It may be cliche, but how can we not talk about the weather? That heat bubble was hard on area farms, but the rain that has come in the last week has sure been welcome. Welcome to high summer- the markets are full of juicy tomatoes and melons, sweet corn, and cool treats. Spring Bank Acres has homemade ice cream at the Downtown State College Farmers' Market. Many vendors make and bottle their own drinks such as lemonade and kombucha. At the North Atherton Farmers' Market, stop by Cafe Karla for frozen lemonade or coffee granita.

This week (July 30th-August 6th) is Local Foods Week with the Centre County chapter of Buy Fresh Buy Local and the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture! This event will culminate with the 6th annual Farm Tour, featuring many of the vendors at the three State College markets. Tickets are $15 per car or $5 per bike, and can be purchased at the markets or at the first farm you visit. Remember a few tips, if you're planning to go- wear comfortable shoes and clothes you don't mind getting dusty, bring along drinks and snacks, and leave your pets at home. Plan on visiting 3 or 4 farms- and take plenty of pictures! You can upload them to our Facebook page if you'd like to share them with others.

WPSU's Local Food Journey is continuing to hold a recipe contest.  Submit your favorite sweet corn recipe for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Nature's Pantry! But you only have one day to go- recipes must be submitted by midnight on July 31st, this Sunday. And speaking of the radio, a soundbite from the Downtown State College Farmers' Market was featured on NPR's "Summer Sounds" series for Weekend Edition. Listen here.

Don't forget, the American Farmland Trust is currently running its annual contest for America's Favorite Farmers Markets. The Downtown State College Farmers' Market and the North Atherton Farmers Market are both participating this year, and you get to vote! Visit the Farmland Trust's website and search for State College to find our markets and cast your vote! The winning market will receive a shipment of tote bags, a frontpage article on Epicurious.com and other prizes. Have you voted yet? While you're there, you can make a donation to the Farmland Trust or request a free "No Farms, No Food" bumper sticker! You don't even have to choose- you can vote for as many markets as you like, once per market.

We've received a lot of good feedback on our newspaper and television ads. If you're new to the markets, let us know either by email or just by telling a vendor- how did you find out about the market? Do you have any suggestions for other publicity we could pursue? Any ideas on how the markets could be improved in general? Let us know! Email centralpafarmers@gmail.com.

What's in season now?

Berries: Raspberries (black and red), blueberries
Cut Flowers: Sunflowers
Fruit: Apricots, Peaches, Sour Cherries, Apples, Melons
Greens: Chard, Kale
Herbs: Basil, Mint
Vegetables: Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery, Corn (sweet), Cucumbers, Garlic, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Onions, Peas (snap), Peas (snow), Peppers, Potatoes, Radish, Scallions, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Zucchini

This Week's Featured Recipe: Apple-Chipotle Pulled Pork

Summer is hot, but it's always cool to eat local food. The markets are full of juicy summer produce- tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, raspberries, gooseberries and more are all waiting for you. Don't forget meat, dairy, honey, baked goods, and other unique eats! Sweet corn is also starting to show up, though it's still rare at this point. Look for it to become ubiquitous around the end of the month.

In other local food news, and speaking of sweet corn, WPSU's Local Food Journey is holding a new recipe contest.  Submit your favorite sweet corn recipe for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Nature's Pantry!

Don't forget, the American Farmland Trust is currently running its annual contest for America's Favorite Farmers Markets. The Downtown State College Farmers' Market and the North Atherton Farmers Market are both participating this year, and you get to vote! Visit the Farmland Trust's website and search for State College to find our markets and cast your vote! The winning market will receive a shipment of tote bags, a frontpage article on Epicurious.com and other prizes. Have you voted yet? While you're there, you can make a donation to the Farmland Trust or request a free "No Farms, No Food" bumper sticker! You don't even have to choose- you can vote for as many markets as you like, once per market.

We've received a lot of good feedback on our newspaper and television ads. If you're new to the markets, let us know either by email or just by telling a vendor- how did you find out about the market? Do you have any suggestions for other publicity we could pursue? Any ideas on how the markets could be improved in general? Let us know! Email centralpafarmers@gmail.com.

What's in season now?

Berries: Raspberries (black and red)
Cut Flowers: Sunflowers
Fruit: Apricots, Peaches, Sour Cherries, Apples (still rare- check with Way Fruit Farm at the Friday market)
Greens: Chard, Kale
Herbs: Basil, Mint
Vegetables: Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery, Corn (sweet), Cucumbers, Garlic, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Onions, Peas (snap), Peas (snow), Peppers, Potatoes, Radish, Scallions, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Zucchini

This Week's Featured Recipe: Goat Sausage in Sundried Tomato Pesto

Welcome to summer! This is the time of year when some of the most luscious produce finds its way to the markets- raspberries both red and black, tomatoes, cucumbers! Not to mention grilling season. The markets are not just for vegetables and fruits- don't forget you can also pick up meat for your barbecues! The best part about buying your meat at the farmers' markets is the opportunity to ask the farmer about how their animals are raised, and the comfort of knowing exactly where your meat is coming from. It's possible to find unusual meats, too- A.B.B. Bison has bison meat and Hidden Follow Farms has rabbit and duck at the Tuesday Downtown State College Farmers' Market, while Young American Growers sells goat meat at the North Atherton Farmers Market. Dairy and eggs are also readily available at all the markets.

Don't forget, the American Farmland Trust is currently running its annual contest for America's Favorite Farmers Markets. The Downtown State College Farmers' Market and the North Atherton Farmers Market are both participating this year, and you get to vote! Visit the Farmland Trust's website and search for State College to find our markets and cast your vote! The winning market will receive a shipment of tote bags, a frontpage article on Epicurious.com and other prizes. Have you voted yet? While you're there, you can make a donation to the Farmland Trust or request a free "No Farms, No Food" bumper sticker! As of this afternoon, the North Atherton Farmers Market is in sixth place for Pennsylvania and only needs a few votes to make it to #5. So vote! You don't even have to choose- you can vote for as many markets as you like, once per market.

We've received a lot of good feedback on our newspaper and television ads. If you're new to the markets, let us know either by email or just by telling a vendor- how did you find out about the market? Do you have any suggestions for other publicity we could pursue? Any ideas on how the markets could be improved in general? Let us know! Email centralpafarmers@gmail.com, or leave a comment here.

Have a happy 4th of July- and bring some local foods to your picnic!

What's in season now?

Berries: Raspberries (black and red)
Cut Flowers: Sunflowers
Fruit: Apricots, Peaches, Sour Cherries (still a bit early for these, but they should start showing up later in the month)
Greens: Chard, Kale
Herbs: Basil, Mint
Vegetables: Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery, Corn (sweet), Cucumbers, Garlic, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Onions, Peas (snap), Peas (snow), Peppers, Potatoes, Radish, Scallions, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Zucchini


This Week's Featured Recipe: Cucumber Sandwiches with Goat Cheese Tapenade