Cookbook Giveaway – Fresh from the Farm: A Year of Recipes and Stories

174 Comments

• wester  on  February 12, 2014

  Eggs. Fresher than anywhere else, and you can be sure the chickens have been treated well.

• madamepince  on  February 12, 2014

  Only ONE favorite? Garlic scapes — and radishes fresh enough that I can use the greens. Yum!!

• ellabee  on  February 12, 2014

  Berries. It feels a little less like winter just to call up a mental picture of them…

• Queezle_Sister  on  February 12, 2014

  It would be tomatoes if I didn't grow them myself, but because I do, its probably beets.

• Elnara  on  February 12, 2014

  Whichever vegetable is in season. Our farm shop is on the farms land and it comes straight from the fields. My fav right now is Curley Kale!

• decklededges  on  February 12, 2014

  Whatever fruit is in season!

• Kiiaro  on  February 12, 2014

  Fresh farm eggs!!!

• sir_ken_g  on  February 12, 2014

  I love the Asian vegetables.
  But just one – probably heritage tomatoes

• JaneC  on  February 12, 2014

  Peaches–I buy them from farmers who used integrated pest management.

• Zosia  on  February 12, 2014

  Corn on the cob.

• rivergait  on  February 12, 2014

  Fresh corn – and I ask the vendor for any corn stalks to give to the horses.

• percussion03  on  February 12, 2014

  Wow, I don't think I could pick just one, but greens of any kind are a constant.

• jwolfe  on  February 12, 2014

  Fresh strawberries … and heirloom tomatoes, and squash blossoms.

• Smchalk  on  February 12, 2014

  local anything, apples, beef, pastries, and eggs are what I get at my farmstand

• vinochic  on  February 12, 2014

  What don't I buy at the farm stand? But what I look forward to the most is heirloom tomatoes. (And fava beans. And cherries…)

• DKennedy  on  February 12, 2014

  That's a hard one. It's a toss up between strawberries or cherry tomatoes. Both stay so much fresher when you get them fresh from the farm. Not to mentioned the wonderful aroma you get to experience when you buy them this way.

• KarinaFrancis  on  February 12, 2014

  Rubarb, apples and corn

• hihelen_westbrook  on  February 12, 2014

  We have an allotment so all the fruit and veg we need on tap, I love love love finding unusual cheeses at a farmers' market.

• Lovielou  on  February 12, 2014

  Swiss chard, collard and other greens

• kimtrev  on  February 12, 2014

  I love the berries in the summer, apples & squash in the fall, greens in the winter & asparagus and artichokes in the spring.

• meghanbridget  on  February 12, 2014

  In general, eggs. But on vacation this summer, I picked up some potatoes at Green Island Farm, and they were fantastic.

• boardingace  on  February 12, 2014

  I haven't been to a farm stand outside of a farmer's market in ages – they don't really have them here – but if I could imagine it was summertime, I'd love some fresh strawberries 🙂

• Margaretsmall  on  February 12, 2014

  Corn, always heaps fresher than the supermarket offerings. Yum.

• Soccermom  on  February 12, 2014

  eggs and corn!

• Breadcrumbs  on  February 12, 2014

  Fresh basil…nothing says summer more than fresh basil…oh but that tomato on the vine smell, juice dripping down your face as you bite into a fresh, warm tomato – how to choose!!! And what about the eggs? Am I disqualified?!!!!

• chawkins  on  February 12, 2014

  Nothing better than freshly picked ears of corn.

• alixwall  on  February 12, 2014

  Summer corn and tomatoes.

• sgump  on  February 12, 2014

  Not exactly "fresh" but definitely farm stand fodder in pockets of the (US) South: boiled peanuts

• jaelsne  on  February 12, 2014

  Here in California–citrus (Satsuma tangerines are my favorites!)

• kayanelson  on  February 12, 2014

  Fava beans. Such a short season but so good.

• sbyron  on  February 12, 2014

  There is a wonderful cheese maker at my farmer's market – awesome cheeses. Love them and the unique potatoes.

• Ekandresen  on  February 12, 2014

  Eggs and baby kale. Yum!!

• Grinsall  on  February 12, 2014

  Apples because they haven't been in cold storage!

• ladibyrd  on  February 13, 2014

  Peaches and tomatoes… nothing quite as good as farm stand tomatoes. Some of the best cherry butter we've had is from a stand also.

