After an outstanding summer for growing, September looks full of promise.  The market tables will be groaning under the weight of great harvests.  Many crops are in earlier than usual, so you can keep enjoying the flavours of summer while adding fall favourites to your menus. Don’t take it all for granted, though…as the nights get cooler and longer, some of those hot weather delights will disappear for another year.  Time to feast with friends and put some by as well!

Fava beans, elderberries, Green Zebra tomatoes–how often do you find those in the supermarket?  This summer’s farmers’ markets are like one big treasure hunt, where you can discover food gems you’ve never tried before!  Of course, August’s traditional favourites are coming on strong, too:  corn on the cob, peaches, melons, and fat red tomatoes that you just can’t get enough of.  Choices for the barbeque are fabulous, and for those who’d rather let someone else do the cooking, there are lots of markets with breakfast, lunch and dinner options right on the spot.  Mmm, August is going to be good to the last drop.

With the Canada Day launch of Montgomery’s Inn’s new market, Toronto has another great location to find fresh and delicious foods from farmers and producers.  If you aren’t already hooked, this is a wonderful year to develop a market habit; growing conditions have yielded many earlier-than-usual harvests, and produce quality is spectacular.  Many markets also feature ‘made in Toronto’ small food businesses with specialties such as gluten-free baking, fairly-traded chocolate, locally roasted coffee and prepared foods to enjoy at the market or take home.

This summer, you could be rewarded for discovering your favourite market!  On www.greenbeltfresh.ca, there’s a contest to enter, with 5 prizes of $100 in ‘market bucks’ to spend at the market of your choice.  Check it out! The contest closes August 2, 2010.