It’s hard to believe that the summer is half over. But at Mt. Pleasant Market, this is one of our favorite (and busiest) times of the year. Although we make things like cheese and baked goods all throughout the year, the summer and fall months are when we get to enjoy the fresh, ripe produce we’ve waited so long for. In today’s post, we want to share with you what’s currently in season, and give you some ideas on how to prepare it. Of course, you can always just enjoy your fruits and veggies raw, or in a salad, but there are so many other delicious things you can do with them. Keep reading, and if you’re looking for an Amish market where you can get fresh produce picked at its peak, we hope you’ll stop by Mt. Pleasant Produce in Honey Brook.
Tomatoes
Some of the most popular seasonal produce to buy at a farmer’s market are vine-ripened tomatoes. That’s because there’s simply no comparison between a freshly-picked tomato and one that was picked when it was green and allowed to ripen over the weeks it spent on a truck or in a warehouse. Red, ripe tomatoes are juicy and bursting with flavor, and that’s why you’ll want to get several quarts while you can.
So, what should you do with all of those yummy, sweet tomatoes? The choices are endless, but one of our favorite things to do is to enjoy them in a chilled soup that just screams summer. Yes, we’re talking about Gazpacho. This delicious dish is just bursting with flavor from tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions, as well as other fresh produce, making it the perfect choice for a hot summer day. Check out this simple Gazpacho recipe and make some today!
Zucchini
This versatile, green summer squash is delicious when eaten raw or cooked, and its mild flavor and texture allow it to work well in just about any recipe, including desserts. It can easily be shredded and used to make a loaf of delicious, moist bread, or it can be diced, seasoned, and tossed with corn and beans for a slightly different variation on succotash.
To truly appreciate the versatility of this low-calorie, potassium-rich veggie, why not try this recipe for healthy zucchini cookies. They’re made with chocolate chips so they’re sure to be delicious, and the addition of oatmeal gives this cookie a pleasing texture. You may want to make a double batch — after all, they’re good for you!
Pickling Cucumbers
This time every year, we can’t wait for the pickling cucumbers to arrive. And once they do — we know we’ll have far more than we can eat! These smaller versions of your traditional cucumber are similar in taste, but shorter, and have thinner skins. They’re best when eaten right out of the garden, but pickling enthusiasts love to use them to make a salty snack they can enjoy all year-round.
If you’re not sure that you want to invest the time to can your pickles, you can easily make refrigerator pickles that are ready to eat the next day. We like this recipe for spicy refrigerator pickles. You can easily adjust the recipe to be more or less spicy to suit your personal preference. Keep in mind that because these pickles are not actually “canned” you’ll have to keep them in your refrigerator and you should eat them up within a couple of weeks.
Don’t forget that if you love pickles, and you just don’t have the time to even try your hand at making refrigerator pickles, you can always shop our website for homemade Amish pickles. We carry a wide variety including traditional dill pickles and bread and butter pickles, as well as several different types of pickled vegetables.
Variety Box
When you shop Mt. Pleasant Produce, you can certainly pick and choose your favorite items, or you can save some time and just order a box of assorted vegetables. Each one is filled with our farm-grown vegetables and the assortment continuously evolves depending on the available crops. If you’re looking for a well-rounded assortment of summer’s finest harvest, this veggie variety box is the way to go.
For a light, yet satisfying meal that’s packed with a healthy assortment of veggies, we recommend making this summer vegetable soup. It’s quick and easy, and you can use whichever vegetables you have on hand. Unlike heavy winter soups that can be filling, this light and refreshing soup is like a garden in a bowl. Perhaps the best part is that it only takes 30 minutes and paired with one of our loaves of fresh bread, it’s a meal that can’t be beaten.
Enjoy All That Summer Has To Offer With Mt. Pleasant Produce
Summers come and go all too quickly so it's important to take the time to stop and savor every moment. At Mt. Pleasant Produce, we encourage you to spend a little more time savoring good, healthy food, and enjoying each other’s company. Instead of ordering another round of takeout, why not pick up some homemade goods and farm-fresh produce from our Amish market?
Simply browse our website, make your choices, and we’ll deliver your order directly to your door. There’s never been an easier way to get handmade Amish goods no matter where you live, 365 days a year. Shop Mt. Pleasant Produce today!