FoodieTots.com

Here’s a quick look at what you’ll find at the farmers markets this week, in the DC Metro area: asparagus, rhubarb, strawberries, blueberries, even some cherries coming in!

Westover Farmers Market ~ May from Colleen | GlassBottle on Vimeo.

(Vine from the Westover Farmers Market in Arlington, Sundays, 8am-noon.)

We took advantage of the unusually mild weather this past holiday weekend to finally check out the Delaplane Strawberry Festival in Virginia’s Fauquier County. The annual event is packed with old-fashioned family fun, from the cupcake walk and face painting to tug-of-war, potato sack races, hay rides and pony rides. There were food vendors and live music, too. There’s not much better than chowing down on crab cake sandwiches while the kids dance to bluegrass under a bright blue sky.

We capped the day off with strawberry sundaes. Unfortunately they’d sold out of fresh berries, and other local farms were struggling to keep up with demand over the busy weekend. Our cool spring has delayed our summer berries and fruits, but I hear there will be plenty of berries available by this coming weekend.

Whether you pick your berries at the farm or just pick them up at market, here’s a fun salsa recipe that incorporates the radishes that are also in season.

Recipe: Strawberry Radish Salsa
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chopped strawberries
• 1/4 cup chopped radish
• 1 finely chopped green onion
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon honey

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, combine chopped strawberries, radish and green onion.

2. In an even smaller bowl, whisk together honey and vinegar until honey is dissolved. Pour mixture over strawberries and stir gently to combine.

3. Let stand at room temperature for at least 15 minutes before serving.

~

That’s the view from Sky Meadows State Park, where the festival was held. Mark your calendars for Memorial Day weekend, 2014. We’ll see you there!

(As a reminder, here are some of our favorite places to pick strawberries in Northern Virginia — but remember to ALWAYS call first to confirm availability before you make the trip.)

This weekend I was in Madison, Wisconsin, on cheese business. (Yes, really!) Of course a visit to the Dane County Farmers Market, on the state capitol square, was on the agenda. The nation’s largest producer-only farmers market, the square was bustling with people browsing cheese curds, fresh baked goods, local meats, and ample spring produce — even though winter only ended about a week ago up here. The mountains of rhubarb were most impressive, and it was hard to resist the urge to pack a suitcase full of it to bring back home.

Isn’t that lovely? I settled with some black popcorn for the kids and, of course, cheese. What’d you find at the market this weekend?

May brings the opening of the seasonal markets to Washington, DC and the suburbs, including two of our favorite, family-friendly Sunday markets: the West End Farmers Market in Alexandria (8:30am-1:00pm) and the Westover Farmers Market in N. Arlington (now 8:00am-noon). Yes, Westover was open through the winter but the full slate of vendors is now back for summer, with quite a few additions since last year.

New vendors at Westover include Cibola Farms (Virginia bison and free-range pork), Spring Valley Farm & Orchard of West Virginia, Shells Yes! with Eastern Shore crab, GrohNola, and Nourish Market from Falls Church selling prepared foods (and the best, naturally-sweetened strawberry lemonade right now).

We got some lovely organic greens from Over the Mountain Farm (MD) last week (pictured below). Fresh Joseph’s, the fresh-squeezed orange juice and mozzarella folks seen at West End, has also joined Westover this season.

Follow these markets on Facebook (Westover or West End) for updates and special events throughout the season.
(And follow Foodie Tots to see what we’re buying and cooking each week.)

Hope to see you at the market!

Happy Earth Day! Hope you’re celebrating with some healthy, organic greens today.

We spent some time finally cleaning up the garden this weekend. After a freezing cold March, April has been busy. Note to self: suck it up and get things started before Little League starts next year. What have you planted this year?