Page 34 - North State Parent July 2020

localicious By Sara Barry
You can find farmers markets all over. From town greens to city parks, rest stops on high- ways to roadside stands; farmers are offering
their wares. Farmers markets are a great way to stock up on fresh local produce. They can be a fun family outing as parents make decisions about safe ventures during COVID-19 community re-openings.
Rebecca Matthews, a Chico, CA mother of three, of- ten enjoys three different farmers markets in the Chico area (chicofarmersmarket.com). North Valley Plaza on Wednesday mornings, downtown on Thursday nights, April-September, and the municipal parking lot on Sat- urday mornings. She says, “I find the best produce deals at the Wednesday morning North Valley Plaza Farmers Market. You can use it year-round as your grocery store, and I feel safe bringing small children with no crowd to get lost in. I look for opportunities to sneak in lessons about money and how our food is grown.”
If you haven’t made a farmers market visit part of your routine, you may want to add it, safe social distanc- ing observed, of course. Here are some of my favorite ways to make this shopping adventure fun for the whole family.
Discover new foods
You’ll find plenty of green beans, lettuce and to- matoes in season at most markets, but you’ll also find new items to take home and enjoy. Have you ever had celeriac or husk cherries? You might just find them at your farmers market. Don’t get intimidated by unusual vegetables. Ask questions like what is that? What does it taste like? How would you cook it?
Seek out a rainbow
We know that eating a variety of different colored vegetables and fruits is good for our health. See if you can find and buy a rainbow of foods. This may be easier in some seasons than in others. Still, by looking around, you will discover foods in colors you never expected— black radishes, green tomatoes, purple carrots, blue po- tatoes. If you don’t try a new food, try a familiar food in a new color.
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Get growing
If you want to grow a garden of your own, farmers markets often have seedlings to get started. Ask ven- dors for advice on planting and growing the plants you choose.
Notice what’s in season
With food shipped all over the country, we get used to having every kind of food available to us at any time. When we buy foods in season, we connect more closely to local changes. And when we have to wait for a food item, we appreciate it more. As an added benefit, you may find varieties bred for taste rather than sturdiness for shipping.
Connect!
Some people catch up with friends and neighbors at their weekly farmers market. These days, many pro- tect each other by wearing a mask. Parents can chat while kids play together. You can also connect with the vendors and learn about their farming or production practices.
Have a scavenger hunt
Give your kids a list of things to look for while you shop. Think a red fruit, a green vegetable, the biggest vegetable, the smallest one, a fungus and an animal product. Remind them to be aware of other shoppers and to point out items rather than grab them unless you plan to buy all the items on your list.
Which part of the plant?
The fruits and vegetables we eat make up many different plant parts. We eat the seeds of peas, the roots of carrots, the leaves of lettuce, the stem of celery, the flowers of broccoli and the fruit along with the seeds they contain of cucumber. See how many different parts of plants you can find for sale.
Have a snack
With the variety of food around, you are likely to get hungry. You can munch on the carrots or nibble lettuce you buy, or you may find other tempting delicacies. Many
markets feature bakeries and prepared food vendors. I’ve sampled bread, flavored kinds of vinegar, hummus, jerky, kombucha, cheese, kimchi, pickles and jam. I’ve seen sandwiches, soup, gelato and other snacks ready to enjoy on the spot.
Make a meal
Going to the farmers market with a list of specif- ic ingredients can be an exercise in frustration. Maybe the peaches aren’t ripe yet, or they sold out of spinach. Instead, try going with the intention of creating a meal using a looser list like salad and fruit. Start with what- ever catches your eye. See how many items you can get from the farmers market and supplement at home. Two ways to use almost anything you find are making pizza with market veggie toppings or using veggies, eggs and cheese from the market to make an omelet.
Each farmers market is different with different ven- dors and different feels. Some are like a festival. Others are more straightforward. There may be a handful of vendors or hundreds. You may find only farm-raised foods or prepared foods, handcrafted items and other goods. Some, like Julia’s Fruit Stand alongside High- way 99 between Red Bluff and Chico, CA, are a favorite road trip stop for sumptuous, juicy tomatoes, peaches, plums, nectarines and vegetables like okra, squash, egg- plant and corn.
Find a farmers market that is convenient in loca- tion and make a family date to check it out. And then go back. Some of the magic is in revisiting. As you get to know the people and learn more about cycles of food and new ideas, the farmers market becomes more than just a place to grab something for dinner or a snack. It becomes your connection to local food and community.
Join in!
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Sara Barry is a writer, gardener and lover of seasonal foods. She loves the farmers market to help get her garden started, fill in the gaps of things she doesn’t grow, bring her fresh pro- duce in the dead of winter and introduce her kids to veggies they might not try otherwise.
Localicious
Localicious is a monthly column celebrating food in the North State. If you would like to suggest a food-related business or organization, email us at localicious@northstateparent.com.
Farmers Market Fun for the Whole Family