• Corrinie  on  February 13, 2014

  Oooo berries, no. Romanesco, or Asian greens. No, berries. Oh wait, padron peppers. Yeah. Padrons.

• cookgoalie  on  February 13, 2014

  Asparagus….but our favorite grower has retired which is really disappointing.

• jobeth21  on  February 13, 2014

  Everything is so much tastier when it's from a local farm stand, but I find the biggest difference is in eggs!

• CandyB  on  February 13, 2014

  Cheese in France, eggs in the UK, and asparagus in the UK when in season

• JFM  on  February 13, 2014

  Fresh meat: beef, pork, chickens and rabbit! I started buying meat at the farmers market in Bern, Switzerland, two years ago and haven't looked back.

• nadiam1000  on  February 13, 2014

  Too hard to pick one. Depends on the season of course but Heirloom tomatoes, strawberries, peaches and sweet corn top the list. Although, early last summer I had the most perfect large red blushed apricots I had ever eaten so maybe those need to be on the list…..so many things are so much better fresh from the farm stands.

• Rinshin  on  February 13, 2014

  Peaches. But not at regular stands. At the orchards where I can pick my own. Around here, that means anytime between end of May through end of June.

• FunkyViriditas  on  February 13, 2014

  Organic Greens!

• AnneHussey  on  February 13, 2014

  heirloom cherry tomatoes, basil, eggs and field greens

• margiehubbard  on  February 13, 2014

  Peaches!

• itzia  on  February 13, 2014

  strawberries!

• birgitw  on  February 13, 2014

  Tomatoes, never as good anywhere else

• Moniquelfp  on  February 13, 2014

  Corn on the cob

• rlmiller  on  February 13, 2014

  Cherries. The season is so short, and the ones in the grocery store never compare to those from a farm stand. (Of course that last part is true for a lot of other farm stand items as well!)

• liasim  on  February 13, 2014

  Corn on the cob and strawberries.

• debbypo  on  February 13, 2014

  I've been loving farmer's markets for the past quarter-century. I think my favorites would be greens (so fresh and so varied) and sprouts.

• JoBills  on  February 13, 2014

  Heirllom tomatoes

• Riversideshep  on  February 13, 2014

  Apples. The first time I found a stall selling so many varieties that I didn't know existed (and certainly didn't think I would be able to buy in Middlesbrough!) was my lightbulb moment for farmers markets.

• Kerrey  on  February 13, 2014

  Tomatoes

• karenrana9  on  February 13, 2014

  Around here, it's got to be any Texas-grown field peas; black-eyed, purple hull, crowder, or cream peas. When shelled and cooked, they evoke a perfect vision of mealtime contentment to me, especially when the peas are cooked to a perfect consistency with tasty "pot likker" left for sopping up with hot, fresh cornbread. The season is brief but can become the brilliant backbone to farm stand vegetable suppers when tomatoes and greens are also in season.

• aeader  on  February 13, 2014

  Cherries (sour ones in July for pies and sweet ones whenever they are available)…I can't wait for summer!

• NikkiPixie  on  February 13, 2014

  Cherries! Central Otago of NZ is overrun with them at summer time, nothing better……unless you want to pick them yourself as well.

• vickster  on  February 13, 2014

  Strawberries. So good when they are that fresh!

• dbielick  on  February 14, 2014

  Strawberries – a sign that the deep freeze might actually be over for a short while!

• GreenWillow  on  February 14, 2014

  Still enjoying the taste memory of just-picked corn from Upstate New York although now I'm in Texas most of the time. Here, I especially look forward to buckets of summer basil.

• BlytheSpirit  on  February 14, 2014

  Fresh corn and apples – neither one tastes the same when purchased from a supermarket.

• Siegal  on  February 14, 2014

  Strawberries

• ballen  on  February 14, 2014

  Maine wild blueberries!

• ae.bell  on  February 14, 2014

  Concord grapes!

• crandall57  on  February 14, 2014

  Fresh corn for sure.

• sydneya  on  February 14, 2014

  padron peppers and watermelon radishes

• TrishaCP  on  February 14, 2014

  Tomatoes and peaches

• lmurphy  on  February 15, 2014

  Tomatoes!

• pgarcia  on  February 15, 2014

  Any in-season veggie. And eggs!

• turio  on  February 15, 2014

  Oh…so many things and to only pick one?! Pastel hued, fresh organic eggs from the best farmer's market in Holland, MI! Fresh peaches to take home and can to eat all winter long!

