The chance to eat, and perhaps even pick, locally-grown, fresh produce is a new concept for many. But, it's very simple - and tasty - if you know how and where to look.
Jasper Mirabile is a local chef featured often on NBC Action News Midday, and he's helped me compile a list of FRESH information.
To start, it's important to know what's in season, and when, so you're eating the right stuff* when it's in season. Here's a list of what's fresh and when:
Spinach - now
Rhubarb - May
Local lettuce - May to July
Blackberries - June
Green Beans - mid-June to July
Corn - late-June and all of July
Fresh melon - July
Tomatoes - late July
Cauliflower - July, Aug, Sept
Broccoli - July Aug, Sept
Jasper also says local eggs and milk are BIG this time of year.
A side note about something fun to do with the family, Pendleton's Country Market in Lawrence, where you can pick your own veggies (pyo), will have asparagus ready for you to pick on April 15. They have two varieties of asparagus crowns, too, which you can purchase and plant in your own yard/garden.
From their newsletter:
"We have two varieties yet available. 'Atlas' is a regular "green" asparagus, that produces very well, and can take the crazy heat that we can sometimes get in May. 'Purple Passion' is an excellent producing asparagus variety that has a burgundy colored spear. This variety is also about 20% sweeter than green varieities, thus it tastes more like fresh peas, and is usually eaten raw.