Friday, August 22nd: Bag-O-Fish Returns, More Sweet Corn, Perfect Potatoes, Gorgeous Carrots & More!

Whole coho salmon from Wilson Fish. Copyright Zachary D. Lyons.

Hey kids! Bag O’ Fish returns today to your Madrona Farmers Market! Yes, this is the annual celebration of the Washington coastal Coho salmon fishery from Wilson Fish. Coho season on the coast is short, and Wilson catches them, cleans them, bags them, and offers them to you at a great price for a late summer feast! Oh, and Chef David Mitchell from Luc Restaurant returns today, as well, with another great cooking demonstration at 3:30 p.m.!

Basin ‘R’ Yellow Sweet Corn. Copyright Zachary D, Lyons.

The sweet corn just keeps on rolling this summer. This is Basin ‘R’ Yellow sweet corn from Lyall Farms. This is one of those super-sweet varieties with big kernels, and even bigger ears that will feed two. It is a corn developed to thrive in the Columbia Basin, and that it does!

Fresh basil from Growing Things Farm. Copyright Zachary D, Lyons.

It is time to get your pesto on, folks, or whatever you like to do best with fresh basil from Growing Things Farm! Their basil is so beautiful and fragrant right now, ready for your caprese salads, that fish, that perfect dessert with peaches and more. I had the good fortune of visiting Michaele and her crew on the farm yesterday in Duvall, and to see their robust basil fields. This is food grown with love!

Fortune plums from Collins Family Orchards. Copyright Zachary D, Lyons.

We are getting into serious plum season now, with such deeply sweet and complexly flavored varieties such as these Fortune plums from Collins Family Orchards from Selah. They are big, juicy and ready to eat, and you have to admit, they are also gorgeous, eh?

Sweet Snax carrots from One Leaf Farm. Copyright Zachary D, Lyons.

Meet Sweet Snax carrots from One Leaf Farm. Beautiful, aren’t they? They are sweet and crunchy and delicious. These are just the babies, as they are thinning their fields to allow the rest to grow even longer and bigger.

Blueberries & raspberries from Hayton Farms. Copyright Zachary D, Lyons.

Just in case you missed the memo, raspberries are back in full force now from several farms. These are from Hayton Berry Farms, up in Skagit Valley. They’ve also got these lovely blueberries currently, as well as their most prolific blackberry harvest in years. Yes, this continues to be an epic year for berries folks. Make sure you take advantage!

Rio Grande russet potatoes. Copyright Zachary D, Lyons.

Sure, there are plenty of more colorful potatoes with sexier names, but there is just something about a russet potato that comforts the American soul. These little fellers are Rio Grande russet potatoes from Olsen Farms. They are, like any russet, a great baker, masher and chipper. They’re are nice on the grill, too!

Eggplant from Tani Creek Farm. Copyright Zachary D, Lyons.

These stunning eggplant is from the good folks at Tani Creek Farm over on Bainbridge Island. They are an excellent example of how beautiful everything they grow is. They collect the best varieties of crops from all over the world, find the ones that work best where they are, and then save the seeds to grow year after year. That means that much of what they offer on their tables is in fact unique to them. So ask questions about what you see. The stories behind their crops are almost as delicious as the crops themselves!

Raisin Pumpernickel bread from Snohomish Bakery. Copyright Zachary D, Lyons.

Have you been on the lookout for a nice raisin pumpernickel bread around Seattle, but been frustrated in your search? Snohomish Bakery has you covered! So grab a loaf today, and enjoy the toast you’ve been missing for Saturday brunch tomorrow!

Zinnias from Yeng Garden. Copyright Zachary D, Lyons.

Complete the perfect weekend mood with some flowers from Yeng Garden. Lots of spectacular late summer varieties are in season right now, including dahlias, asters, and these colorful zinnias. Grab one of their pre-made bouquets, or have them make a custom bouquet just for you!

Remember, there is plenty more to tantalize your taste buds today at your Madrona Farmers Market. For a fuller accounting, see What’s Fresh Now!

Please remember to bring your own bags today, and please take note of our new green composting and blue recycling waste receptacles throughout your Madrona Farmers Market, and please make an effort to use them correctly. Each container has what’s okay to put in it pictured right on the lid. Please do not put the wrong materials in, because that drives up the cost of recycling and composting, and it can result in the entire container being sent instead to a landfill. Your understanding and cooperation are appreciated.

