Farm Fresh

With a gluten sensitivity comes the need to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. The only problem with this, is buying fresh can be expensive. Unless you have the time and dedication to grow your own garden, shopping fresh can seem like a hassle when you are not "used" to it. It's not liking going to Aldi and buying dollar bags of chips and ho-ho's. The best way to keep that grocery bill down is to shop for produce that is in season. There is nothing wrong with buying produce out of season, it doesn't make it any less healthy or delicious. But it will make your budget happy.

Our finds today! Love eating fresh! Cherries, red potatoes, bananas, apples, raspberries, celery, onions.

This is why I have a new found love for our local farmers market. I love walking through the isles of venders taking in all the hustle and bustle of everyone looking for the freshest organic produce. What a rush! The trick to getting the best deal for the freshest produce is to know what season is best for certain fruits and veggies. Also, knowing which vendors will cut deals and bargain a bit. For instance, rather than spending two dollars for one quart of potatoes, you get three quarts for five dollars. DEALS! The farmers market is a lifesaver for people like me who have absolutely no green thumb to speak of.

Mlive (2009) Retrieved on June 30, 2012 from: http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2009/04/farm_market_season_starts_satu.html

Black Raspberries 

Again, it's all about the seasons. Sometimes it is obvious of what is season because you will see every vendor with it at their booth, but sometimes it is harder to tell if you are getting a good deal or not.

January February March April Asparagus Avocados Beets Broccoli Cabbage Carambola Cauliflower Celery Chard Cherimoyas Citrus:   Blood Orange,   Grapefruit,   Kumquats,   Lemons,   Navel Oranges,   Tangelos/Tangerines  Dates, Medjool Kale Kohlrabi Mushroom Mustard Onion, Green Passion Fruit Peas, Green Strawberries Asparagus Avocados Beets Broccoli Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celery Chard Citrus: Blood Orange, Grapefruit, Kumquats, Lemons, Navel Oranges,  Tangelos/Tangerines  Collards Dates, Medjool Kale Kohlrabi Lettuce Mushroom Mustard Onion, Green Passion Fruit Peas, Green Spinach Strawberries Turnips Asparagus Avocados Beets Broccoli Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celery Chard Citrus:   Blood Oranges,   Grapefruits,   Kumquats,   Lemons,   Navel Oranges,   Tangelos/Tangerines Collards Dates, Medjool Kale Kohlrabi Lettuce Mushroom Mustard Onion, Green Passion Fruit Peas, Green Spinach Strawberries Turnips Asparagus Avocados Basil Beans, Green Beets Broccoli Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celery Chard Cherries Citrus:   Grapefruits,   Kumquats,   Lemons,   Navel Oranges,   Tangelos/Tangerines  Collards Cucumber Dates, Medjool Kale Kohlrabi Lettuce Mushroom Mustard Nectarines Onion, Green Passion Fruit Peas, Green Raspberries Spinach Strawberries Tomatoes Turnips