• Thaichile  on  February 16, 2014

  Heirloom tomatoes as my garden attempts have produced nothing more than food for the local animals.

• tcjanes  on  February 16, 2014

  Sweet corn-yellow and white bicolor.

• PatJ  on  February 16, 2014

  I love eggs from the Farmers Market

• Chefhenry  on  February 16, 2014

  Most everything, but to pick just one… Tomatoes, probably the most dramatic difference between store bought and farm fresh (and not refrigerated)

• iluvfood  on  February 16, 2014

  Corn and honey!

• pokarekare  on  February 16, 2014

  Have my own vegetable garden, orchard, bees and chickens, but I always check out what is available that I DON'T have and buy that! I can't grow everything, much as I'd like to!

• ctrevino1  on  February 17, 2014

  Stone fruit in the summer time!

• pamandab  on  February 17, 2014

  Oh my… the choices. I think I'd have to say pea shoots… there's something wonderful about getting them so fresh- you eat them right that day, and then save some, because they were picked to recently they last in the fridge!

• CarriesCarats  on  February 17, 2014

  Corn. When we lived in Florida we would drive down to a market on the edge of the Everglades to buy just picked corn & treat ourselves & the kids to fresh-from-the-pot corn on sticks slathered in butter!

• ckbkaddict  on  February 18, 2014

  Heirloom tomatoes. So much better than mass produced shop bought varieties! And if I am allowed a back up… Strawberries – even better if they are "pick your own".

• GsyAnne  on  February 18, 2014

  Guernsey beef

• alinabarbu  on  February 19, 2014

  Tomatoes, orchard fruits, fresh eggs, fresh cow cheese, honey.

• annieski  on  February 19, 2014

  We are fortunate to belong to a great CSA and are close to several great pick-your-own farms. I'd say we're most likely to stop for large quantities of tomatoes for canning.

• rahiscock  on  February 19, 2014

  Eggs, tomatoes, and honey (sorry, I couldn't pick just one!).
  Eggs because they are bigger, taste better, and the chickens are treated more humanely; tomatoes because they actually taste like tomatoes when bought from a grower, and tend to last longer; and honey, because locally-sourced honey includes all the local pollens in it, which is great in hayfever season for building up your local immunity – and it also tastes better!

• kfelton  on  February 20, 2014

  Peaches at the Palisade, CO Peach festival!

• krobbins426  on  February 20, 2014

  Berries. There is nothing like fresh berries.

• earthnfire  on  February 20, 2014

  Eggs and pea tendrils. Can't wait for spring and another market season.

• paulabucharles  on  February 21, 2014

  Eggs are always the first and main item I get from farm stands. Then, fresh figs and tomatoes at summer time.

• maisie_grn  on  February 22, 2014

  fresh goat cheese, arugula, and tomatoes! i can't wait for summer farmers markets to return!

• AMbaby56  on  February 22, 2014

  I love buying fresh peas or any fruit really 🙂

• Mfisher  on  February 23, 2014

  Delicate squash. It has a short season for a winter squash and is hard to find except at the farmer's market.

• priyamaine  on  February 23, 2014

  Heirloom tomatoes of different varieties for sure. Our local FM has a tomato bar–you can mix and match little cherries/grapes of all varieties in a pint. Love it!

• napier  on  February 24, 2014

  Fresh raspberries- they are fragile hence fresh from the farm is always best. Also strawberries that have that have that fragrant taste of sunshine.

• patsylu  on  February 24, 2014

  Tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes

• BarbW  on  February 25, 2014

  My favorite is fruit. Currently shopping at Keauhou Farmers Market near Kona, HI., I've been enjoying papaya, dragon fruit, abiu, lilikoi, mango, and lately – rambutan & tasting jaboticaba berries.
  BarbW

• enation  on  February 25, 2014

  Bright and vibrant vegetables!

• kkillebrew  on  February 25, 2014

  Really tough question, as each season brings its favorites. But I have to say that Blueberries are at the top of the list. Their season is short, and I always have dozens of recipes ideas. Last year's favorite was Lavender-Blueberry Butter.

• TheSpicedLife  on  February 25, 2014

  Eggs, greens, apples… Oh yeah and corn!

• yeven  on  February 27, 2014

  Fresh raspberries and homemade preserves.

• Lesle  on  February 28, 2014

  English Strawberries!

• Ordinaryblogger  on  February 28, 2014

  Strawberries!!! Yum.