Friday, July 18th: Melons, Sweet Corn, Tomatoes, Nectarcots, New Potatoes, Farm Fresh Eggs & More!

Yellow Doll watermelon from Lyall Farms. Photo copyright 2011 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Just when you thought this summer couldn’t get any more amazing, Lyall Farms brings the first melons of the season to your Madrona Farmers Market! These are Yellow Doll watermelons, and this is the earliest we’ve ever seen them here, by more than two full weeks. Wow. They also have more traditional red watermelons, sweet, juicy and ripe, and ready for you to devour. Oh, and guess what else? Chef Thom Koschwanez of Red Cow will perform a cooking demonstration today at 3:30 p.m.

Tomatoes from One Leaf Farm. Photo copyright 2014 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Woohoo! The tomatoes from One Leaf Farm are coming in early, and with a vengeance! Four varieties so far, and more to come. Besides the sungold and heirloom cherries, above left, they’ve got Black Krim and Paul Robeson, above right. They are so ripe and juicy and delicious. While I’ve been devouring sungolds straight out of the container and in salads for a week now, last night, I enjoyed some of the Black Krims simply with some salt and some mayo. Not highbrow, just classic.

Nectarcots from Collins Family Orchards. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

These are nectarcots, from Collins Family Orchards, and as the name suggests, they are a cross betwixt nectarines and apricots. And of all the various stone fruit hybrids, I’d say these guys might be the most difficult to pick out their genetic lineage without us telling you. They kinda look like a yellow-orange plum, and they taste super sweet and are super juicy. They don’t have the fuzzy exterior of the apricot, or its deep flavor, and they don’t have that texture that nectarines have. It is as if somehow, someone was able to cross them and get them to contribute their best flavor notes while giving them the texture of a plum and the sturdiness of a pluot. Bottom line is, they are amazing, but they’re only around for a few weeks, so don’t you dare miss them!

Farm-fresh eggs from Growing Things Farm. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

The weekend is upon us, and that means we need eggs. Lucky for us, we have the best farm-fresh eggs I’ve ever tasted right here at your Madrona Farmers Market, from Growing Things Farm. They have nice, hard shells, big, deep yellow yolks, and are simply amazing. Seriously, if your only experience with eggs is the eggs at the Big Box stores, you must give these a try. Trust me, you will never go back, and you will never blink at the price again. And let’s face it: $1.50 for a serving of incredibly high quality protein, full of nutrients and flavor, frankly, is pretty cheap!

Rainbow chard from Kirsop Farm. Photo copyright 2014 by Zachary D. Lyons.

How about some stunningly gorgeous rainbow chard from Kirsop Farm? A close cousin of beets, chard is sweet and earthy when lightly wilted with some fresh garlic in a skillet. When choosing a bunch of chard, look for stem cuts that are still clean looking, like these, where they haven’t begun to brown. That tells you it was harvested within the last day. And if it gets wilty from the heat before you get it home, submerge it in a big bowl of very cold water for an hour or two. It will perk right back up again! This trick works for most greens.

Early Red Haven peaches from Martin Family Orchards. Photo copyright 2014 by Zachary D. Lyons.

These early red haven peaches from Martin Family Orchards are sweet and juicy, picked only when ripe, and then packed in these protective trays to reduce bruising. They are ready for you to enjoy right now, at the happy expense of the front of your shirt!

Organic sweet corn from Alvarez Organic Farms. Photo copyright 2014 by Zachary D. Lyons.

More sweet corn has arrived this week. This is certified organic sweet corn from Alvarez Organic Farms, and because I care, I have already done some serious quality control testing on it, and I can assure you, it is awesome!

Here is a tip for chosing corn: instead of pulling open the top to see if it is filled out, simply run your thumb over the outside of the husk. You can easily feel the mature kernels inside. See, when you actually tear the corn open, you are actually ruining it either for yourself or the next person, because the minute you do that, all the delicious sugars in it that make it so sweet begin to turn to starch. So please, never tear open the husk to examine it before you buy it. If you need help choosing the best ears, just ask. Our farmers are more than happy to lend you a hand.

Romanesco from Tani Creek Farm. Photo copyright 2014 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Yep, it’s the world’s coolest looking vegetable again: Romanesco. A cousin of cauliflower, this stuff grows in the most spectacular fractals. If you ever questioned whether math manifests itself in natural, you need look no further than this. Grab some today from our friends at Tani Creek Farm.

