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Showing posts with label produce. Show all posts
Showing posts with label produce. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

The Local Farmstand

Over the past few years it seems that the local green markets have become more and more sophisticated and unfortunately more commercialized. Vendors vie heatedly for spaces, and pay rather large sums to be included in what once was one of the most sincere of trade methods: the farmer bringing his produce to the marketplace and selling it for a reasonable price directly to the customer. No middle men involved. It was nice, right? It felt as if we were somehow hearkening back to an earlier time when the community had not become so monetized.

A couple of evenings ago, Georgina and I ate at a popular dive in Manhattan where we ordered watermelon juice. It was so delicious and refreshing that we talked animatedly about making it ourselves. Wouldn't you know, the very next day, back in Astoria, we chanced upon an actual farmer selling his New Jersey grown produce in front of the home he had grown up in. He spoke of how he felt he was somehow completing a circle, selling from this location. I don't know if the city condoned his activity, and I didn't care when I purchased a perfect watermelon for $4.00. I did not take his photo. I did not write down the address. Let's just say if you're over by the Post Office on Twenty-First Street between 30th Ave. and Astoria Blvd, and you see a man selling produce under a collapsible awning in front of a home that's been there for a good long time, do yourself a favor and pick up on what the experience of sincerity is all about.

Watermelon Juice: place half of a small watermelon in a blender. Fill to the top with water. Spin to a froth.

It tastes exactly like Summer.

Evaluation: Extraordinarily sincere!

Digg!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Barb's Veggies - Rt. 25, Long Island's North Fork

 When you get beyond Riverhead, driving along the North Fork of Long Island, you pass numerous vineyards and farm stands between little towns such as Aquebogue, Cutchogue and Mattituck. Great is the temptation to stop at any or all of these during the warm months and check out their sumptuous local produce. But beware - not all are sincere - nor even totally local. We became aware of this on a pumpkin picking excursion one year. Yes, we were searching for, "the most sincere pumpkin patch." Those that boasted Corn Mazes and Haunted Houses were to be avoided. They were essentially tourist traps for people with little kids that needed entertainment. Fortunately, all our little kid wanted to do was find an exceptional pumpkin. So after a few run-ins with these insincerities, we were attracted by a humble little stand on the side of the road with no gigantic Halloween decorations - just vegetables, and an impressive line up of pumpkins. Behind it stretched the empty furrows from whence they came. Delighted, we chose just the right pumpkins at just the right prices, along with some sweet corn and other succulent items, and the friendly owners helped us without a lot of unnecessary gab.

Now, child all grown up, we still make it a point to stop there in the summer for melons, berries, lettuce, squash, corn or whatever else entices. No home-made pies, no pots of chowder, just fresh, homegrown produce. Amen. 

Evaluation: Very Sincere

Digg!  
Located between Pindar Vineyards and the Southold Police Department after the town of Cutchogue, on the left, heading south (or the east side of the road).