Goode’s Farm Market near Elkton, Maryland.
With fall quickly approaching, I sense the loss of many farmer’s markets to winter’s grip. Yes, there’s still plenty of time to buy fresh-from-the-farm-goods, but it’s a long time until the spring opening of the Baltimore “Under the Bridge” market and several smaller ones. Come spring, it’s ramps, asparagus, greens, and starter plants that excite me. In the late summer and fall it’s tomatoes, apples, and root veggies I’m hunting for.
Finding new farmer’s markets
This year I added two new favorite markets to my local list. The Havre de Grace farmer’s market opens in May and runs through November. Each Saturday when I’m in town, I head up to buy bread from Evergrain Bread Company, veggies from Third Way Farm, and tamales from Taste of Puebla. The Havre de Grace market is in a park by the water’s edge, not a parking lot. With a food truck, live music, and a lively crowd each Saturday, it’s a winner in my book. Most times, I even see the mayor making the rounds and buying fresh goods at the market.
Chestertown Farmer’s market.
Another new find is the Oxford Produce Auction in Oxford, Pennsylvania. This is mostly for big lot buyers, but I was happy to see a table of small lots with tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and mixed boxes of super-fresh produce at low prices. I bought two cases of prime tomatoes for just $10 each. These cases of tomatoes would have cost $20 each in my local farm store. The Oxford Produce Auction is held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Most, if not all the farmers bringing in produce are Amish. I recommend this auction for a rare slice of Americana where just everyday folks buy and sell some of the prettiest products around.
Amish horse and wagon at market
Further from home, I love the Head House Square market in Philidelphia for High Steet On Market’s bakery goods, and the pasta maker. In Chestertown, Maryland I love the town-square location and variety of vendors.
Fresh bread at the farmer’s market.
When cooking on vacation
Even on vacation, I’m looking for a farmer’s market or farm store. While we were in Round Pond, Maine, in July, I found the Damariscotta farmers market. Coranson Farm (organic) had some gorgeous blueberries and tomatoes I bought to take back to our Airbnb.
Damariscotta, Maine farmer’s market.
Just three minutes from our Airbnb, we bought steamed lobsters at the Round Pond Lobster Co-op and had a meal that couldn’t be beaten. I also found High Hopes Farm (organic) to have excellent quality fresh herbs, veggies, and lamb. Located on the north edge of the small town of Bristol, I can’t wait to go back to High Hopes Farm.
Round Pond Lobster Coop takeout.
In the late season
For fall apples, I like to hit Goode’s Farm Market on Highway 40 between North East and Elkton, Maryland. In season, I get the best looking lima beans, and in the fall they have gobs of apple varieties. It was only after buying their produce for over three years; when I asked them if they grew their own. I was surprised to hear they buy all their produce at farm auctions.
Goodes Farm Mkt Hwy 40
Bel Air, Maryland has a Saturday market that I’ve been to only once. What I liked best was there was an apple grower that doesn’t use chemicals on his apples. I hope to get up to Bel Air in late September to buy his apples for a batch of applesauce for canning. Each year I put up at least a dozen pint jars of applesauce for the next winter-summer. There’s nothing like homemade applesauce!
Homemade applesauce.
While some farmer’s markets run all year, I’m usually not impressed with the products. That being said, I sometimes like to go to the Kennett Square, PA market held every Friday throughout the year. Big Hill is usually there with excellent hard cider, and some of the farmers grow decent winter crops in hoop houses.
Pretty peppers all in a row.
When winter finally has closed most markets, I kick back with a bowl of chips homemade salsa and remember what a great year it was. As the last bit of salsa is gone from the jar, I can be found dreaming of starting seeds indoors for spring planting. Each new year holds great promise in my garden and the farmer’s markets I love to support.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2019 Kurt Jacobson
great information with variety of produce and products, this makes is much easier for anyone in the area to find these locations. The pictures add greatly to the written information making it easier to decide where and when to go.
Thanks for your kind comments and thanks for reading!
And go you shall into the world of real food! Thanks for reading.