MarketWatch: Sap for Sipping, Baby Garlic, and Eggs of All Kinds

After a two-year hiatus, The Food Section's MarketWatch returns for its Spring 2008 edition. The new version, launching today, will be published monthly, with reports on what's fresh and new at the farmers markets in New York, San Francisco, and other cities (soon). If you've visited a farmers market recently in your own community, tell us what's new in the comments. And, if you have photos, be sure to post them to our new MarketWatch flickr pool.

NEW YORK: UNION SQUARE GREENMARKET

News & Notes
If you came to the Greenmarket this past Saturday, you might have noticed that the layout has been temporarily rearranged. Producers normally found on the north end of Union Square have moved south to make way for a construction project to restore the pavilion and beautify the North Plaza.

While we have technically entered spring, based on what's on display at the Greenmarket, it might as well still be winter. Apples, potatoes, and root vegetables are plentiful, but anything fresh and green is still scarce. While the temperature has risen just enough to tempt us out of winter, we're not there yet.

Greenmarket Manager Gabrielle Langholtz turned to poetry to describe the state we're in: "T.S. Eliot said it best: 'April is the cruelest month' Hats and scarves come off and customers come out, but farmers are just now putting seeds in the ground. The first harvests haven't really begun yet."

Nevertheless, a few spring specialties have arrived, and more are on the way.

What's New
Pheasant, duck, and turkey eggs from Quattro's Game Farm and D'Attolico Organic's baby garlic, harvested from garlic cloves planted in the fall, are selling fast on Saturdays. Get to the market early in the morning if you want a chance at grabbing these early spring specialties. The specialty eggs should be around until July, but baby garlic won't be available much longer.

Tired of drinking steaming hot apple cider at the market? How about some cold maple sap instead? Maple syrup producer Andy Van Glad has been selling pure maple sap, the stuff that is boiled down to 4o times its concentration to make maple syrup. The unprocessed sap, sold by the cup, tastes like water with just a hint of maple (its sugar content is 2%). Maple Sap will be available for only the next couple of weeks.

Coming Soon
Goose eggs should make their debut this week at Quattro's. Expect morels, ramps, and asparagus to arrive at the market soon. Depending on the weather, they may be harvested anywhere between the end of April and early May.

SAN FRANCISCO: FERRY PLAZA FARMERS MARKET

What's New
Berries! Strawberries are brand new and will soon be followed by raspberries and blueberries (bear in mind that the blueberry season is short, lasting only around six weeks).

Purple asparagus has been at the market since mid-March, but will be gone before the end of April.

Coming Soon
Depending on weather, look for Torpedo and Stockton red onions, English, Sugar Snap, and Snow peas, rhubarb, basil, and squash blossoms. Cherries and apricots should make their appearance in May and be finished by the end of June.

In Good Supply
Spinach, asparagus, avocados, green garlic, spring onions, kumquats, nettles, broccoli, rapini, artichokes, baby turnips, carrots, mizuna, radishes and radish greens, fava beans, pastured eggs, chard, and baby beets.

Heading Out
Brussels sprouts and citrus.

Sources: Gabrielle Langholtz, Greenmarket Manager of Publicity & Special Projects; Lulu Meyer, Associate Director of Operations, Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture.