Part of the fun of summer in this area is tied to the Farmer's Markets that occur Tuesday and Friday mornings at the Lane Agri-Park at 315 John R. Rice Boulevard, and the one on the Murfreesboro Square from 8:00 to noon on Saturday mornings starting June 2nd. Much is tied to the end of the strawberry crop just a couple of weeks from now, which signals the beginning of the summer produce season!

Local strawberry patches will likely have berries for a few more weeks. “Strawberries at the end of the season will be smaller than those first ‘king’ berries, but some people say they think the later berries are even sweeter, with stronger flavor,” says Tammy Algood, produce marketing specialist for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

By mid June, early summer vegetables like yellow squash, zucchini, peas and new potatoes will join the produce parade. Most of the state’s farmers markets and on farm produce sheds will be open for business by July 1. 

A Pick Tennessee Products growing seasons guide for Tennessee fruits and vegetables is available at www.picktnproducts.org. Pick Tennessee Products is the statewide campaign developed by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to help consumers find Tennessee farms, farm products and foods processed in Tennessee. More than 1,600 farmers and about 7,000 products, services and events are currently listed at the site.

As Pick Tennessee Products spokesperson and author of The Complete Southern Cookbook and Farm Fresh Southern Cooking, Algood creates seasonal recipes featuring products grown and processed in Tennessee.

Visit www.picktnproducts.org to find seasonal recipes, farms, farmers markets, farm-direct products and other locally grown and processed foods. Pick Tennessee Products is also available on Facebook and Twitter.