One of the best things about summer is the food.
Whether you’re grilling out, lounging poolside or picnicking on the beach, there’s nothing quite as refreshing as biting into a sweet, juicy piece of fresh fruit.
With school out and summer in full swing, it’s the perfect time to check out Amarillo’s farmers markets. You can check out the markets early in the morning on your way to work or weekend mornings before the temperature heats up.
BEST SUMMER PRODUCE TO BUY LOCAL
During this time of year, you can get fresher, better-tasting fruits and veggies at local farmers markets. But with dozens of produce to choose from, how do you know what to buy fresh?
To help you get started, here are five of the best foods to get from the farmers market:
PEACHES
Because peaches don’t hold up well during transport, midsummer is the best time to buy them. This also means the ones at your grocery store aren’t as fresh as the ones at a farmer’s market.
Another reason to get your peaches from a market? Pesticides. Peaches are the most pesticide-treated of all fruits. When you buy local, you can quiz the farmer about how many and what kind of chemicals they use.
BERRIES
Buying berries from your local farmer’s market benefits not only you but also the environment. Because of their short shelf life, berries are generally transported via air freight, which uses the most fossil fuel of any food shipment method. Not so great for our air quality.
RHUBARB
Rhubarb isn’t easy to come by in your favorite grocery store. In fact, you likely won’t find it for several months out of the year. There’s one season for this food, and once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Use rhubarb in pies, crisps, cobblers and jam. It’s also delicious when paired with strawberries and in savory sauces.
CONCORD GRAPES
If you’ve never eaten locally grown grapes, you’re definitely missing out. Farmers market grapes are much more flavorful than the ones you find in a supermarket. They do generally have seeds, so watch for that. But it’s certainly worth the trade-off.
TOMATOES
Tomatoes are a cook’s best friend. You can do so much with them, from making salsas to eating them raw. Grocery store tomatoes are often bland—not the case when it comes to locally grown tomatoes. Full of flavor, this food is definitely one you need to get from a market.
METHOD MATTERS
In addition to where your produce comes from, how it’s grown also matters—to the environment and to you. Chemicals found in pesticides cause more harm than good to your body, so be sure to search for organically grown produce when shopping at the farmer’s market.
AMARILLO FARMERS MARKETS
If we’ve convinced you to shop farmers markets and you’re in search of a place to buy your locally grown produce this summer, check out Golden Spread Farmers Market or the Amarillo Community Market.
Want to get in shape this summer? Sign up for our Summer membership and start working out today!