Flavor Supreme pluots from Tiny’s Organic. Photo copyright 2014 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Here’s another of those cool hybrid stone fruits: Flavor Supreme pluots from Tiny’s Organic. Remember, pluots are genetically 70% plum and 30% apricot, but they definitely favor plums in structure and appearance… well, except that pluots come in an extraordinary diversity of colors, flavors and sizes. For instance, Flavor Supremes have a greenish-red skin, but a deep red flesh (see above). And they are fantastic. Enjoy!

New Viking Purple potatoes from Olsen Farms. Photo copyright 2014 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Our friends at Olsen Farms offer these Viking Purple new potatoes today, just dug fresh this past week. They are sweet and tender, and they need to be eaten right away, preferably with lots of butter!

The Pete from Pete’s Perfect Toffee was hot last week! Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

This is Pete when it’s hot. But lucky for him, and us, today’s temps are much more reasonable than in recent weeks. And that makes it a lot easier to enjoy Pete’s Perfect Toffee, or his fudge, brittle and more. Unlike last Friday, today, it won’t liquify before you get it into your air conditioned car. And he doesn’t call it perfect for nothing, either. It is really good!

Strawberry rhubarb pie from Simply Soulful. Photo copyright 2014 by Zachary D. Lyons.

This is the last week for strawberry-rhubarb pie from Simply Soulful. Or at least we hope so! But hey, if they have already moved on from it by today at your Madrona Farmers Market, I think you will do just fine with their sweet potato pie, their pecan pie, or maybe some blackberry pie. Yeah, baby.

Sunflowers from Yeng Garden. Photo copyright 2014 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Brighten up your home with some beautiful, local flowers from Yeng Garden. Like so much else here at your Madrona Farmers Market, they are seeing many flower varieties coming in earlier than ever this season, like these gorgeous sunflowers. And today, we may even see some of the first dahlias of the year. Seriously. Wow.

Artisan breads from Tall Grass Bakery. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Don’t forget to grab a loaf or two of artisan bread from Tall Grass Bakery today. They have a wonderful selection, from deep, dark pumpernickel, to chewy, moist Baker Street sourdough, to earthy, sweet oat and honey and challah that will complete your sabbath meal or make for amazing French toast on Saturday morning.

Remember, there is plenty more to tantalize your taste buds today at your Madrona Farmers Market. For a fuller accounting, see What’s Fresh Now!

Please remember to bring your own bags today, and please take note of our new green composting and blue recycling waste receptacles throughout your Madrona Farmers Market, and please make an effort to use them correctly. Each container has what’s okay to put in it pictured right on the lid. Please do not put the wrong materials in, because that drives up the cost of recycling and composting, and it can result in the entire container being sent instead to a landfill. Your understanding and cooperation are appreciated.

Friday, July 11th: Sweet Corn, Tomatoes, Green Beans, Pluots, Fresh Salmon & More!!!

Sweet corn from Lyall Farms. Photo copyright 2014 by Zachary D. Lyons.

We hope you all had a pleasant Independence Day holiday. Now, it’s time to gear up for the real summer in Seattle — lots of warm, sunny days, a festival every three days, and a stunningly diverse rainbow of localiciousness at your Madrona Farmers Market. Indeed, this particular blog installment is about as colorful as any we’ve ever done. And yes, this is a photo of sweet corn! Lyall Farms has their first harvest of the season today. To quote Garrison Keillor, “Sex is good, but not as good as fresh sweet corn.” 

Sungold tomatoes from One Leaf Farm. Photo copyright 2014 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Hey kids! One Leaf Farm has tomatoes! These sungold cherry tomatoes, in fact. They are so sweet, they’re like candy. I eat them a pint at a time. Woohoo! Oh, and guess what else? Our friend, Chef Lesa Sullivan of LesaCooks.com will perform a cooking demonstration today at 3:30 p.m.!

Flavorosa Pluots from Tiny’s Organic Produce. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Tiny’s Organic has the first pluots of the year today. Pluots are a cross between plums and apricots — genetically 70% plum and 30% apricot. As such, they tend to favor plums in appearance, texture and taste, but they are sturdier and surprisingly diverse in flavor and appearance in and of themselves. These are Flavorosa pluots, the earliest variety.

Green beans from Alvarez Organic Farms. Photo copyright 2014 by Zachary D. Lyons.

