Find a Recipe!

Just a Little Bit of Bacon

where comfort food meets the farm stand

  • Home
  • Recipes
    • beverages
    • desserts
    • grilling and bbq
    • main courses
    • quick dinners
    • side dishes
    • soups and stews
  • mediterranean recipes
    • italian recipes
      • italian comfort food
      • italian antipasti
      • fundamentals of italian cooking
    • spanish recipes
      • spanish tapas
    • french recipes
      • french comfort food
    • greek recipes
  • holiday favorites
    • christmas
    • easter dinner
    • thanksgiving feast
  • resources
    • dinner and party menus
    • farmers’ market
      • ingredient spotlight
    • roundup post
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

A Guide to the Spring Farmers’ Market

May 17, 2018 By justalittlebitofbacon Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. Click here for details.

Spring is here and that means farmers’ market season is moving into gear! While there are winter markets around, spring is when many of markets open, selling everything from garden plants to asparagus to garlic scapes. Let’s explore what you might find at the spring farmers’ market.

Infographic about the spring farmers market

While summer is peak farmers’ market and local farm stand season, don’t forget about spring produce! Spring is all about the greens, the cool weather crops like radishes and beets, and the vegetables which are at their best when they poke out of the ground, such as ferns and rhubarb.

Here in New England, spring farm season begins at the beginning of May and brings us through the end of June, with each week producing a new crop of fresh produce. Depending on your climate, the spring season could be earlier or later (or in my autumn *waves to southern hemisphere readers*). To help you figure out what is in season in your area, it can be helpful to consult a local guide to produce. I found a guide to American produce, which is very helpful, and I’m sure there are others for other countries of the world.

What might you find at the spring farmers’ market?

Garden Plants

Are you looking to set up your home vegetable garden? Need some potted herbs? Or want a few flowers to plant in your garden beds?

Most local farms also sell plants in the spring. You may find herbs throughout the year, but now is the time to snap up some heirloom tomato or bean or pepper plants. The great thing about buying from a local farm is that you can find varieties not available at your nearby garden store. And, if you shop around, you can find organically grown plants.

Greens

Spring is the best time for all the many greens out there! Autumn can be great too, but I find the greens to be a bit fresher and younger in the spring.

Young spinach, chard, baby kale, the greens of many vegetables like beets, a variety of lettuces, and many other greens will be on display. If you like sauteed greens, salads, or kale smoothies, this is the time of year to find everything you want. For a little more info on the types of greens which may be available, check out this Farmers’ Market Guide to Greens.

Watercolor style photo of turnips

Niche Produce

These are fruits and vegetables which don’t do well when factory farmed or don’t travel well or aren’t even farmed at all but rather foraged. You may see some of these from time to time at the supermarket, but it’s local farms which tend to specialize in these products.

Some of the foraged produce you may see include ramps, fiddlehead ferns, dandelion leaves, and wild mushrooms. As for the more niche, but still farmed items, these include garlic scapes, English shelling peas, spring onions (separate from green onions), fava beans, and Hakurei turnips.

The farmers’ market is great place to try something new (like garlic scapes) or something you don’t find everyday (like shelling peas). If you are worried about recipes, I do have a few myself and the farmers often have ideas as well.

Spring Produce

You’ll also find many of the products you see in the supermarket, only fresher. There is really nothing like a fresh picked strawberry or asparagus or radishes. Whether they are healthier for you is debatable, but you can’t beat the flavor. Also, the farmers might be growing varietals with different flavor, color, or texture from the standard supermarket versions.

Some of the more common produce you might find includes rhubarb, radishes, beets, strawberries, asparagus, artichokes, snap peas, and cut herbs.

Watercolor style photo of strawberries

Ingredient Spotlights for the Spring Farmers’ Market

From time to time I write up in depth articles about various ingredients with recipe ideas, history, and nutritional information. Here are my spring ingredient spotlights:

  • How to Use Garlic Scapes
  • Mild, Sweet Hakurei Turnips
  • All About Swiss Chard
  • Cooking with Rhubarb

Spring Farmers’ Market Recipes

To find spring recipes on my site, check under my Spring Category or in one of the ingredient tags, such as Asparagus or Strawberries.

