In Season: Blackwood Farmers Market in Full Swing

It is corn-on-the-cob season. 

The kind of corn-on-the-cob that was picked in the morning and cooked a couple hours later. 

The kind of corn that you can only get at the , which was open for its second weekend this past Saturday. 

The , located in the Gloucester Township-Blackwood Rotary Public Library parking lot, is open every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This year the market features some new vendors, including Green Planet Nursery from Mullica Hill and from Blackwood. 

“We are excited to expand the farmer's market to include plants and ice cream,” said Gloria Pasquarello, who is a member of the volunteer team that organizes the market. “We hope more vendors sign up and return as the season pushes forward.”

This year, the market opened a couple weeks early, at the request of the farmers, who wanted to be able to bring early produce, like Jersey Romaine, strawberries and asparagus, to the market. 

While strawberries and asparagus are now distant memories, fresh (like one-hour old!) corn-on-the cob, Hammonton blueberries, cantaloupe, basil and early Jersey tomatoes are plentiful.

The deals are plentiful as well. I spent $17.50 and purchased a boatload of fruit and veggies, including a gigantic bouquet of fresh basil and strawberry —a fabulous heirloom variety of tiny tomatoes that are shaped like strawberries (just sweet enough).

To keep the basil bouquet fresh all week long (because who can possibly eat a bushel of basil?!), I tipped the stems and popped into pitcher with ice and cool water. It makes an instant centerpiece, my dining room smells amazing and I can pick from my basil, until I am ready to make pesto later in the week. 

For now, I am enjoying tomato, basil and mozzarella. I grabbed some fresh mozzarella from , drizzled with good quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Voila: a perfect light summer supper. 

The market is open rain or shine. Oh, and be sure to stop by the Farmers Market table, located right in the center of the action, to grab recipes and find out what’s happening in downtown Blackwood.