And look! Green beans from Alvarez Organic Farms! Yup, green beans are now arriving at your Madrona Farmers Market this week from several farms. Try doing a quick sauté on them, maybe with some bacon and some pearl onions, if you can find them. Or get pickling!

Wild Washington red king salmon from Wilson Fish. Photo copyright 2011 by Zachary D. Lyons.

The fish are biting big time out on the Washington Coast this summer, and that means lots of this amazing wild Washington king salmon from Wilson Fish for all of us! And considering that it is some serious kinds of grilling weather right now, this weekend will be perfect for some of this.

Desiree new potatoes from Olsen Farms. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Finally, new potatoes from Olsen Farms. Yeah, baby. They grow such amazing potatoes way over in the Northeast corner of the state, and when they’re new this time of year, they are so sweet and delicious. But remember, new potatoes should be eaten within a couple of days, or they get starchy or soft. These beauties are new Desiree potatoes.

Organic salmon and red raspberries from Gaia’s Harmony Farm. Photo copyright 2014 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Check out this checkerboard of organic salmon and red raspberries from Gaia’s Harmony Farm! Spectacular, eh? Delicious, too. Stop buy and grab a bunch of them. They are perfect for hot weather salads, desserts… even hot weather cocktails!

Green Star lettuce from Growing Things Farm. Photo copyright 2014 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Growing Things Farm has lots of this gorgeous Green Star lettuce right now. This green leaf variety is perfect for that BLT, topping a burger, making a lettuce wrap, or just for a good, old-fashioned salad.

Golden and Detroit red beets from Kirsop Farm. Photo copyright 2014 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Beets, a very close cousin of chard, are also quite stunningly beautiful. Just take a gander at these golden beets and Detroit red beets from Kirsop Farm, for instance. And what’s great about beets is, you essentially get two veggies for the price of one. See, you get the root part, plus you get the greens, which are basically like chard.

Gruyere bread from Snohomish Bakery. Photo copyright 2014 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Have you tried the Gruyere bread from our newest bakery, Snohomish Bakery? It is nothing short of addictive. It has that wonderful, cheesy, Gruyere funkiness, and lovely, moist, chewy bread. Follow it up with one of their chocolate croissants, and you’re pretty much set!

Pickles from Purdy Pickle. Photo copyright 2014 by Zachary D. Lyons.

And don’t forget to get your pickle on with Purdy Pickle. They have a great lineup of freshly pickled items made from local ingredients, including pickled onions, pickled garlic, bread and butter pickles, pickled carrots and more!

Remember, there is plenty more to tantalize your taste buds today at your Madrona Farmers Market. For a fuller accounting, see What’s Fresh Now!

And please remember to bring your own bags today, and every Friday, as Seattle’s single-use plastic bag ban is now in effect. Also, please take note of our new green composting and blue recycling waste receptacles throughout your Madrona Farmers Market, and please make an effort to use them correctly. Each container has what’s okay to put in it pictured right on the lid. Please do not put the wrong materials in, because that drives up the cost of recycling and composting, and it can result in the entire container being sent instead to a landfill. Your understanding and cooperation are appreciated.

Friday, September 6th: Wine Tasting, Westside Corn, Fresh Cannellini Beans, Ravishing Raspberries & Chef Clara Moore!

Chef Clara Moore of Culinary Mercenary.

Wow, how the time flies. The kiddies are back in school already, and there are just four weeks left in the season here at your Madrona Farmers Market. Chef Clara Moore, of Culinary Mercenary will be doing our cooking demonstration today at 4 p.m. She is a wiz with making simple deliciousness from the bounty of the Market. She’s also a fabo teacher! Let her impart some great ideas to you today!

Organic estate wines from Wilridge Winery. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

We were thrilled last Friday to introduce our newest vendor, Wilridge Winery, from just up the hill from your Madrona Farmers Market. Seattle’s original winery, it was founded in 1988 by husband and wife duo, Paul Beveridge and Lysle Wilhelmi. Wilridge Winery is the oldest continuously operated winery in Seattle. And now, you can sample their wine before you buy, right here at the Market!

Westside sweet corn from Stoney Plains Organic Farm. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Look, kids. It’s Westside sweet corn from Stoney Plains Organic Farms. Since it doesn’t get as hot over on this side of the Cascade Mountains, Westside corn takes longer to mature. But what it lacks in speed it makes up for in flavor and sweetness. But it will go fast, so get here early!