May June July August Apricots Asparagus Avocados Basil Beans, Green Beets Broccoli Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celery Chard Cherries Citrus:   Grapefruits,   Kumquats,   Lemons,   Navel Oranges,   Valencia Oranges       Collards Corn Cucumber Dates, Medjool Eggplant Figs Kale Kohlrabi Lettuce Mushroom Mustard Nectarines, Okra Onion, dry Onion, Green Passion Fruit Peaches Pears, Asian Peas, Black-eyed Peas, Green Plums Potatoes Raspberries Spinach Squash, Summer Strawberries Tomatoes Turnips Apricots Avocados Cherries Asparagus Basil Beans, Green Beets Broccoli Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celery Chard Citrus:   Grapefruits,   Kumquats,   Lemons,   Navel Oranges,   Valencia Oranges    Collards Corn Cucumber Eggplant Figs Grapes Kale Kohlrabi Lettuce Melons Mushroom Mustard Nectarines Okra Onion, dry Onion, Green Passion Fruit Peaches Pears Pears, Asian Peas, Black-eyed Peppers Plums Potatoes Raspberries Spinach Squash, Summer Strawberries Tomatoes Turnips Apples Apricots Asparagus Avocados Basil Beans, Green Beets Broccoli Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celery Cherries Citrus:   Grapefruits,   Lemons,   Valencia Oranges       Collards Corn Cucumber Eggplant Figs Grapes Kale Kohlrabi Lettuce Melons Mushroom Mustard Nectarines Okra Onion, dry Onion, Green Passion Fruit Peaches Pears Pears, Asian Peas, Black-eyed Peppers Plums Potatoes Raspberries Sapote Spinach Squash, Summer Strawberries Tomatoes Turnips Apples Asparagus Avocados Basil Beans, Green Beets Broccoli Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celery Chili Pepper Citrus:   Grapefruits,   Lemons,   Valencia Oranges     Collards Corn Cucumber Eggplant Figs Grapes Kale Kohlrabi Lettuce Melons Mushroom Mustard Nectarines Okra Onion, dry Onion, Green Passion Fruit Peaches Pears Pears, Asian Peas, Black-eyed Peppers Persimmons Plums Potatoes Raspberries Sapote Spinach Squash, Summer Squash, Winter Strawberries Tomatillos Tomatoes Turnips

September October November December Apples Asparagus Avocados Basil Beans, Green Beets Brussels Sprout Cabbage Carrots Celery Chili Pepper Citrus:   Grapefruits,   Lemons,   Valencia Oranges      Oranges Collards Corn Cucumber Eggplant Grapes Guava, Pineapple Kale Kohlrabi Lettuce Mushroom Mustard Nectarines Okra Onion, dry Onion, Green Passion Fruit Peaches Pears Pears, Asian Peas, Black-eyed Peppers Persimmons Plums Potatoes Raspberries Sapote Spinach Squash, Summer Squash, Winter Strawberries Tomatillos Tomatoes Turnips Apples Asparagus Avocados Basil Beans, Green Beets Broccoli Brussels Sprout Cabbage Carambola Carrots Cauliflower Celery Chard Cherimoyas Chili Pepper Citrus:   Grapefruits,   Lemons,   Tangelos/Tangerines,   Valencia Oranges Collards Corn Cucumber Eggplant Grapes Guava, Pineapple Kale Kiwi Kohlrabi Lettuce Mushroom Mustard Okra Onion, dry Onion, Green Passion Fruit Peaches Pears, Asian Peas, Black-eyed Peppers Persimmons Pomegranates Potatoes Raspberries Sapote Spinach Squash, Summer Squash, Winter Strawberries Tomatillos Tomatoes Turnips Yams Apples Artichokes Asparagus Basil Beans, Green Beets Broccoli Brussels Sprout Cabbage Carambola Carrots Cauliflower Celery Chard Cherimoyas Chili Pepper Citrus:   Grapefruits,   Lemons,   Tangelos/Tangerines,   Valencia Oranges Collards Corn Cucumber Eggplant Grapes Guava, Pineapple Kale Kiwi Kohlrabi Lettuce Mushroom Mustard Okra Onion, dry Onion, Green Passion Fruit Peaches Peas, Black-eyed Peppers Persimmons Pomegranates Potatoes Raspberries Sapote Spinach Squash, Summer Squash, Winter Tomatillos Tomatoes Turnips Yams Artichokes Basil Beans, Green Beets Brussels Sprout Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celery Chard Chili Pepper Citrus:   Lemons,   Valencia Oranges        Collards Corn Cucumber Eggplant Grapes Guava, Pineapple Kale Kiwi Kohlrabi Lettuce Mushroom Mustard Okra Onion, dry Onion, Green Peppers Pomegranates Potatoes Spinach Squash, Summer Squash, Winter Tomatillos Tomatoes Turnips Yams

Southland Farmers Markets Association (2002) Retrieved from: http://www.sfma.net/consumer/inseason.shtml/

Red Raspberries