The Dirt: What To Get At The Farmers Market This Weekend

You think you’re sick of this cold weather? In Adams County the peaches, nectarines, plums, and cherry trees are all in bloom. Fruit growers are hoping and praying that temperatures don’t drop below freezing, cursing this cold snap because if it stays too cold for too long it could ruin these beloved crops for the year. So, for the sake of summer pies and cobblers, think warm thoughts! In the meantime, spring, along with its showers, is slowly creeping in at farmer’s markets. Here are a few new additions that will be welcome sights despite the chill. Also, if you’re looking for something to do inside to get ramped up for the growing season, check out the Philly Farm and Food Fest at the Convention Center this Sunday!

Fiddlehead Ferns – You can’t get much greener than the feathery, coiled spirals of new fiddlehead fern shoots. Look for them at Wild & Wonderful Foods at the Rittenhouse market and at Primordia Mushroom Farm at the Chestnut Hill and Clark Park markets.

Morel Mushrooms – I can’t tell you where to go if you’re in need of morals, but I can tell you that if you’d like some morel mushrooms you should do see the fun guys over at Primordia Mushroom Farm at the Chestnut Hill and Clark Park farmer’s markets. A wild foraged, not cultivated, mushroom, they’re a pricey springtime treat that’s well worth it. If you do pick some up, soak them in water for an hour or so to help dislodge any sandy dirt or soil that might be clinging to them.

Komatsuna – At Chestnut Hill, Taproot Farm has been selling bunches of komatsuna, a variety of Japanese mustard spinach, alongside the more familiar kale and arugula. You’ll know it by its long, juicy stems and round leaves, and for little clusters of what looks like yellow flowering broccoli.

Coffee & Hot Chocolate – Chilly mornings mean that we’re not quite ready for cold brew season yet, but Philly Fair Trade Roasters, a new addition to the Clark Park market will be there to make sure you’re stocked up on hot beverages for the remaining chilly days.

Broccoli Rabe– Komatsuna (see above) is a fine stand-in for broccoli raabe, minus the bitterness, but if you’re after the real deal, head to Fitler Square and pick some up from Highland Orchards.