Locally grown strawberries have arrived, and this season’s weather pattern of alternating rain and sunshine has done wonders. The first of this year’s crop are firm, juicy and perfectly sweet, with a lovely crisp, clean fruity flavor.
SUMMER STRAWBERRIES
RHUBARB
The cultivation of rhubarb can be traced back over 4,000 years. The Chinese celebrated its medicinal attributes for more than three millennia, Marco Polo brought it back to Venice in the 1500’s, but it would be another three hundred years before rhubarb found its way into the kitchens of Europe.
STONE FRUIT
Summer is the season for stone fruits, but this year’s unusually mild winter and warm spring has gifted us with these sweet treats a few weeks early, and the first of the season’s peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums and cherries are on the stands right now.
LOCAL GREENS
No other category defines quality and freshness more than fresh lettuces and greens. As celebrants of everything local, Union Market eagerly awaits the growing season every year, salad tongs in hand.
TOMATOES
Tomato: fruit or vegetable? Everyone has an opinion, and this question even made it all the way to the Supreme Court in 1893.
CHERRIES
Mention cherries and you might automatically think of Washington State, Michigan or northern California. But did you know that over 20 varieties of cherries are harvested annually in New York State?
CORN
The first big, burlap bags of Long Island corn have arrived at Union Market. The corn is young; the kernels are so tender they pop like caviar. The clean, sweet flavor is that of our best memory of summer corn.
