Full Swing

New Jersey farmstands are just about in full swing, with the 

world-famous sweet white corn, tomatoes, and yellow peaches 

headlining the bill.  The Kirby cukes make great asian cucumber

salad, and the beans are rock hard and dark green, picked this

morning.  I try like hell not to buy vegetables in the grocery store

from July thru September, relying on the bounty of the local stands

instead.  Yeah, you may pay a bit more for certain items, but just

knowing that the stuff is that much fresher makes it all worthwhile.

A close blogging friend put it best: "There's a lot to be said for letting 

fruit and veggies ripen in the field instead of a warehouse."  This 

produce I consider to be 'artisanal', in that it takes more time to 

nurture, to mature, and to bring to market than mass-grown and

harvested crops.  There's a difference in the look, feel, and taste

of these fruits and vegetables.  And they might not always appear

as perfect as their store-bought cousins.  Billy Crystal once said,

"It's not how you look, darling, but how you taste."  Or something

like that.  By the way, this white corn was " the most obscenely 

sweet and juicy, kernels pop in your mouth, where did that ear 

just go? corn"  I've had in about ten months.  I'll be leaning over 

the sink later-on tonight devouring the rest of the leftover ears.

Even if I'm not necessarily hungry. 

BTW, is anyone else's basil exploding?