Best Foods To Pick Up At The Farmers Market

The farmers market is a great place to find vast quantities of locally grown produce for sale, and you’ll often encounter items that are nearly impossible to find at grocery stores. You’ll likely have many options to choose from, though, so it helps to have a plan on what items to pick up in advance. Some of the best foods to pick up at the farmers market are:

• Quince: Sort of a cross between an apple and a pear, quince has a sweet, spicy flavor and can be found during the fall months. It can be used in soups, cooked with meats, or jellied, to name a few things. Its unique flavor adds a unique kick to any dish.
• Tomatoes: Locally grown tomatoes come in a wide range of colors and flavors, and they beat supermarket tomatoes hands down. They can be eaten roasted or raw, and make a great addition to salads if you’re looking for a unique way to liven them up.
• Pawpaws: Pawpaws are a tropical-tasting fruit that somehow grows in North America. Its flavor is a mix of citrus, mango, and banana, making it a wonderful ingredient to use in smoothies, frozen yogurt, and sorbet, especially given their soft, custard-like texture. A few things to be aware of are the large seeds inside and their extremely short shelf life.
• Ginger: Fresh ginger makes a great addition to soups, stir-fries, and desserts. It also adds a plethora of health benefits since it contains vitamins A, B, and C, phosphorous, iron, calcium, amino acids, potassium, zinc, and other nutrients. One popular use of fresh ginger is to brew it in tea, giving the beverage a strong, spicy flavor.
• Nettles: Stinging nettle leaves a rash if you’re not careful with it, but once you dry it or cook it in water, the chemicals that make it sting disappear. Nettle tastes like spinach and makes a great, healthy addition to tea, pesto, pasta recipes, and even pizza.
• Rhubarb: Rhubarb is nearly impossible to find at the supermarket. It’s only in season for a short time late spring to early summer, so if you find some, seize the opportunity. Popular uses for rhubarb is in combination with other fruits in a pie, as a component in certain sauces, or in making jam.

Many of these items are seasonal, so if you see them, get them. You won’t regret it since you’ll add plenty of unique flavors and health benefits to your meals. You can also boost some of the weight loss systems too with these all-natural elements.

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