• traculart  on  February 28, 2014

  While I love buying all fresh fruits and veggies at Farm Stands or Farmer's Markets my very favorite thing is Tomatoes, nothing beats just picked still warm from the sun bright red tomatoes. The aroma of them in the car on the way home inspires how I will use them!

• joypilkins  on  February 28, 2014

  Jersey tomatoes.

• lesorelle  on  February 28, 2014

  Fresh, summer sweet corn! We grow many of our own vegetables but, with limited space, this is one we always get from our local farmers! We gorge on it while it's in season, and can and freeze it for the rest of the year.

• Dcotter  on  February 28, 2014

  Strawberries! Grocery store strawberries cannot compete with vine-ripened, farm-fresh ones. They make a great snack and the best strawberry icecream.

• jheinold  on  February 28, 2014

  Corn on the cob….sometimes it seems that the farm people pick the corn and load it right onto their trucks….can't beat it!

• willis  on  February 28, 2014

  Corn on the cob, to make skillet fried corn.

• cyalexa  on  February 28, 2014

  big, fat spears of asparagus

• wanda72  on  February 28, 2014

  I like to buy peaches. So good!

• JoanN  on  February 28, 2014

  Jersey corn, preferably Golden Bantam.

• Yarnia  on  February 28, 2014

  Little tomatoes in many colors and their big brother/sister heirloom tomatoes.

• RobinCR  on  February 28, 2014

  Peaches. Strawberries. Eggs. Cheese. Bread. Greens. Too hard to choose.

• matag  on  February 28, 2014

  Big bunches of basil

• smallan  on  February 28, 2014

  Things I don't or can't grow myself – esp baby turnips and huge varieties of greens.

• rmullen  on  February 28, 2014

  Tomatoes! But berries and peaches are close runners-up.

• Sarabclever  on  February 28, 2014

  strawberries–I second other commenters; grocery store berries don't come close!

• ksg518  on  February 28, 2014

  Tomatoes and basil!

• SherriL  on  February 28, 2014

  Vine-ripened tomatoes. I can eat them by the bucketful.

• Teemo  on  February 28, 2014

  eggs and apples

• Mookie1  on  February 28, 2014

  Tomatoes and corn

• pers1stence  on  February 28, 2014

  peaches and berries

• bschnipper  on  February 28, 2014

  Sour cherries

• Nsteinen  on  February 28, 2014

  Tomatoes.

• davidk  on  February 28, 2014

  What is your favorite food to purchase at a farm stand? Grillo's home made pickles (darn, I can't figure out exactly what they are putting in their pickling spices to make them taste so good?)

• fjain  on  February 28, 2014

  Mushrooms! Shitake, in particular.

• Brandeemk  on  February 28, 2014

  TOMATOES and Russian Red Kale

• infotrop  on  February 28, 2014

  Tomatoes, during their very short season in eastern Oregon.

• Suelovesfood  on  February 28, 2014

  Sweet potatoes. One of the vendors here has 3 or 4 varieties, and they all taste different. They are not easily grown at home. I buy so many things 🙂

• herby  on  February 28, 2014

  We are almost into the fifth month of cold and snow here and just thinking about a farm stand makes my heart beet faster – oh, so many thinks I'd love to buy – eggs, raw milk that still has a faint smell of the cow it came from, fragrant strawberries that you can't stop eating out of hand, pungent garlic and just about anything that came from a farm to the stand!

• michelle1009  on  February 28, 2014

  I love buying artisinal locally made foods like jams, salsas, sauces etc. It's a great place to find new products that aren't in grocery stores.

• crazyethyl  on  February 28, 2014

  any type of fresh fruit, tomatoes and sweet corn

• Berryd  on  February 28, 2014

  I can't pick just one! I love getting things as they come into season and anticipating the next great thing to come into season,

• jwaldron  on  February 28, 2014

  Tomatoes, especially Green Zebra.

• shamby  on  February 28, 2014

  My absolute favorite is Blue Heron's goat feta cheese. Amazing!

• southerncooker  on  February 28, 2014

  Hard to choose just one but if I had to it would be heirloom tomatoes.

• cristinb  on  February 28, 2014

  Strawberries and blueberries.

• lepetityume  on  February 28, 2014

  any seasonal fruits and vegetables. Today I purchased Fuji apples, mangoes and some spinach 🙂

• Susangardener  on  February 28, 2014

  Broccoli

• emily8g  on  March 1, 2014

  Apple cider is my favorite.

