"greenmarket" news and stories

With farmers' market season about hit primetime, a Wall Street Journal story sounded the alarm about farmers and others who purchase and resell products that are not theirs.

It seems the Wisconsin case the story focused on is more the exception than the rule. "You got to grow it to sell it. We do not allow resellers," said Michael Hurwitz, director of greenmarket for Grow NYC, which runs dozens of farmers' markets in New York City including the king-sized Union Square Market. "We are a very strict producer-only market."

Unless they're granted an exception – which would be for a product that's grown locally but not otherwise available at the market -- farmers not only must stick to what they grow, but they also have to be at their market booth a least 25 percent of the time and have someone intimately involved with farm production there for the rest.

This week's New York Times Dining and Wine section has a terrific video up of Alice Waters (the woman who changed the way Americans eat) shopping at a New York Greenmarket. She is so effusive and enthusiastic about the food and the experience. She talks about how she approaches the market, what she looks for and how she lets the food guide her purchases and menu. Her passion for fresh food is so engaging that I've now watched the video three times, simply because I want to continue to bask in the light of her joy. It doesn't hurt that they also include some footage of the meal she whips up from her purchases (as well as a few grunts of satisfaction from those who were lucky enough to eat with her).

New York's famous Greenmarket farmer's market has expanded, with 10 new locations all under its name throughout the city. The new locations have dieticians and nutritionists and, unlike the main location which is about the food, these are about health, promoting fresh produce as a way to lose weight, not extolling the virtues of all high-quality products (including things like artisan meats and cheeses) than are at the main market. The farmers do not love the new format as Greenmarket shifts them to new locations, some of which have no customers, and many wonder if Greenmarket, like any other business, is expanding too quickly. If you want to know where to find the new markets, check out the interactive map.

The popularity of food-friendly Austrian wines is on the rise, thanks to lots of enthusiastic wine lovers and some Austrian restaurateurs, including David Bouley and Wolfgang Puck.

Cold Korean noodle soups are just the ticket for some satisfying fare this summer (just ask Sarah), since they're spicy and refreshing at the same time.

Frank Bruni reviews the new Le Cirque and gives it 2 stars

Mark Bittman, the minimalist, tackles pineapple with grilled pineapple salsa.

Use some fresh peaches and make a delicious, simple summer dessert of peaches and ice milk. Or check out the new flying saucer nectarines, which look like donut peaches.

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