Alan Morstein of Regi's is back from vacation and back to work as our Waverly Market correspondent. The big news this morning: hurry up and get those tomatoes. Here's Alan. LV
After a week away it was great seeing the hard-working farmers at the Waverly Market this morning.
One of the highlights of my visit was talking to a group of high school students from a project named Great Kids Farm Growers.
This group consist of inner-city high school students who work a three-acre mini farm in Catonsville, on property owned by the Baltimore City School system. The students work the field and then wake up early in the morning to sell their products at the Waverly Market.
Today for sale they offered squash blossoms, cherry tomatoes, jalapenos, Genovese basil and per your recent article ... purslane. The project will become an accredited course next school year. Way to go, kids!
Making a market debut this week, honeydews, yellow hot peppers, Asian pears, champagne grapes (very small, bursting with flavor, delicate skin, green/red grapes) and jumbo white sweet potatoes.
Many growers stated that the Maryland local tomato season is winding down early this year due the extreme early summer heat. The primary reason being is that the tomatoes are not growing to full maturity and ripening early on the vines, making for smaller tomatoes and shorter crop production.
It may be time to get serious about canning the "Taste of Maryland" before the season ends.
Beautiful day to get out and enjoy the market.
Chicago Tribune photo