Late season raspberries from Gaia’s Harmony Farm. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

It may be September, but it is still berry season. These organic raspberries are from Gaia’s Harmony Farm. 2013 has been one of the best berry-growing seasons in history, with better quality, sweeter berries and huge harvests. There is still plenty of time to get your berry on this season!

Broccoli from Kirsop Farm. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Yippee! It’s a new harvest of broccoli from Kirsop Farm! Is this not some of the most beautiful broccoli you have ever seen? Delicious, too. Try grilling it. What? Yes, broccoli grills quite nicely! I also love tossing it with some fusilli, crushed garlic and chile flakes, also. Or roast it in the oven. Mmm. Broccoli.

Dinosaur Egg pluots from Tiny’s Organic Produce. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Dinosaur Egg pluots have a cool name and are gorgeous, and they taste great, too! Plus, they travel well, so they are a good addition to lunch boxes. Grab a few from Tiny’s Organic Produce for the kiddies (and yourself) today!

Heirloom Kenyan sweet corn from Seattle Tilth Farm Works. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

This is heirloom sweet corn from Kenya, grown by African immigrant farmers in training at Seattle Tilth Farm Works on their land down in Auburn. Gorgeous, isn’t it? We had this at your Madrona Farmers Market last week, and hopefully, it will be back this week. This stuff is a little less tender than the modern, hybridized sweet corn we are used to around here, so you need to cook it a bit longer — up to 20 minutes — but the payoff is in its uniqueness and its heritage. This corn migrated all the way to Kenya from the Americas hundreds of years ago, and now, it is coming home again!

Organic Jerseys blueberries from Whitehorse Meadows Farm. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Jerseys blueberries are the latest variety of blueberries to come into season at Whitehorse Meadows Blueberry Farm. They are kind of the classic blueberry, sweet and a little tart. Toss them in your oatmeal. Make muffins. Add them to pancakes. Relish in their antioxidant qualities!

Fresh cannellini shelling beans from One Leaf Farm. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Cannellini beans are one of the great shelling beans. They are prized in Italy and France, and dried, they are the classic white bean. They have a lovely flavor and texture for use in soups, stews and salads, and when they are fresh, like these from One Leaf Farm, I love shucking them and building a lovely succotash around them. They are a great substitute for traditional lima beans. And as corn is the other most common component in succotash, I might just have to give that Kenyan corn a try with these beans — the Deep South meets Europe meets Africa!

Thai eggplant from Alvarez Organic Farms. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

These magnificent little creatures are Thai eggplant from Alvarez Organic Farms, and they are just one of about 18 varieties that they grow, 13 of which are gracing their tables right now. If you love eggplant like I love eggplant, check out Alvarez today. And to get your juices flowing , just take a gander at our Facebook photo album of their eggplant.

Cookies from Pinckney Cookie Cafe. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Mmm. Cookies. Four different kinds of cookies, in fact, from Pinckney Cookie Cafe. These fresh, chewy delights are actually made with local flour from the Washington wheat farmers of the Shepherd’s Grain Cooperative. And if you are actually avoiding wheat in your diet, never fear! Pinckney’s got your covered with gluten-free versions of all of their cookies, too!

Remember, there is plenty more to tantalize your taste buds today at your Madrona Farmers Market. For a fuller accounting, see What’s Fresh Now!

And please remember to bring your own bags today, and every Friday, as Seattle’s single-use plastic bag ban is now in effect. Also, please take note of our new green composting and blue recycling waste receptacles throughout your Madrona Farmers Market, and please make an effort to use them correctly. Each container has what’s okay to put in it pictured right on the lid. Please do not put the wrong materials in, because that drives up the cost of recycling and composting, and it can result in the entire container being sent instead to a landfill. Your understanding and cooperation are appreciated.

Friday, July 19th: 36 Hours to Support Growing Things Farm, Nectarcots, Organic Sweet Corn, Fennel Bulb & The Return Of Ice Cream!

Salad mix from Growing Things Farm. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons. 

This gorgeous salad mix is from our friends at Growing Things Farm. By the way, we want to give one more plug for the Growing Things Farm Kick Starter campaign. There are just 36 hours left to contribute. And while they have reached their minimum goal of $20,000 to frame out the house once raised above the floodline, they would like to raise another $10,000 so that they can install the plumbing, electrical and insulation, in order to make the farmhouse truly livable.

