The heat of summer is upon us! That means visiting the farmers market in August is best done early in the morning. Look for foods that you can eat fresh, or those you can grill outside.
As in July, all the farmers markets in August are open right now! They will be well attended by both farmers and customers. Look for peaches and even apples to make an appearance. Find dairy, meat, and cottage food items.
There are a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables to be found at Maryland farmers markets in August.
Farmers Market in August – Fruits
Blackberries
Blueberries
Melons
Nectarines
Peaches
Plums and Pluots
Raspberries
Watermelons
Apples
Cantaloupes
Currants
Grapes
Pears
Farmers Market in August – Vegetables
Basil
Beets
Carrots
Collards
Corn
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Garlic
Green beans
Green onions
Kale
Herbs
Onions
Oregano
Peppers
Potatoes
Snap peas
Squash (summer)
Thyme
Tomatoes
Celery
Leeks
Rutabagas
Squash (winter)
As in July, the key to cooking in August should involve your grill! It’s hot outside, and it’s best to keep the heat out of your kitchen. Grilling fruits, vegetables, and meats is a great way to enjoy the weather and keep it where it belongs.
A favorite here is to grill some meat and make something Tex-mex with it. That could be chicken fajitas, or tacos. In general, taking a tortilla and adding grilled meat, vegetables, and salsa is a delicious way to enjoy your local August foods.
Traditionally, fajitas include meat, onions, and peppers. All are easy to find right now. But you can also add grilled corn kernels, grilled summer squash, and a homemade salsa too!
Vegetarian fajitas can be made with mushrooms, which you may also find locally. Again, corn, zucchini and fresh salsa are welcome additions.
Your grilled fajita toppings reheat easily for quick meals the next day. Adding them to rice rather than tortillas means fajita bowls, which makes for easy lunches to take to work.
Make some Watermelon Margaritas to spice up your fajitas. For a non-alcoholic option, make some Watermelon Agua Fresca.
For dessert, you can’t go wrong with grilled peaches. Peaches are my favorite, whether fresh or cooked. Now is the time to enjoy them, as they don’t last long! Freeze them for a summer treat in the winter.
Truly, August is the easiest time to eat locally. Most things are in season and all the markets are open. Take time to freeze, can, or dehydrate some of what you find. Preserving now is a key to eating locally all year long.
