Finally the Farmers Market

Adeline and I braved the rain this morning to head out the the farmers market.  It was our first trip for 2010!   There were quite a few other people who considered the bounty to be had at market worth getting out in the rain, and we found more than enough to make the trip worth while.

We picked up all kinds of goodies like lettuce, onions, asparagus, radishes, cheese, goats milk soap, and bread!  We almost picked up a Derby Pie, but I decided that I really do not need more excuses to eat sugar.  The reality is that when there are treats at the house, I am the one who eats them.  Brandon has a select few that he likes, but if there is chocolate involved, it doesn't last long with me around!

One thing I was thinking about after I left is how to go about asking farmers what their policy is regarding pesticides and chemical fertilizers.  I know that there are times when those things need to be used, but I don't want to buy food that has been treated with regular use of chemicals.  I also don't want to offend the farmer who has been with the crops every day.

I don't want to come across as the "know it all" who read a few books and thinks now I know all there is to know about farming.  I also want to know as much as I can about the foods I am eating (which is why I love buying from my friends who farm whenever possible; they just are not harvesting yet.)  Any tips on how to approach that without seeming trite would be great!

When we got home I couldn't remember the best way to store asparagus.  I pulled out my one of my favorite cookbooks,  The Joy of Cooking, to find the answer.  I love the short descriptions it provides of different foods including many veggies.  The descriptions tell what the food is, how it is typically prepared, how to pick the best or most fresh, and how to store.

I also looked up radishes and read about how to prepare the leaves as well as the actual bulb.  Usually when I buy radishes at the grocery, they don't come with the leaves so I never thought to eat them.  But this way I get two foods in one (in a sense) since I can use them both in different ways.  I am planning to use the leaves tomorrow night and will let you know how they turn out!

Are your markets open yet?  I would love to know what kind of goodies you are getting in your area now.