursery sells numerous varieties of tomato and pepper plants. Once growing season is more under way, they turn into (I believe) Garden Patch Produce, growers of tomatoes, peppers, flowers and all manner of yummy greens like kale. They are very nice people and keep me supplied in cherry tomato blends all summer long; they sell every Saturday at the Worthington Farmer's Market.
