Our Moral Obligation

This is the time of year – for those of us in New England, anyway – when local produce is king. The farmers’ markets (and neighbors’ gardens) are overflowing; when you think about it, it’s really nothing less than our moral obligation to shop daily and dine on the freshest fruit and vegetables every dinner.

In the years (26 of them!) since we moved to Boston’s North Shore, the local produce scene up here has gotten tremendously robust. Within a ten-minute drive, we now have at least half a dozen markets to choose from; Mark, a grocery shop-aholic, frequents every one of them, I think!

And as I said, we really must gobble up this stuff while we can. Not only is it plentiful, delicious and healthy – but barely two months from now we’ll be desperate for just one more ear of really fresh corn, zucchini, cucumber – anything! And don’t even contemplate how we’ll fare in February (Yikes!).

In that spirit, we’ve put together a menu this month that spotlights some of the best that the region has to offer, in some of our favorite recipes. Among the stars of a late summer meal in New England:

Corn – so sweet and delicious when cooked on the day it’s picked. Mark is on a mission to have it at least every other day. My husband says: Go to the market late in the afternoon so it’s as fresh as possible when you cook it. You know you’ve hit the jackpot when they’re dumping a new load on the table just as you arrive!

Tomatoes – probably everyone’s favorite right now. One of our locals has started growing incredible heirloom varieties in quantity; the orange ones are terrific!

Peaches and Nectarines – about five years ago, a farmer in the next town over started growing and selling these. I haven’t had peaches this good since I was a kid.

Berries – we’ve got blackberry bushes in profusion in our side yard. And, as you’ll see in our recipes for scones and crumble, we make blueberries from Maine a year-round treat for ourselves.

Herbs – basil, rosemary, thyme, dill, mint, savory, marjoram, oregano. So much better than dried...

And just to make sure you get a little Yankee in your harvest, don’t forget the Lobster!

My husband says: Just to give credit where credit is due, I’d like to plug some of my favorite local places to shop. If it weren’t for the farms and shops that work hard to produce this stuff, at its highest quality, our Yankee Harvest issue would be inconceivable.

Marini Farm – one of the largest markets around, with a large network of farmers contributing in huge variety. I go here especially for the corn, tomatoes and basil. They’ve also got those white fingerling potatoes that are so yummy. Plus, a bit later in the year, they’ll have gorgeous gladiolus for your centerpiece!

Brooksby Farm – OMG, those peaches!

Tendercrop Farm – another very large market, with lots of variety. This is my stop for herbs especially, and most anything else that looks good that day. A huge plus: they have my favorite butcher counter, featuring chicken, pork and grass-fed beef, all raised and prepared themselves.

Appleton Farms – our local CSA, owned and operated by the Trustees of the Reservations, the largest and oldest land trust in Massachusetts. I don’t actually belong to the CSA, but some friends of ours do and we sometimes get their share when they’re on vacation. However they also have a public shop, where they offer their own grass-fed beef and dairy – including, recently, their own cheese!

Coastal Green Grocer – besides having a produce selection (their arugala is the best), they’ve got all the gourmet breads, cheeses, cured meats, condiments, wines and beers to round out your shopping list. Pro tip – try a sandwich while you’re there!