Saturday Farmers' Market Still in Season

Thanks to >Rockville Central friend, Amy Ellis, for this review.

When Saturday morning rolls around, you will find me at the Rockville Growers Only Farmers’ Market. My weekly trip during the Market’s open season (mid May-October), has become a much loved ritual over my past 7 years in Rockville. One of the pleasures of coming to the market is buying things directly from the people who grow them. Along with delicious produce, baked goods, etc., you get friendly smiles and warm greetings. I think most folks who come to shop here have favorite vendors and I’m no different.

My usual first stop is Unger’s Fruit Farm and I grab whatever is in season. This past Saturday I got some of the last of their peaches (and I will miss them desperately until next year), but there are lots of apples coming in and some tomato varieties are still here, too. Earlier this year we enjoyed cherries, blueberries, blackberries, green beans and onions. The stand is run by Jim and Freida Unger of Hampstead, MD. They also make apple butter and fresh cider in season (coming up!) and occasionally, if we are very lucky and if Jim has time, he makes chocolate fudge- a treat much beloved by my young sons.

Another great place for a treat is Trail Garden (http://www.trailgarden.com/). Eva (a marvelous baker and a very nice lady) uses fresh ingredients and seasonal fruits to create bread and rolls (both sweet and savory), pies, scones, and cookies. Many of these use recipes from her native Sweden and they are all worth sampling. My favorites are Vanilla Cinnamon Sweet Bread (a fantastic part of Sunday morning breakfast), Cardamom Buns, Almond Giffel, and the Cuts (in either Chocolate, Caramel, or Chai flavors- all excellent with a cup of tea or coffee). The Classic Brownies and Triple Chocolate Cookies are what chocoholics dream about… Stop by early for the best selection or use the website to place an order. Eva and her assistants are always friendly and ready to help.

Scenic View has a wide variety of seasonal produce- corn, beans, tomatoes, potatoes, okra, peppers of various colors (sweet or hot), eggplant, sweet melons (cantaloupes, honeydews, and watermelons), berries, pears, apples, and more. They also have honey and cut flowers. I’m looking forward to their pear cider this Fall.

The sweet smelling soaps and lotions at Bubbles ‘n Bees (http://www.bnbsoaps.com/) are a nonedible pleasure. There’s a scent for everyone (the lilac smells just like Springtime to me) and the Minty Foot Cream moisturizer is soothing and a great way to pamper yourself a little. Tammy Taylor can answer any questions you might have about the products and help you find the scent you are looking for.

The location for the Farmer’s Market this year is the Jury Parking Lot at the corner of Monroe and Jefferson not far from the Courthouse and Council Office Building. One small downside to the Market is the tight parking situation when it’s crowded. I wish that people would be more considerate of each other by adhering to the one-way convention (counterclockwise) in the parking lot, and both pedestrians and drivers could do a better job watching out for one another. I usually park in an adjacent lot and walk a short distance to the Market to avoid some of the difficulty. Hopefully the anticipated move to Rockville Town Center will alleviate some of the parking woes.

There are lots of other vendors at the Market that I haven’t mentioned. You can see most of them listed at the City’s Market website (www.rockvillemd.gov/events/farmers.htm). A number of other growers sell fresh produce (some organic), herbs, heirloom tomatoes, cut flowers, potted plants. This year a group of Amish farmers has been selling meat and cheeses. Please share your favorite vendors and your experiences at the Farmer’s Market in the Comments section below.