Market Report: A double rainbow’s worth of colorful, in-season produce
Your weekly look at what’s in season at Greater Lafayette’s farmers markets and farm stands.
Support for this edition comes from the Wabash River Cycle Club, presenting the Wabash River Ride. “Ride as much or as little, or as long or as short, as you feel. But ride.” The Wabash River Ride offers cyclists from all walks of life an opportunity to choose their own adventure on Aug. 23. This cycling event has paved and multi-surface 32-, 62- and 100-mile routes for both road and gravel cyclists, along with a 16-mile “Ride for All.” The routes correspond with well-stocked aid stations and there is a finisher’s meal at the end. Find more information at www.wabashriverride.com
And now for your weekly look at what’s in season at Greater Lafayette’s farmers markets and farm stands, it’s …
By Carol Bangert / For Based in Lafayette
Back in early June, I headed to the farmers market with plans to buy and cook with produce from every color of the rainbow. That plan was premature, as I hit a snag when it came to yellow and purple produce.
Fast forward eight weeks and I’m back with the same strategy. But this time I walked away with a bag full of vibrant produce – and the W – finding myriad options representing my old friend ROY G BIV. (If that reference is lost on you, ask your parents … or grandparents.)
Today’s Market Report takes a second look at the abundance of fruits and vegetables available at farmers markets right now, in all their colorful awesomeness.
Red
You’ll have no problem finding red produce at the market. Of course you’ll find tomatoes, but I also spotted potatoes, okra, onions, peppers, sweet and sour cherries, raspberries and a few radishes and beets. You can’t go wrong with a simple BLT. But with this lineup, you can serve up a fresh potato salad and grilled okra, peppers and onions alongside your favorite grilled protein. Whip up a pie, tart or even ice cream with those beautiful ruby red fruits, and you’ve got a summer feast.
Orange
Orange is represented by carrots, peppers, peaches and nectarines at the market right now. People who know me well know that carrots are the only vegetable I don’t like. So, don’t look in this direction for ways to prepare them. Sorry. But the orange peppers are sweet and crunchy and lovely. (I’ll have a lot more to say about peppers in the next Market Report.) And there’s nothing better than a summer peach, eaten as is or in a pie, crumble or tart. The same goes for nectarines. Snatch up these juicy, sweet fruits while they’re in season.
Yellow
You’ll find yellow produce in corn, summer squash, squash blossoms and, yes, more peppers. By now you’ve probably bought a few dozen ears of corn and enjoyed some summer squash. You haven’t? Well, get on it! If you’ve never used squash blossoms, here’s an easy way to introduce yourself to them: Sauté a handful of clean blossoms in a bit of butter with thinly sliced garlic and a pinch of salt. You’ll get a nice sense of the blossoms’ flavor, which is rather masked when you deep fry them, the most popular way to prepare them. Did you know you can eat the blossoms raw as well? They have a pleasant, slightly sweet taste that might surprise you.
Green
Tracking down green produce at the farmers market is like looking for fireflies in your yard at dusk. Easy peasy. Green produce is abundant, regardless of the season. Right now, you’ll be greeted by green beans, cucumbers, (even more) peppers, cabbage, broccoli, kale, zucchini, mixed greens and okra – and I’m sure I’ve overlooked a few. With all these just-picked, in-season veggies inviting you to take them home, you’d be crazy not to!
Blue/indigo
Is there any produce that is technically indigo? I’m guessing the answer is no. I’ve combined blue and indigo into one category, where I found blueberries and blackberries. Both of these summer jewels are delicious eaten alone or in any number of fresh fruit desserts. They’d be perfect in a sangria, too.
Violet
Violet/purple is the most dramatic color at the market right now, in my opinion. Eggplants and peppers are in abundance, and they’re just begging to be made into a ratatouille – along with in-season tomatoes and zucchini. Funny how that works.
The colors of the rainbow. That’s August in Indiana, where farms of every size are growing some of the most beautiful, inviting and nutritious food on the planet. Time to fill your bags with the bounty this little corner of the state has to offer. You will not be disappointed.
Next time: Peppers galore and what to do with okra
Other early August fruits and vegetables at the market include:
Radishes
Cabbage
Beets
Garlic
Greens (kale, mustard, arugula, lettuce varieties – these may be near the end until another crop is harvested)
Herbs
Carrots
Okra
Peppers: Bell and hot varieties
Potatoes
Zucchini, zucchini blossoms, summer squash and other squash varieties
Tomatoes of all shapes and sizes
Raspberries, blackberries, blueberries
Cherries, peaches, plums, apricots (from Michigan and Georgia)
DAYS/HOURS FOR THE MARKETS
West Lafayette Farmers Market: 3:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, through October. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the West Lafayette market. The market is held at Cumberland Park in West Lafayette with more than 50 vendors.
Lafayette Farmers Market: 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturdays, through October, on Fifth Street between Columbia Street and mid-block to Ferry Street, and Main Street between Fourth and Sixth streets.
Purdue Farmers Market: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays, through October. The Purdue Farmers Market is held on the Memorial Mall on Purdue’s campus. This market is a concession-heavy market that allows students, faculty and staff to have lunch options in a unique outdoor setting.
Carol Bangert, editor of Greater Lafayette Magazine, has been a regular at Greater Lafayette farmers markets for more than 20 years. From May through October, she’ll scout out in-season produce at the markets and report back on fresh finds and how to use them.
Thanks, again, for support for this edition from the Wabash River Cycle Club, presenting the Wabash River Ride on Aug. 23. Learn more at www.wabashriverride.com.
Thank you for supporting Based in Lafayette, an independent, local reporting project. Free and full-ride subscription options are ready for you here.
Tips, story ideas? I’m at davebangert1@gmail.com.
Everyone should grow one okra plant at least once in their life. The flowers are gorgeous even if you don't like the reptilian result. Love the color theme of this report.
You work on the okra, I'll keep chomping those carrots.
Used to think that okra was a snotty abomination and all of it should be flung into the sun. Well, actually, I may not have changed my mind on that.