Market not over ‘til it’s over

I was in a hurry this weekend. I forgot my check list of veggies that I usually fill out. I keep track of this every Saturday at the Homer Farmers Market to show how the availability and seasonality of vegetables at the Market changes over time.

No big deal, I thought, it’s almost the end of the season. There won’t be anything new on the shelves. I don’t need my checklist.

So when I got there I took a quick look at what was available. Sure enough, there are tons of veggies. This is the harvest season, the most productive time of the year. But since we only have a couple more weeks of the Market, I should start looking for veggies that need to drop off the list, veggies whose time has past.

Or so I thought. Radishes are early season veggies, surely they’re done. But Snowshoe Hollow Farm had some from succession planting. Are Napa cabbage done? Nope, Bob Durr has those. Basil? Twitter Creek had a basket full. Broccoli? Rob had a tub of it. Apples? Dave Schroer had some earlier and Christina still had a couple of bags.

While I was wandering around asking everyone what they were no longer producing, they made sure to let me know what new they were producing. Yes, the Market produce checklist is still growing rather than shrinking.

Luba’s garden had parsnips. Snowshoe Hollow had Brussel sprouts. And James was there with Stoked Honey.

Dan and Luba also pointed out that this is the time of the year for those crisp clusters of romaine and other lettuces that you don’t get in the early season. Grown in high tunnels, they are babied and cared for so they aren’t stressed and bitter.

It’s just a friendly reminder that it’s not over till it’s over. There are two more weeks of Markets left, but there will be vendors selling long after that final Harvest Party on the last Saturday of September. The veggies are still coming.

So head on down to the Market on Ocean Drive Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. or Wednesday from 2-5 p.m. to take advantage of the season.

Kyra Wagner is the coordinator of Sustainable Homer and the Homer Farmers Market’s biggest fan.

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