Market Notes for May 17, 2025

Read the full Food & Farm Notes here.

Firsts of the Season!

• Green Garlic - use as you would regular garlic by sauteeing it as the start to just about any dish. Or make green garlic pesto.

• Rhubarb! Rhubarb is native to Siberia, and loves cold weather and a long period of dormancy. So climate change is doing a number on it, and although Henry's rhubarb patch looks great right now, it may not last long in the hot weather, so get it while you can!

• Parsley

• Dill

• Baby Fennel

• Carrots

• Small Beets with Big, Beautiful Greens

• Lettuce!

Arugula is a cool season crop, available only in early spring and late fall, so get it when you see it!

Food Notes: Arugula

Because of the unseasonably hot May, we are already at the end of the Arugula Season, so stock up on Saturday, or forever hold your peace! You can make an arugula salad with shaved parmesan, or toss it with the first lettuces of the season.

I find the earthy, oaky taste of arugula absolutely addicting, but if you find it too strong, you can make it milder by chopping it up in a pesto, or by using a hot dressing to make a wilted salad, or by sauteeing it up on its own or in a stir-fry.

Here's my favorite recipe for a wonderful Arugula-Walnut Pesto. As is the case with many strong herbs, the fine chopping that happens when you make a pesto releases volatile compounds. The pesto may still taste strong immediately after you make it, but in a short time it will become milder. Arugula pesto is wonderful with pasta or on a pizza. I also like it on sandwiches, or with crackers or raw veggies.

And here's a recipe for Sauteed Arugula with Pancetta and Garlic, but you could omit the meat and just saute it on its own or with onions or green garlic.

Because you will not see arugula again until the fall, I suggest getting a half-dozen extra bunches and turning them into pesto. Then freeze it in small containers, and use it over the coming months.

Farm Notes: Moving the Rolling House to get you early-season Beets and Carrots, and then late-season Tomatoes!
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Henry seeds beets and carrots in early March, months before he can seed directly into the field, so that you can enjoy them early in the season. When they no longer need the warmth of the hoophouse, he rolls it over to where he plants tomatoes that you’ll get both early and late in the season.