Fresh at the Market: Tomatoes in abundance despite dry spell

According to the National Weather Service, the average rainfall for June in Muskogee County is 5.13 inches. But during this past June, only 1.63 inches of rain was recorded at Davis Field.

These drier than normal conditions have required local produce growers to rely more heavily than usual on irrigation this early in the summer. Besides the cost of pumping water or buying it from a district, irrigating crops can take a lot of time and energy to manage and maintain.

Fortunately, drier weather does help reduce the risk of many plant diseases, which can affect the production of numerous fruit and vegetable crops.

And so, shoppers at the Muskogee Farmers Market and other local food outlets such as Arnold’s and the Peach Barn will find an abundant quantity and variety of fresh locally grown produce such as red ripe tomatoes. And anyone who’s ever had the pleasure knows it’s very hard to beat the unmistakable flavor of a homegrown tomato.

A wide selection of other locally grown fruits and vegetables can be found on Wednesday and Saturday mornings at the Muskogee Farmers Market, such as blackberries, blueberries, peaches, cucumbers, yellow squash, green zucchini, garlic, sweet corn, cabbage, cherry tomatoes, okra, eggplant, sweet bell and banana peppers, new potatoes, green beans, hot chili peppers in all shapes and sizes, green and bulb onions, beets, carrots, sweet potatoes, dill, cilantro, lettuce, kale, collards, swiss chard, mustards, and other leafy greens.

Muskogee County Transit is running free trolley service with special routes connecting a number of apartment complexes throughout town with the farmers market. A huge thanks to Muskogee County Transit for expanding its service in this way.

Every Wednesday through July 20, the farmers market is serving as a summer meal site. Children ages 18 and younger can get a free lunch from 11-11:30 a.m., under the market pavilions directly in front of the Civic Center.

Children’s activities will also be available at the market during this time.

Reach Doug Walton at (918) 360-2012 or [email protected].

CAPRESE SALAD

Ingredients

3 to 4 homegrown, vine-ripe tomatoes, sliced about 1/4-inch thick

1 pound fresh mozzarella, sliced about half as thick as the tomatoes

About 25 leaves of fresh basil, chopped very coarsely

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (optional)

¼ teaspoon each, coarse salt and pepper

On a large plate or platter, cover the bottom with a layer of the sliced cheese, followed by the tomato slices, then top with the basil. (As an alternate, you can chunk the tomatoes and cheese, and just mix everything gently in a large bowl). Drizzle everything with the olive oil, then sprinkle on the vinegar as evenly as possible. Season with salt and pepper and enjoy.