It's Peach Season at Oak Street Local Market

I've always thought you had to get mid-way into peach season to find great flavor. But, I've discovered that simply isn't true. The peach of the moment is called FlavorRich and it absolutely lives up to its name. Even though it is a cling variety (the fruit doesn't come free from the seed), the sweet peachy-ness is exceptional.

Add to that fresh blueberries from Georgia, and blackberries from Petals from the Past in Jemison, and you have the beginning of summer's finest fruits.

If your peaches ripen too quickly try this:

• Slip the skin off of the peach. It usually comes away easily on over-ripe fruit.
• Slice away the fruit from the seed, holding it over a bowl to capture juice as well.
• Puree it, juice and all, in a blender or food processor.

What to do with it?

Make Peach (or Nectarine) Sorbet

Homemade Ice Cream

Bellinis

Freeze it (To make Bellinis on the weekend!)

Hydrangeas, Local Peaches & Fresh Peas

The bargain of the day is fresh-cut hydrangeas - only .50 a stem! So, for only a few $ you can bring home a summertime bouquet. We also have Chilton County Peaches (yum), local yellow squash, local pattypan squash, Florida Ruskin tomatoes, and Silver Queen Corn. And then, there are the creamer peas and butterbeans. Gotta love summertime!

Another fun thing to try: Make your own vanilla extract. We now have vanilla beans, and this is so easy. Begin with a pint of brandy. Take 3 -4 vanilla beans, and slice them open lengthwise. Add them to the brandy and let is sit for about 3 weeks. Then, when a recipe calls for vanilla extract, use your home-brewed flavoring instead. It really is incredible!

Italian Market

Last evening, we had the pleasure of displaying our fresh goodies in this fabulous Fortunata Italian pottery at Table Matters. Unfortunately, the rain caused an early end to the Legends of Motorsports event. In my totally biased perspective, however, the display of this exquisite hand-made pottery filled with our produce, was every bit as stunning as the vintage cars. Today in the market, the deal of the day is on fresh cut sunflowers. Bring home a few and fill your home with petaled sunshine before the rain sets in again.

Budding Gardeners at Oak Street Garden Shop

We're getting ready to plant the Library Community Garden! In late April, we planted bush bean seeds with the kids attending story time at the library. Well, today Reilly (age 4) and Will (age 2) Oberding brought their seedling in for us to babysit until the garden is ready.

The garden will be well underway by the time the Summer Reading Program beings on June 1, and we're looking forward to nurturing a new generation of gardeners and healthy eaters!

In the Market, strawberries will be winding down soon, so now's the time to consume them in copious amounts! Or, stock up the freezer to make jam on a rainy day.

Local Goodies You'll Like

Every day we get more local produce in to give you the best options in healthy and tasty eating. Right now we have Michael Dean's Swiss chard, carrots, spring salad mix, and will be back into his arugula on Thursday or Friday. We also have Jones Valley Urban Farm spinach, baby beet greens & radishes. Eggs come from Cahaba Hill Farm, Shannon Blount's small piece of paradise. Strawberries are coming from Scottsboro, AL, and while Florida isn't exactly local, the cantaloupes, tomatoes, and silver queen corn are exceptional.

We're designating next week Yellow Squash Week. Bring us - or email us - your best way to fix yellow crookneck squash and we'll put together a mini-cookbook of the recipes. email:

oakstreetgs@gmail.com.

Cahaba Hill Farm Eggs

We've added Cahaba Hill Farm eggs to our roster of local food. Shannon Blount's eggs' reputation preceeds them, so come and get 'em while they're fresh!

Local strawberries are at their peak and don't get any sweeter than they are right now! Miss Lyla came into sample one early this morning and gave a smiling approval. Today's other goodies include fresh English peas, Jones Valley Urban Farm radishes, turnips, and beet greens.

We're open 'til 5:30, so you can stock up of the freshest local produce in town today!

Cinco de Mayo & Butterbeans

Fresh Mint and Chives

We've stocked the shelves and cooler with terrific Cinco de Mayo goodies so you'll be perfectly outfitted for tomorrow's Fiesta. Margarita Jelly, Jalapeno Jelly, Garlic Salsa, Black Bean Salsa, and Salsa Senorita for the brave hearts. Fresh mint and a mojito couldn't be better on a late Wednesday afternoon, so for heaven's sakes, don't do without!

Please consider picking up a free tomato plant and participating in our Harvest For the Hungry program. Take the plant home, and when it starts to produce, bring the harvest back to the Market. We're keeping a running total of 'maters, and send them along to Magic City Harvest. It is such a simple thing and can make such a big difference to help eliminate hunger in Birmingham.