Farmer's Market Picnic Lunch: What Can You Get in Winter?
It's winter, so what can you even get at a farmer's market at this time of year? While many farmer's markets in the DC area run on a Spring to November schedule, my Virginia local Saturday spree was still in full swing and provided the perfect picnic-esque winter lunch.
I've always been a fan of the simple lunch and these markets are my favorite place to do the purchasing. One of my main food beliefs is supporting local farms for fresher food and knowledge of each provider’s farm practices. If you’re looking for an educational mini-trip, just inquire whether the farms provide tours!
The Menu:
Honey whole wheat bread open face sandwich
With neufchatel cheese, fruit spread, and micro greens sprinkled with sea salt
Side salad with lettuce mix tossed in home made honey mustard dressing
Just like any shopping trip, we forgot to pick up something…the cheese. But don’t let forgetting an ingredient spoil your lunch! We subbed goat cheese for basic Neufchatel cheese we already had in the fridge.
About the products:
- Fruit spread trifecta: cranberry, apricot, fig: Each area was made of dry fruit mixed with a variety of nuts. It keeps well in the fridge and is the perfect hostess gift. Everona is the farm that produces the trifecta in addition to several cheeses, wool, and border collies.
- Micro Greens and lettuce mix: This hydroponic farm grows lettuce and greens very locally and was even featured on Emeril! The 12,000 square foot greenhouse space is equivalent to 12 acres of traditional farm production. The greens are superb- literally the best I have ever had and are at par with fresh from the garden greens. Here’s a video how hydroponic lettuce is produced on a larger scale. I definitely recommend watching this Discovery channel clip, so book mark it and come back if you don’t have time right now.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHBhyqowSEc&w=420&h=315]
- Honey Whole Wheat Bread: Unwrap and get a whiff of fresh baked bread. The shape of the loaf is picture perfect and the interior crumb is a great texture that lends itself to toasting or eating right after slicing.
Do you have a great farmer’s market in your area? What’s your favorite lunch to nab?
Dietitian Nutritionist and cookbook author sharing flavor-forward recipes and simplified science-driven wellness.