Looking Back: Tasty Tuesday’s Vegetables

I have written about the small local farmer’s market,  Tasty Tuesday Market in front of the New Port Richey library,  nearly every winter for about 5 years. February, March, April, and May are a great time to buy fresh leafy greens and other veggies grown in yards without chemical sprays.  My favorite grower Cyndi retired from farming two summers ago, but I still have Jim offering loads of vegetables during the winter.

 

By May, it is hot like summer here in Florida and the leafy greens will disappear. Jim will clear his front yard field, plant sweet potatoes, and drive north for the summer to Maine to his grandfather’s farm.  There he will plant another season of produce.  Jim says a Maine summer is similar to our winter.   Next October he will return with Maine autumn produce, like apples. During the “season” (winter months and early spring), there weres always tables of fresh produce from multiple growers and lots of buyers.   Then the pandemic hit the world. During lockdown there was no market. When restrictions were removed, I went to see the little market in front of the library. It was sad with just a few tables and few patrons.  We obviously didn’t have the normal number of snowbirds coming to Florida for the winter. I personally think that it is better for all of us, but I am sad about the market.   Today’s photos are from several years ago. Pardon me if you have seen them before.

 

 

 

 

Most days in central Florida are bright with blue skies.  Add fresh produce fresh from the garden and I feel like it’s heaven.  A few Florida cool weather crops are a beautiful big cabbage, baby carrots, and a handful of spinach. I think fresh cabbages are gorgeous like a big green flower. They’re gone by April as the temperatures rise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May used to mean other crops were available like squash, green beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, and even berries. Of course, I always loved real free-range eggs too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wishing you blue skies and warm days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Carol

I was raised in Tennessee but have lived in Florida for many years. Love my small home in the Tampa Bay area and its developing garden. My decorating style is eclectic - some vintage, some cottage, all with a modern flair. Pursuing a healthier lifestyle. Spent many years in social services but am happily retired.

14 thoughts to “Looking Back: Tasty Tuesday’s Vegetables”

  1. Amherstburg has a Farmer’s Market every year. The farmers of the local have many different vegetables to sell plus flowers. Have a great day Carol.

    Cruisin Paul

    1. thanks – I’m hoping next winter I’ll have great produce again – missed it this last year

  2. We love the markets here. They are open this year. Unfortunately the farms are located in the hottest real estate area in Oklahoma so one by one they are selling out and quitting. We are enjoying it for now though.

    1. they need to set up markets in a new area fast – got to have fresh produce don’t we?

  3. Our outdoor farmer’s market is on the mend (slowly getting back to the pre-COVID crowds). I hope yours bounces back soon!

  4. I missed our big market last year. I was lucky to find one with five stalls, outside, with two of my favorite vendors and I’ll still support them this year, but with my mask I’ll also go to the big one. This looks like such a good one, Carol. It’s fun to have favorite vendors.

    1. Yes my favorite grower retired from farming in preparation for her husband’s retirement. He has retired now and they travel a lot and go boating on the Gulf.

  5. Wonderful, I love markets like that. In Austria, the planting season has just started – I’m looking forward to my tomatoes, strawberries, cucumbers, beans, etc. from my own garden. I have already been able to harvest lettuce and kohlrabi.
    All the best
    Traude

  6. Wow. Look at the colour of that cabbage. It just shouts “healthy “. And those long beans look delicious – just the thing alongside a pork chop.

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