Fresh Produce, Season's First Tomatoes at Farmers Market Sunday

It’s tomato time at the Huntington Farmers Market and for anyone without backyard tomato plants that’s good news.

Beginning this Sunday, growers will be offering the season’s first tomatoes and a host of other new seasonal crops. And more in the weeks ahead.

At the Fred Terry Farm tent this Sunday, farm co-owner Ethel Terry, says there will be cherry tomatoes and beefsteak tomatoes, among other just-from-the-fields crops from the Orient grower.

Ethel Terry, who coordinates the Huntington market, said she recommends putting together an easy lunch with purchases at the market starting with her tomatoes and basil. She recommends slicing her tomatoes and shredding the basil grown on the farm, adding some fresh mozzarella from the adjacent stand operated by Brooklyn-based Papa Pasquale’s Ravioli and sprinkling them with Bibich olive oil from the stand across the lot. Then, add some artisan bread from Orwasher’s Bakery stand and, perhaps, some smoked meat from the Ridgewood Pork Store. The result: “You’ve got yourself lunch,” she says.

Also due to arrive Sunday at the Terry stand are yellow and red watermelon and cantaloupes. And, much of the colorful bits of nature’s bounty available last week will be there again, including red and yellow beets, cranberry and green beets, orange and yellow carrots, red and white scallions (“They’re awesome,” Terry says of the red scallions), red and green kale, Swiss chard, lettuce, zucchini, basil, cilantro, cucumbers, corn, red and yellow onions, Yukon gold potatoes, baby red potatoes, arugala and radishes.

And, on Aug. 7, Terry says, eggplants and hot peppers, likely will be added to the bounty.

Want organic produce? Just a few steps away, you’ll find it at Golden Earthworm Organic Farm of Jamesport. “We’re starting to get fresh peppers,” said Veronique Nila Stravato. The farm's web site has numerous recipes.

Meanwhile, there are fresh eggs, peaches, plums, cider and baked goods at the tent operated by The Orchards of Concklin in Rockland County. Yonea Sewall at the Orchards stand says the season’s first apples are just weeks away.

There’s more than local produce at the market.  Mark Cassin of Mineola sells delicious farmstead cheeses, from Long Island and elsewhere. Last Sunday, Anna Hall, of Manhattan, who was at the market with her mother, Margie Hargraves, bought some Red Bier Meck cheese from the Finger Lakes Farmstead Cheese Co. – a gouda-style cheese brined with Ithaca Beer Co.'s Smoked Porter.  “It’s really good,” said Hall.

And, there’s wine from two North Fork producers, Sannino’s Bella Vita Vineyards and Scarola Vineyards; honey from Huntington area aviaries at Bee Pharm; fresh-caught seafood – striped bass, blue fish, tuna and more – from Seatuck Fish in Eastport; and spicy horseradish, honey mustard, sweet Cajun and other pickles from Horman’s Best Pickles in Glen Cove.

The Huntington Farmers Market, located in the Elm Street parking lot on Main Street, east of New York Avenue, is open every Sunday through Nov. 20, from 7 a.m. until noon. Get there early as so of this feast sells out quickly.