This Saturday I was able to free up some time before work to visit the Troy Waterfront Farmer's Market. As this was the first time I have been this year, I was blown away with the choice of ingredients and the abundance of quality local ingredients. You can find anything from flowers to herbs, bread to meat and poultry. The photo above represents some of the produce I bought: (top) raspberries, yellow tomatoes, fingerling potatoes, red heirloom tomato, (bottom) red onions, orange beets, yellow carrots, purple shallots. I am a big fan of finding something different in veggie land, even if it is just for color. There was even a guy selling exotic mushrooms.
Now is definitely the time to go. The growing season is at its peak (in my opinion) and corn and tomatoes were everywhere. Local herbs and fennel were plentiful. Tubers such as potatoes, onion, radish, beets, carrots were all starting to make their appearance in quantity. Garlic is starting to be pulled in many varieties, and us garlic lovers know what a treat good quality garlic is. You can't even compare it with the crap from the big supermarkets.
I particularly fell in love with these purple shallots and red onions from one vendor and have been using them regularly since Saturday. The onions are sweet and well suited for slicing in rounds over fresh tomato with salt and olive oil.
I would definatley encourage anyone who loves fresh local ingredients to go check this market out. Visit the Troy Farmer's Market website for directions, hours and vendor information, but do not hesitate! Go now and get in on these amazing ingredients. Yet another quality event for Troy.
Here is some more (dare I say it?) food for thought...
