Locally grown corn could not be better right now, which is a good thing for Ethan Link.
The 1-year-old was sharing his wagon ride with a load of ears as his mom, Kira Link, was shopping at the Elk Grove farmers market recently.
"You can't have a barbecue this time of year without corn on the cob," she said. Ethan, meanwhile, was examining and tasting the purchase with great enthusiasm and giving loud squeals of approval as he rode along.
The Elk Grove farmers market is open from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through August. It's in the center of Elk Grove Regional Park, so it's a pleasant place to shop away from traffic and noise. There's a beautiful picnic area nearby and lots of space for kids to play while parents shop.
The evening we visited, there were about 30 growers with booths, and many of them were handing out samples of fruit for shoppers to taste.
"I don't know what the heck I just ate, but it was delicious," said Lauren Miles of Elk Grove. She sent one of the kids she was shopping with back to the booth for details.
"A pluot?" she said when her scout returned with a report. "I gotta go get some of those."
At another booth, Paul Johnson was taking his first taste of a donut peach.
"Never ate one of these before," Johnson said as he popped the sample into his mouth. The fuzzy yellow peach is flat and round, just like a doughnut, and as sweet as if it were dipped in honey. Johnson, who lives in Elk Grove, says he stops by the market frequently on his way home from work.
"Wow," he said. "I didn't expect it to be so sweet and delicious." Then he grabbed a bag and loaded it with the little peaches.
Farther down the row, grower Chris Hoover was shouting, "Pluots, peaches, plums, every one is ripe and ready to enjoy." Hoover's mother, Barbara Hoover, owns Hooverville Orchards in Placerville. Chris is the hawker, and he is outstanding at his job.
"Taste these pluots," he shouted. "You've never tasted anything better." He was right.
Other good finds at the market included sweet corn, three ears for $1; bitter melon, $1.50 a pound; Anaheim chilis, $2 a pound; Thai chilis, $3 a pound; eggplant, $1.50 a pound; chayote squash, $1.50 a pound; blackberries, $2.50 a basket; blueberries, $3.50 a basket; opo squash, 75 cents a pound; and ambrosia melon, $2.50 each.
One vendor was selling cut flowers for $6 to $10 a bouquet. Sacramento Baking Co. was selling fresh bread.
For a list of other markets in the area, recipes to use with fresh produce and a list of what's in season locally, check our farmers market graphic at www.sacbee.com/taste.
Call The Bee's Gwen Schoen, (916) 321-1146.
