Virginia Frank of Ellicott City knows her family needs to eat healthy. That’s one of the reasons she can be found at the Glenwood Farmers’ Market in Howard County most Saturdays in the summer.
“I can get locally grown vegetables and fruit. I know they’re fresh and haven’t had a lot of chemicals used on them,” Frank says. “You haven’t enjoyed your food until you eat it right from the garden, and the farmers’ market is the closest I can come to that.”
With healthy eating on the minds of many these days, farmers’ markets offer locally grown produce at the peak of its nutrition and taste. These markets offer in-season fruits, vegetables, locally produced dairy products and baked goods, eggs, flowers, herbs, honey and locally raised meat.
“When people shop at a farmers’ market, they are getting the freshest food possible, short of growing it themselves,” says Beckie Gurley, who together with her husband Jack, owns Calvert’s Gift Farm in Sparks. They bring their produce to four farmers’ markets around Baltimore and have been participating in farmers’ markets since the inception of their farm in 1995.
“With few exceptions, our produce is less than 24 hours old,” Gurley says. As soon as produce is picked, it begins to lose its nutritional qualities, Gurley explains, so timely sale is essential.
“When you go to an afternoon farmers’ market, you’re getting produce that was probably picked that morning,” says Kathy Zimmerman, agricultural marketing specialist for Howard County Economic Development Authority.
“For morning markets, produce is picked the afternoon before.”
Zimmerman points out that markets not only offer better-tasting and more nutritious foods, they also help communities go “green.”
“Buying local produce lowers your carbon footprint,” Zimmerman says, explaining that on average, food travels 1,800 miles to get to its destination. “By purchasing from local farmers, you help save gasoline, keep farmers farming and continue to provide open space and greener communities.”
Vendors at farmers’ markets in Baltimore, Howard and Carroll counties can only sell what they produce or what they make from something they grow, such as soap or baked goods. Goods travel no further than 50 miles to get to market.
The only drawback of shopping at local farmers’ markets is you will only find foods that are in season.
“When you go to the markets in May, you won’t see corn because corn isn’t seasonal in this area until summer,” Zimmerman says.
“It’s great that we live in a world where we can eat cantaloupes and tomatoes whenever the mood strikes us,” Gurley says, but warns there is a downside to this. When food travels across the country to reach the stores, it loses much of its nutrition and taste. If we wait until food is in season locally, it’s more of a treat because it’s not an everyday item, she says.
Farmers’ markets also give kids a chance to see where food comes from. Frank says that many kids often think food comes in packages from the store. She makes it a point to take her grandchildren to the farmers’ market with her to see the farmers and their wares. One of her favorite parts of the market is buying from South Mountain Creamery, a Frederick County dairy farm.
“I have been buying milk, eggs, butter and yogurt from them for about a year and a half, she says. “It may cost a little more, but there’s nothing added to the milk and that is always good.”
WHAT’S IN SEASON?
When you head out to a farmers’ market, expect to find produce like spinach, peas, broccoli and strawberries in the beginning of the season; corn, tomatoes, squash and melons in the middle and end of summer; and apples, pears, sweet potatoes and pumpkins in the fall.
To find out when produce is ripe in Maryland, visit www.marylandsbest.net.
WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR FARMERS’ MARKET PURCHASES
Now that you have your fresh produce, how can you make it last as long as possible and preserve it for later use?
Picking and storing:
• Kathy Zimmerman of Howard County Economic Development Authority suggests picking produce that looks fresh, has few spots and is free of splotches and holes. For watermelon and cantaloupe, test for ripeness by smelling the end where the fruit was picked — it should smell sweet.
• Emily Zaas of Black Rock Orchard Farm in Carroll County suggests storing produce in the refrigerator. Only tomatoes, she says, will lose their flavor in the refrigerator. Produce is meant to be stored in the fridge (a week is normal for peaches, stone fruit and soft pears and a month for apples and hard pears).
Preserving:
• Freezing: According to R.J. Caulder of Breezy Willow Farm in West Friendship, “freezing is the easiest and fastest way to preserve.” She recommends using only “freezer” bags (not “storage” bags) and vacuum machines which will help extend the freezer life. Kids can help by counting out the bags and labeling them with vegetable name and date.
Zaas recommends freezing blueberries and raspberries by spreading the fruit on a cookie sheet. Then when it’s frozen, it can be transferred to a freezer bag or container.
• Dehydrating: Due to humid Maryland summers, Zaas suggests removing the moisture from produce with an electric dehydrator. Prepare fruit by peeling, coring and slicing into appropriate sizes and then drying at 100-125 degrees Fahrenheit for eight hours. Dehydrators can be found at discount chain stores and on the Web.
“You can dehydrate any kind of fruit but some types turn out better than others,” Zaas says. She suggests drying apples, pears, peaches, apricots and plums. Fruit leather is another popular item to make using a dehydrator.
• Pressure Canning: According to the USDA, pressure canning is the only recommend method for canning low-acid foods like vegetables and meats. Without proper processing, bacterial spores can produce a dangerous toxin. High-acid foods like fruit, jellies/jams and tomatoes (with added lemon juice to increase acidity) can, according to USDA guidelines, be prepared by using a boiling water bath.
