The earth, tilting on its axis, relaxed into the sun’s warmth ever so slightly. Spring arrived right on time. Saturday, 5:37 am, EDT Latitudes lay across Longitudes. Growing seasons move from section to section. You have viewed them from a plane, these blocks of green and grayed browns. These sections… South to north. Fly over Chile, Peru, Argentina, Mexico, USA. East to West. Look out your window— sections of land. Get in line. California, Florida, Texas, etc., etc.,etc. New Jersey, PA, CT. South to north, begin again.
Asparagus from Cali is now. Standard and Jumbo sizes. If you want the Dutch white jumbo asparagus, I’ll get it for you but I’ll need 24 hour notice. Also here, big bunches of spinach, BIG! And bunches of mustard greens, collards, and kale. Bunches & bunches of carrots and beets and radishes. Thumbelina carrots, Easter egg radishes, bunched!
Note the pic of morel mushrooms below. Here today, gone tomorrow. That goes for chanterelle, hedgehog, black trumpets too. Of topic, pastrami back in about a week.
Fruit-wise? Cantaloupe, watermelon & honeydew, plums, pears, pomegranates, papaya & persimmons; all groomed & grown by neighbors, in sections very near the equator. 0° latitude. Mangoes, avocados too.
Harry’s Berry strawberries, jumbo blueberries & sweet batch blackberries— their flavors and textures unmatched. Evercrisp apples, try one or two.. And big red globe grapes debuted, but I still love the baby Thompson yellow sweeties & pink muscat grapes.
Curvaceous citrus still beckons— cara cara, blood oranges & mandarins & big pink grapefruits, all, interestingly mimic the earth’s shape. Stop! Think about it. Then there’s the sultry Sumo, its shape and tantalizing flavors, unique. Don’t you think?
OTHER STANDOUTS: raisins on the vine, local dark honey, organic pine nuts, Sriracha catsup, empanadas, calves liver, Yukon potatoes, Arethusa yogurt, Murray’s Brie & Stilton blue. Castelvetrano olives, sardines.
EXTRA READING: I’ve enjoyed Bronzino lately, but like most, I still eat salmon once a week. Sautéed spinach, grilled summer squash, French beans with ginger & garlic joined me for dinner on separate nights. Steamed cabbage was also a big hit at home. And I’m beginning to feel the pull of a fresh salad now that the hummingbird tomatoes are back. Their beefsteak easily stands up to mozzarella or burrata. I slapped a slice on a grateful hamburger patty 2 nights ago
On Sunday I picked up some Bluebird houses from Pete over at Horseshoe Farm. He’s up in Ridgefield. He makes the houses ‘cause he likes looking at birds. Have you ever seen a Bluebird? I have a few of Pete’s bird houses to sell. If you’d like one just let me know. I’ve got some of his maple syrup too.