• VickiMNE  on  March 1, 2014

  Seasonal fruits and veggies, but especially berries.

• juliewells  on  March 1, 2014

  Fresh, still warm bread.

• betsycooks  on  March 1, 2014

  Heirloom tomatoes!

• rmshores  on  March 1, 2014

  It feels like the New England soil is alive again when I can pick up some fiddlehead ferns to saute for a delicious springtime dish.

• cadfael  on  March 2, 2014

  Heirloom varieties of anything seasonal and just picked is what I want. Why? Because it is local, protects diversification, and always tastes the best!
  Peas in the spring
  cherries and berries and stonecrop in the summer
  late summer tomatoes (YUM) and potatoes
  fall apples and squash.
  apple varieties

  I am making myself hungry just thinking of the things I cook and bake using those unique and tasty varieties that help me connect to the seasons. Thank you family farmers!

• Kirstin_the_Kiwi  on  March 2, 2014

  boysenberries

• bernsfield  on  March 2, 2014

  Farm stand tomatoes are awesome, but I also can't pass by a steaming pot of boiled peanuts, if they have one!

• tkmom64  on  March 3, 2014

  Peaches….when the peaches are ripe I feel as though all is right in the world again. It's also one of the things I've never been able to grow myself (and I've tried!). BUT – oh never mind…I could go on forever!

• beachcook  on  March 3, 2014

  Nothing like farm fresh, just picked corn. It's the best…

• trudys_person  on  March 3, 2014

  Juicy red cherries from farmstands in the interior of BC in the summer!

• wendybazil  on  March 3, 2014

  My favorite thing to buy is whatever is freshest that day!

• mainereader  on  March 4, 2014

  Organic tomatoes

• fraserkr  on  March 4, 2014

  TOMATOES

• camtncook  on  March 5, 2014

  Strawberries and fresh corn…

• prpost  on  March 5, 2014

  Heirloom tomatoes, strawberries, corn… is summer here yet?

• canines5  on  March 5, 2014

  VA. Crabmeat

• Diabolical_DrZ  on  March 5, 2014

  peaches in season

• BizzyLizzy  on  March 6, 2014

  Wow, that's a tough one, as there are so many good things to be purchased fresh from a farm stand! Actually I have fresh, fresh, fresh quinces, apples, plums and eggs that we bought at the weekend.. but if I had to choose one or two, the best I've ever experienced was strawberries from a farm on the Sunshine Coast. Never tasted any as good!

• LeePicard  on  March 6, 2014

  Heirloom tomatoes, especially the baby ones. It is like eating candy. The berries are great too.

• takagi  on  March 6, 2014

  Tomatoes and pumpkins

• jenniesb  on  March 6, 2014

  Everything, but especially berries and eggs.

• Jill_J  on  March 6, 2014

  Love to buy zucchinis and peppers, strawberries, peaches, melons, tomatoes, and apples, just to name a few of my favorites!! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!! 🙂

• Smuz90  on  March 7, 2014

  Tomatoes, asparagus and artichokes!

• Gunnygoo  on  March 7, 2014

  Definitely yogurt!!! Our local farmer's market sells Wake Robin Farm yogurt, which is the best ever!!! They also sell milk and cheese.

• kalex426  on  March 7, 2014

  Has to be strawberries (just about a month away from the start of the season here, hopefully).

• diannerh49  on  March 7, 2014

  Cucumbers for pickling, tomatoes and fresh fruit.

• idylls  on  March 8, 2014

  At our wonderful market in Damariscotta , Maine, I loved the cheeses of our local cheesemaker. It would be too difficult to choose just one vegetable or fruit.

• SLane  on  March 9, 2014

  Eggs

• nursey  on  March 9, 2014

  Cheese – always so much nicer than supermarket offerings.

• stockholm28  on  March 10, 2014

  strawberries

• jd5761  on  March 11, 2014

  fresh fresh carrots

• Bradeileen  on  March 11, 2014

  Nothing beats fresh Iowa sweet corn in August. We can buy enough!!

• xaocfrau  on  March 11, 2014

  Tomatoes!

• mreils  on  March 11, 2014

  D.efinitely – fresh tomatoes

• esztlil  on  March 11, 2014

  No question….fresh fruits

• Jane  on  March 12, 2014

  This contest is now closed. The 5 lucky winners, selected by random number generator, are GsyAnne, dbielick, paulabucharles, Rinshin, and meghanbridget.