July Farmer’s Market Finds

It’s summer which means it is time to share July Farmer’s Market Finds! I love going to local farmer’s markets and picking up some ingredients to experiment with. It is a family outing I look forward to every week. We leave with local produce, organic sausages, sourdough bread and baked goods to snack on while we walk home. So what’s in season in July?⁠

Currants

Currants contain high amounts of antioxidants which helps protect our bodies from the everyday stress it goes through. One of these antioxidants is vitamin C which boosts our immune system. This is something that is important to keep in mind, even in the summer. Black currants also contain high amounts of an omega 6 fatty acid called GLA, or gamma-linolenic acid. Essential fatty acids are important for energy production among many other benefits. Have a look for this small but mighty fruit at your local market and let me know what you think! ⁠

Gooseberries

You have probably seen gooseberries as a garnish to a fancy dessert. I love these berries because they’re packed with vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, copper, manganese, and potassium. They are high in fibre which helps regulate our digestive system and give it the support it needs. They come in paper-thin leaves that are easy to remove. My kids love eating them because they are sweet, juicy and unwrapping them is part of the fun!

Radicchio

Keep your eyes peeled for radicchio when you’re heading to the farmer’s market as this vegetable is in season in July. This vegetable is often mistaken for cabbage or lettuce, but it has a place of its own! It has a delightfully spicy and bitter taste. I like radicchio because it is a source of the soluble fibre called inulin which helps with digestion. It also contains vitamin K which is an important vitamin for blood clotting⁠. Try out radicchio in your next salad and see if you like it!

Watermelon

There is nothing better than biting into a fresh watermelon on a hot summer day. I like to pick it up from farmer’s markets in July since it’s in season. But I like to use it in a way you may not have tried – in a savoury dish!⁠ Although watermelon is sweet, it is an amazing ingredient in a savoury salad and comes with some great health benefits. The majority of watermelon is water, so it’s an easy way to help stay hydrated on really hot days⁠. It contains an antioxidant called lycopene. Antioxidants are helpers for our body as they protect us from free radical damage⁠. Finally, vitamin A can be found in watermelon. This vitamin helps to promote healthy skin and protects our immune system. ⁠

Healthy Fresh Salads

When I worked as an engineer, I literally ate a salad every day so I had to get creative. Check out my cookbook, Healthy Fresh Salads, where I share that creativity with lots of delicious recipes. Healthy Fresh Salads also contains information on why it is important to eat a variety of colourful vegetables. It explains how to properly clean your veggies and talks about Genetically Modified Organisms and why we should avoid them. I also wrote a chapter with tips and tricks on how to buy fresh produce without spending tonnes of money. Hint: take advantage of farmer’s markets!

⁠This post on July Farmer’s Market Finds was written with the help of my awesome intern Carly Rodness. It contains photos by Monika Grabkowska, Lucas George Wendt, Micheile Henderson, and Shelley Pauls from Unsplash.