To Market, To Market

One of my favorite parts about summer in Boston is the return of the farmer's markets. Given the array of local growers there are a number of great farmer's markets in the city weekly throughout the spring and summer, bringing the fresh taste of the farm here to brighten our urban life. From bustling Haymarket downtown to the markets in Cambridge and Copley Square, I've visited the lot and seen nice-looking vegetables and homestyle farm-made products at them all.

To find a farmer's market near you visit: http://www.massfarmersmarkets.org.

The Brookline Farmer's Market is one of my favorites. Located in a parking lot tucked away off Coolidge Corner, the market has returning family farms that really get to know their customers. In addition to a variety of local farmers selling seasonal produce, the Brookline market boasts the freshly baked bread of Clear Flour Bakery (featured in my previous post "For the Love of Bread"), excellent Chevre goat cheese, homemade ice cream from Trombettas Farm, farm-raised beef from River Rock Farm, Bob's Fresh Turkey, freshly caught fish, eggs, honey and jams, homebaked pies, Taza chocolate, and fresh flowers.

The produce changes seasonally, of course; in early July I found they had some sweet fresh corn (that will be even larger by early August), decadent heirloom and cherry tomatoes, and an interesting array of less common squash varieties, which I slow-baked with green onions and fresh marjoram in Native American tradition. They also have an abundance of zucchini, from which we made mushroom-stuffed zucchini boats and zucchini "pasta" - thin ribbons of zucchini and summer squash (done with a vegetable peeler) sauteed in olive oil until translucent, giving it a quality similar to Asian rice noodles - delectable. I anticipate more peaches and cherries as the summer continues, and of course pumpkins and butternut squash in the fall. The great thing about buying from farmer's markets is that you consequently end up eating food that's seasonally appropriate, and can thus determine your meal plans accordingly. Following the macrobiotic diet, this harmony with nature helps you to feel better ultimately - after all, not only does consuming lighter foods in the summer and richer foods in the winter feel "right," it also dictates the energy levels (from calorie content, etc.) appropriate for the time of year. A fresh fruit salad lends itself naturally to a summer picnic, while butternut squash is perfect for a hearty autumn soup. And thus you'll never be bored, as your menus change throughout the year.

Now Brookline is just one of many good farmer's markets in the area, but the not-so-secret is that many of the same farms visit different markets each day of the week, so if you can't make it to Brookline on Thursday, for example, you can head to Copley on Friday. The Copley Farmer's Market, it must be notes, has my beloved Siena Farms, always rich in herbs and veggies, and the baked goods include the Dutch bakery's coconut blondie bars (I call them Safari bars) and cookies as big as your face. Pretty hard to beat.

Yet possibly the most epic market in the city is of course Haymarket, which is tucked in between the North End and Government Center and has the widest selection of all. My advice is to go early on a Saturday morning to get the fresh fruit and vegetables before the crowds rush in - by mid-afternoon you can find the peppers looking pretty bruised. But the pricest at Haymarket are really the best - where else in the city can you get two pints of strawberries for a dollar? - and there's room for haggling if you're up for it. Our last trip we made off with peppers, onions, two varieties of mushrooms, squash and zucchini, eggplant, cherries, and watermelon for less than $15. I get a thrill from exploring these markets, seeing all the different stands covered in the beautiful colors, finding the best prices and coming home with a bag of fresh opportunities. For that's what each meal is: a chance to explore new recipes, to experiment, and to create.