Welcome to my love letter to fruits and vegetables! I’ve been a vegetarian since the 1980s, so for me, gorgeous produce is pretty hot cha cha. Behold the sweet, drippy Oklahoma peach (ideally eaten over the sink) in July! Marvel at the glorious, sweet-tart juiciness of a fresh tomato sandwich on white bread with mayo (Miracle Whip if you must) and a dash of salt! Revel in the fragrant perfection of devouring a pint of strawberries – picked mere hours ago – straight from the carton!
All of this and so much more is waiting for you at the MANY farmers markets and fresh markets that dot OKC during growing months and in some cases all year round. Here’s a handful of really good ones.
Scissortail Farmers Market, 9am – 1pm every Saturday, April through October. Besides beautiful fresh produce, here you’ll also find bread and baked goods, local honey, organic bison and beef, coffee, tamales, soaps, beer and wine. It’s a festive vibe, with food trucks and lots of locals doing their weekly shopping.
OAK Farmers Market. A newer entry in the OKC farmers markets scene, the farmers market at OAK is held in its central greenspace, Heartwood Park, one Saturday each month from April to October. Vendors here include more dry goods than most, like clothing and jewelry, soaps and other goods made from essential oils, jerky, granola, jams and jellies and baked goods – for humans and pups!
Flora Bodega is a year-round, brick-and-mortar co-op filled with beautiful produce, fresh eggs, hand crafted baked goods, beef and poultry, fresh local flowers, pantry goods and a terrific selection of local cheeses and sausages. Plus, it’s employee-owned and as hyper local as you can get.
Urban Agrarian is open every day. It’s filled with local food and goods sourced from more than 60 Oklahoma farmers and food makers, with priority given to farmers using sustainable and organic practices. You’ll love perusing a full range of locally available produce as well as milk, eggs, grass-fed beef, pastured pork and poultry, artisanal pasta, farmstead cheese and much more.
OKC Public Farmers Market has been operating since 1928. These days, its Saturday Markets are open from 9am to 2pm. This is the OG farmers market in the area, filled with vendors offering vegetables, fruits, honey, canned goods, jams and jellies, bath and body, vintage clothing, vegetable plants, teas and more.
Know before you go: pro tips for your first foray into farmers markets:
Take a lap. Before you dive in and start buying, walk a lap through the entire market and set your priorities.
Chat it up. Ask how to cook a vegetable you’ve never tried, ask how the chickens are raised, introduce yourself and learn about the vendors.
Bring a bag. Some vendors may have bags, but the smarter and more sustainable move is to grab a tote (or two) to transport your goodies.
Just in case…cash. Most vendors have a payment platform for credit or debit cards, but some won’t – and some farmers markets will have an ATM, but some won’t.
Know what’s growing – and when. In the spring, look for delicate asparagus, spicy radishes, zippy onions, robust broccoli and sweet, sweet strawberries. Summer crops include cantaloupe and honeydew melons, squash like zucchini and yellow varieties (great for grilling), multicolored heirloom tomatoes, crisp delicious corn (eat it raw, right off the cob!), PEACHES, spinach and blackberries. Fall brings us roasty peanuts, pecans (make pecan pesto!), bountiful sweet potatoes, butternut and acorn squash and perfect-for-roasting brussels sprouts. Winter delights include red, green and Napa cabbage, sweet orange, purple and white carrots, mild parsnips (mash them with butter!), red, yellow and russet potatoes, pretty turnips and hearty collards.
Layers and sunscreen. Oklahoma’s weather can change in seconds. If you’re heading for an outdoor market early in the season, wear comfortable layers, good walking shoes and a hat or cap. In summer months, a cap or hat is a must, as is sunscreen. Bonus tip: you’ll earn style points for Birkenstocks.
Author
Christine Eddington is a writer and strategist based in Oklahoma City.
Republished from Visit OKC.