You can also check out these great roundups of spring farmers’ market recipes:

  • 15 Farmers’ Market Recipes to Make in May
  • 60 Spring Farmers Market Recipes
  • 11 Recipes Featuring Spring Produce
  • 10 Bright Colourful Recipes to Celebrate Spring

Related Posts:

  • A Guide to the Summer Farmers' Market
    A Guide to the Summer Farmers' Market
  • Mustard Greens, Prosciutto, and Leek Frittata
    Mustard Greens, Prosciutto, and Leek Frittata
  • Ingredient Spotlight: How to Use Garlic Scapes
    Ingredient Spotlight: How to Use Garlic Scapes
  • Fresh Corn and Fava Bean Salad
    Fresh Corn and Fava Bean Salad
  • Asparagus and Bacon Crustless Quiche
    Asparagus and Bacon Crustless Quiche
  • Oven Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan
    Oven Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan

Filed Under: farmers' market, spring

« Blood Orange Moscow Mule
French Country Salad with Asparagus and Roasted Beets »

Follow me on:

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

Don’t miss a post!

Get new recipes in your inbox every week!

Disclosure:

Justalittlebitofbacon is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hello, I’m Annemarie

Welcome to my kitchen! I’m a Italian-American girl who loves fresh foods, local ingredients, and all sorts of comfort foods. Here you will find Mediterranean flavors and recipes from a New England perspective.

Don’t miss a post!

Sign up here to have new recipes delivered to your inbox every week.

Follow me on:

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Spring Flings

Take advantage of fresh asparagus to make a healthy spring omelette! This asparagus omelette is full of smoked gouda cheese, sauteed onions, and tomatoes. Great for breakfast, brunch, or even dinner. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Smoked Gouda and Asparagus Omelette

Freekeh is an earthy grain with a complex flavor which you should try! And this vegan freekeh salad buddha bowl with baby kale, radicchio, avocado, and mint is great way to add some freekeh to your diet.

Kale, Radicchio and Freekeh Salad Buddha Bowl

Lamb and Artichoke Stew - I love this Greek inspired spring stew full of lean lamb, artichokes, tomatoes, and plenty of fresh oregano. Serve it over rice or with some crusty bread to soak up the sauce. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Greek Lamb and Artichoke Stew

Dive into summer with this easy strawberry burrata salad! Fresh strawberries and creamy burrata are tossed with mint, basil, and pecans then topped with a honey balsamic glaze.

Strawberry Burrata Salad with Balsamic Glaze

Try something a little different and learn how to make a blood orange margarita! Grab your tequila and mix up one or make a pitcher for a crowd. Either way you'll love this easy and delicious homemade cocktail. | justalittlebitofbacon.com #cocktails #drinkrecipes #margaritas #bloodoranges #pitcherdrinks

Homemade Blood Orange Margarita

Use only a skillet in my one pot chicken and orzo dinner! Juicy thighs, pasta, and plenty of vegetables in this easy, weeknight meal. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

One Pot Chicken and Orzo with Mixed Vegetables

Reader Favorites

Throw out everything you know about making pie crust to make the best easy flaky pie crust you've ever made. Simple, all butter, no fail! | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Easy Flaky Pie Crust Recipe

Grilled Butterflied Leg of Lamb - Butterflied lamb is rubbed overnight with a flavorful herb and garlic mixture and then quickly grilled for a perfect dinner. It takes just 15 minutes to bring this roast to a beautifully seared outside and medium rare inside. Great for Easter dinner or for any cookout get-together. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Grilled Butterflied Leg of Lamb with a Herb Rub

Chocolate Chip Butterscotch Bars - These one bowl bars have all the comfort of an old-fashioned butterscotch bar and the added pleasure of gooey chocolate chips in every bite. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Chocolate Chip Butterscotch Bars

Authentic Italian marinara sauce is cooked low and slow to create a thick and flavorful sauce made in the manner of my family tradition. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Authentic Homemade Italian Marinara Sauce

Slow Cooker Potato Leek Soup - Comforting, creamy, cheesy, and now even easier to make, this potato leek soup delivers all the flavor for only minutes of work. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Cheesy Slow Cooker Potato Leek Soup

Rich & Complex Traditional Bolognese Sauce - A long, slow simmer builds layers of flavor and makes this Bolognese sauce so rich and complex! Meaty, silky, and hearty. This is a sauce worth having on your stove all day long. Make some for today and freeze some for tomorrow. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Rich & Complex Traditional Bolognese Sauce

Copyright © 2022 — Just a Little Bit of Bacon • All rights reserved. Privacy Policy • Disclaimer

Genesis Framework • Foodie Pro Theme • by Shay Bocks