Spring seduces everyone. How could you not notice the tips of daffodils and crocus’ nosing eagerly through the hardened ground? The rhubarb unfurling its leaves on ruby-colored stems, the bright green shoots of chive, onion, and leek standing at attention. If you’ve spent this cold, windy winter eating seasonally, you’ll be smitten by the signs of tender new growth.
Our farmer friends have been at it for a few months now, planting greens in hoop houses and pulling up carrots sweetened by surviving a winter underground. They’ll be offering these first fruits of the season at the Boulder County Farmers Market in Boulder and Longmont this Saturday at 8am.
Expect to find fresh eggs, meat, and cheese, as well as lots of green leafy things, and the supplies you need to start your own garden. If you’re one of those people who goes to the market just to sample and not to buy, plenty of prepared food vendors will generously share their wares with you. So buy something!
Whether you’re a market newbie or just want some guidance in navigating the stalls, here are some of my personal favorites, vetted after years of shopping locally.
Cure Organic Farm: Awesome spicy greens and phenomenal pork. Buy the breakfast sausage and put it with everything.
Ollin Farms: Mark Guttridge is one of the nicest–and smartest–farmers/soil whisperers out there. His veggies tell the tale.
Udi’s: They may be a household name, but you can buy varieties at market that you can’t find on the shelves. My personal favorite is the $7 Rustico. Bigger than your head, the cute boys will slice or dice it however you want. I quarter mine and put what I don’t eat while wandering the market in the freezer for later use.
Colorado Best Beef: It really is. And the cows get fat exactly 4.2 miles away from market on Jay Road.
Conscious Coffees: These guys travel far and wide to find tasty, responsibly raised beans. Reuse your can and get $2 off.
Cultiva Youth Project: A youth-operated organic farm. Isn’t that reason enough?
First Fruits: These guys likely won’t be at market for a few weeks, but if late spring snows don’t hammer the cherry crop like they did last year, First Fruits brings the beauties.
Tortilleria La Esmerelda: Last use of a superlative: best. tortilla chips. ever.
See you at the market!
Boulder County Farmer’s Market
13th Street, between Canyon and Arapahoe, Boulder, 8am – 2pm
Boulder County Fairgrounds, Nelson Road, Longmont, 8am – 1pm
http://www.boulderfarmers.org/
Thanks for getting me even more excited about Farmer’s Market days!