It was October of 2017 that I first took my oldest son to a Farmer's Market. I remember being so excited to teach him about eating locally and supporting our neighborhood vendors. While it was a bit of a stretch to think that an 11 month old would take note of all of my tips, to this day, my son still appreciates sniffing a good candle and talking to each farmer about his latest crop!
This summer we are overjoyed to be able to introduce my youngest son to "eating and shopping" local! Since the COVID-19 restrictions have "lightened" a bit, we were still planning to frequent our favorite markets, but we were curious to know what our visits might look like in regards to safety measures. After speaking with different local organizations, I found out that there will be some changes to how the markets operate this season. Here are the top 5 things to know before you go:
1. Face masks are required, but gloves are optional! This goes for both vendors and customers.
2. No pets are allowed (@ Asbury Fresh)! Unfortunately your four legged friends will have to wait to reap the benefits of the market until you return home.
3. Some vendors will accept preorders. Please visit each vendor's site to get more information regarding payment and processing.
4. No walking traffic (@ Red Bank Farmers Market)! Customers must remain in their cars, entering from Bridge Avenue and exiting on West Front Street.
5. Bring your own recyclable tote! For both convenience and cleanliness, make sure you have your bags in hand.
Once you are back home, with some of June's best produce, why not make a kid friendly smoothie! Here's a great recipe that uses cucumbers and strawberries, which are VERY MUCH in season this time of the year!
Cucumber-berry Smoothie
(Yields 2 - 8 oz Smoothies)
Ingredients:
1 1/2 C Milk (non dairy alternatives are welcomed)
1 C Cucumber (peeled, seeded and chopped)
1 1/2 C Strawberries (cored and chopped)
1 Banana (previously frozen)
Directions:
Place all ingredients into blender. Blend until smoothie. Enjoy :)
