Locally Grown Food For Summer June 2, 2008

Peaches are here at local farmer's markets and roadside stands, along with the earliest tomatoes, blackberries, squash and the first of other summer vegetables. Although the season doesn't officially shift until the end of the month, Central Texas weather tends to move into summer quickly for area farmers.

Tomatoes will ripen and be widely available over the next several weeks, creating the opportunity to make salsas and salads. You can also pick up the other ingredients you need including greens, herbs, onions, cucumbers and a wide variety of pairing choices. Heirloom tomatoes are available in limited quantities and should increase through the month.

The popularity of locally grown fresh foods in growing rapidly around here, perhaps in part because the local markets now only provide farm-fresh produce, but also access to organic milk, pasture-fed meat and other crafted products. Besides, they are fun - featuring a wide variety of entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.

Great on the Grill

Since summertime is when many people break out the grill, enhance the sausage and meats you usually pick with a wide variety of fresh vegetables that were made for the process.

Our favorites include Portobello mushrooms, eggplant, squash of all varieties and onions. More ambitious choices can include corn on the cob (cut into pieces before grilling), tomatoes (handle with care, consider using foil to keep them from falling apart), leeks and fennel. You can even grill dessert. Try peaches or large figs and see how the smokey grill taste enhances their flavors.

You can be creative with your choices and promote eating more vegetables even at cookouts. Enjoy the summer bounty.

	June	July	August
Apples		X	X
Asparagus	X
Beets	X
Bell Peppers	X	X	X
Blackberries	X	X
Blueberries	X	X
Bok Choy	X
Cabbage	X	X	X
Cantaloupe	X	X	X
Carrots			X
Corn	X	X
Cucumbers	X	X	X
Eggplant	X	X	X
Figs	X	X	X
Green Beans	X	X
Greens	X	X	X
Herbs	X	X	X
Honeydew	X	X	X
Mushrooms	X	X	X
Onions	X	X	X
Okra	X	X	X
Peaches	X		X
Potatoes	X	X	X
Radishes	X	X
Squash	X	X	X
Tomatoes	X	X	X
Turnips	X	X	X
Watermelon	X	X	X

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