Nectarcots from Collins Family Orchards. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Nectarcots from Collins Family Orchards are a cross between nectarines and apricots, and they only come around for a short time each summer. You know, I kinda tease the boys at Collins about all the crazy hybrids of stone fruit they grow, from apriums to pluots to these nectarcots. Personally, I am waiting for someone to perfect the nectareach — a cross between nectarine and peach. In the worst case scenario, though, I imagine it with the fuzzy exterior of a peach and the more watery interior of the nectarine. Hmm, maybe we’ll just stick with peachcots.

Fennel bulb from Steel Wheel Farm. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Steel Wheel Farm, from Fall City, grows beautiful vegetables just 24 miles away and brings them to you at your Madrona Farmers Market every Friday. Like this fennel bulb, which is great caramelized and served atop some pork, or pickled, and it is awesome grilled, too! It has a sweet, licorice flavor. And you can eat it raw on your salads, fronds and all. Clean it thoroughly, though, like a leek.

Organic Spartans blueberries from Whitehorse Meadows Farm. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Whitehorse Meadows Farm returns today with their amazing certified organic blueberries grown up in North Snohomish County. Their blueberry varieties range from these domesticated Spartans to almost still wild Rubels later in the season, and you’ll enjoy comparing their different berries across the season.

Organic sweet corn from Alvarez Organic Farms. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Wow! Fresh, organic sweet corn from Alvarez Organic Farms! I am soooo loving this summer, with everything coming into your Madrona Farmers Market earlier than ever before. They’ve even got pickling cukes now, too!

Hiromi red plums from ACMA Mission Orchards. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

These Hiromi Red plums from ACMA Mission Orchards are sweet and juicy, and ridiculously early this year, but who’s complaining? I mean, the worst problem we seem to be having this year is choosing which particular stone fruit we want to eat on a given day, because they are all here at the same time! And they are also better than ever on top of that! Oh, the humanity!

Viking Purple potatoes from Olsen Farms. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

This is the new crop of Viking purple potatoes from that sturdy Scandinavian family at Olsen Farms, and they’d be lovely steamed and mashed with some of that good organic butter from Rosecrest Farm, alongside a nice serving of one of Olsen’s own steaks or roasts.

Flavor Supreme pluots from Tiny’s Organic Produce. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Pluots are not only fascinating because of their hybridized genetics — part plum and part apricot. They are also way cool because of all the rad colors they come in, inside and out. Like these Flavor Supreme pluots from Tiny’s Organic Produce. What they lack in a creative name they make up for in flavor and appearance!

Summer squash from Kirsop Farm. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Kirsop Farm, which joined us anew just a few weeks ago, has a wonderful variety of these gorgeous organic summer squashes in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Seems everyone has there favorites. Mine are crookneck and Lebanese zucchini (those are the light green, lightly stripe, kinda tear-shaped ones). I like grilling them.

Boysenberries from Sidhu Farms. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Big, juicy, sweet boysenberries from Sidhu Farms. I swear, these may be the biggest I have ever seen these berries get, and this summer’s hot and dry weather is making them sweeter than ever, too.

Cucumbers from Seattle Tilth Farm Works. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

These lovely cucumber are from Seattle Tilth Farm Works. Their program mentors new immigrants and people of limited means to become farmers, and the beautiful produce you see on their tables here at your Madrona Farmers Market is grown by these farmers-in-training just for you. So support our future farmers today!

A long cue for ice cream at Whidbey Island Ice Cream on Opening Day 2011. Photo copyright 2011 by Zachary D. Lyons.

And speaking of a hot, dry summer, we’ve all been missing our weekly Whidbey Island Ice Cream fix for the last few weeks. But they are back up and running again, and thus they are back here today with lots of great flavors of ice cream bars ready for you to devour!

Remember, there is plenty more to tantalize your taste buds today at your Madrona Farmers Market. For a fuller accounting, see What’s Fresh Now!

And please remember to bring your own bags today, and every Friday, as Seattle’s single-use plastic bag ban is now in effect. Also, please take note of our new green composting and blue recycling waste receptacles throughout your Madrona Farmers Market, and please make an effort to use them correctly. Each container has what’s okay to put in it pictured right on the lid. Please do not put the wrong materials in, because that drives up the cost of recycling and composting, and it can result in the entire container being sent instead to a landfill. Your understanding and cooperation are appreciated.