By Andrea Grom
As a farmer, I know how much work goes into growing the abundance of food at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market. Your farmers labor long hours cultivating and planting their fields, tending their animals, and harvesting and washing all of the wonderful fruits and vegetables that grace their tables every week.
Why Eating with the Seasons Matters
By coming to the market and eating with the seasons, you honor the efforts of your farmers and are nourished by food grown with love and care. Fresh produce harvested at its peak is bursting with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Fruits like tomatoes, peaches, melons and berries typically have a higher brix value (a measure of sweetness) in the summer. Seasonal foods are flavorful, healthy and vibrant.
Summer’s Abundance
Summer produce like corn, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, sweet onions, and cucumbers are plentiful right now. Be on the lookout for specials! Some vendors may offer moderate discounts when buying in bulk, such as tomatoes for sauce or cucumbers for pickling. Canning, freezing and dehydrating are great ways to preserve the harvest for future enjoyment.
Beyond Fruits and Vegetables
Seafood and meat are seasonal as well. In the northeast, bluefin tuna, swordfish, black sea bass, flounder and lobster are readily available in the summer. Additionally, be on the look-out for grill-ready fresh chicken. Quickly-defrosted products like burger patties, sausages, steaks and cutlets are perfect accompaniments to summer favorites like corn-on-the cob, cucumber salad, and sliced tomatoes.
It can take some creativity, flexibility and an adventurous spirit to incorporated more seasonal foods in your diet, but the benefits are vast. Your farmers and your taste-buds will thank you!
The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open Wednesdays, 3–6 PM, and Saturdays, 9 AM–1 PM, at High Rock Park in downtown Saratoga, and Mondays, 2–5 PM in Clifton Park. Visit www.saratogafarmersmarket.org to sign up for the weekly newsletter and follow the market on Facebook and Instagram.