SOME LOCAL FARMERS’ MARKETS
(for a complete listing, visit http://www.mda.state.md.us/md_products/farmers_market_dir.php)
Baltimore City
• Baltimore Farmers’ Market
Downtown: Saratoga Street between Holliday and Gay streets (under JFX Viaduct)
Sunday: 8 a.m.-noon (or sell out) May 3 – Dec. 20
Contact: Carole Simon 410-752-8632
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
• Harbor East FRESHFARM Market
1000 Block of Lancaster Street (between South Exeter Street and Central Avenue)
Saturday: 8 a.m.-noon June 6 – Nov. 21
Contact: Janna Howley 202-362-8889
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
• Park Heights Community Farmers’ Market
5201 Park Heights Ave. (Pimlico Race Course Parking Lot)
Wednesday: 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. June 1 – Nov. 30
Contact: PHCHA 410-542-8190
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
• State Center Community Farmers’ Market
201 W. Preston St.
Wednesday: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. June 10 – Oct. 28
Contact: Debi Celnik 410-767-5781
• Village of Cross Keys Farmers’ Market
Parking Lot – Village of Cross Keys
5100 Falls Road
Tuesday: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. June 2 – Oct. 27
Contact: Beverly Burton 410-592-6095
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
• 32nd Street/Waverly Farmers’ Market
400 Block of E. 32nd Street
Saturday: 7 a.m.-noon Open all year
Contact: Marc Rey 410-889-6388 or 410-917-1496
www.32ndstreetmarket.org
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
Baltimore County
• Catonsville Farmers’ Market
Bloomsbury Community Center (108 Bloomsbury Ave.)
Wednesday: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. May 6 – Nov. 25
Also
730 Frederick Road (behind Friendly’s)
Sunday: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. May 16 – Nov. 21. Not July 4
Contact: Catonsville Chamber of Commerce 410-719-9609
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
• Farmers’ Market at the Avenue
The Avenue at White Marsh
Parking lot behind Barnes and Noble
Friday: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. July 3 – Oct. 30
Contact: Janelle Vane 410-931-0411
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
• Green Spring Station Farmers’ Market
Falls and Joppa roads
Saturday: 2 -5:30 p.m. May 16 – mid-November
First and third Saturdays of the month: 1-3 p.m. Dec. 5 – May 15
Contact: Marge Wildey 410-828-5447
• Kenilworth Farmers’ Market (New Market)
798 Kenilworth Drive
Tuesday: 3:30-6:30 p.m. May 5 – Oct. 27
Contact: Beckie Gurley
410-472-6764 giftcal@aol.com
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
• Pikesville Farmers’ Market
Walker Avenue (Near Pikesville Library)
Tuesday: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. June 30 – Oct. 27
Contact: Nick Attias 410-484-2337
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
• Towson Farmers’ Market
Allegheny Avenue (between York Road and Washington Avenue)
Thursday: 10:45 a.m.-3 p.m. June 11 – Nov. 19
Saturday: Parking lot next to 17 Allegheny
8 a.m.-1 p.m. June 13 – Nov. 21
Contact: Nancy Hafford 410-825-1144
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
Carroll County
• Carroll County Farmers’ Market
Smith Avenue at the Carroll County Ag. Center
Saturday: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. June 20 – Sept. 9
(Special Hours: Saturday 8 a.m.-2 p.m. March 21, April 4, May 9)
Contact: Anita Bullock 410-848-7748
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
• Downtown Westminster Farmers’ Market
Conaway Parking Lot – Corner of Railroad Avenue (Rt. 27) & Emerald Hill Lane
Saturday: 8 a.m. to noon May 30-Nov. 21
Contact: Stan Ruchlewicz 410-848-5294
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
• Mount Airy Farmers’ Market (New Market)
3 N. Main St.
Wednesday: 3:30-6:30 p.m. May 20 – Oct. 14
Contact: Debbie Holt 301-829-5343
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
Howard County
• Howard County Farmers’ Market at East Columbia Library
6600 Cradlerock Way
Thursday: 2-6 p.m. May 9 – Nov. 19
Contact: Linda Brown 410-489-4460
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
• Howard County Farmers’ Market at Glenwood Library
Cooksville: 2350 State Rt. 97
Saturday: 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. May 9 – Oct. 31
Contact: Linda Brown 410-489-4460
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
• Howard County Farmers’ Market at Miller Library
9421 Frederick Road
Wednesday: 2-6 p.m. June-Oct. 31
Contact: Linda Brown 410-489-4460
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
• Howard County Farmers’ Market at Oakland Mills
Oakland Mills Community Association, 5851 Robert Oliver Place
Sunday: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. May 3 – Nov. 22
Contact: Linda Brown 410-489-4460
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
HELPFUL WEB SITES:
Farmers’ Market Locations and Hours
http://www.mda.state.md.us/md_products/farmers_market_dir.php
Complete listing of markets throughout the state of Maryland
Pick-Your-Own Farms
www.pickyourown.org
Listing of area pick-your-own farms, food preservation tips, links and recipes. Also lists canning methods that are not safe.
National Center for Home Food Preservation
www.uga.edu/nchfp/publications/publications_usda.html
USDA canning guide files (free downloads).
Maryland’s Best
www.marylandsbest.net
Complete listing of products from local farmers and details of local crop availability. Click on the link “What’s ripe now.”