South Florida’s summer farmers markets

June 18, 6:18 PMMiami Food and Drink ExaminerRosalie E. Leposky

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South Florida has two growing seasons, winter and all-year.

In the winter, south Florida farmers grow traditional fruits and vegetables such as cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, squash, and strawberries.

The all-year season includes tropical fruits and vegetables that grow year-round or ripen in south Florida’s hot, humid summers. Among them are commercial crops such as avocado and mango, and lesser-known tropicals such as carambola (star fruit) and lychee.

You can find foods grown in all seasons for sale on streetside stands and in local farmers markets.

Farm-to-Door

Peter and Denisse Schnebly of Schnebly Redland's Winery offer a Farm-to-Door Farmers Market to get fresh Redland fruit to people who appreciate it.

The Schneblys are selling several lychee packages that include four pounds of fresh Florida lychees and one or more bottles of their lychee wines.

On their Web site, the Schneblys write that “the lychee is an exotic delicacy, revered as one of the most important Chinese fruit. Originally grown in South China and for the past 20 years grown locally in the Redland, Florida. This fruit is usually peeled eaten like a cherry, great for fruit salads, Martini, and sauces. It is a favorite among locals and only available fresh during the months of June and July.”

The Schneblys also plan to offer similar packages for Redland-grown carambolas, mangos, and other tropical fruits paired with their wines.

“Summer” Markets

Most “summer” markets in South Florida are open throughout the year. To replace fruits and vegetables that grow in South Florida only in the winter, these markets “import” supplies grown elsewhere for the summer. They also sell sustainable foods and slow foods that mature in summer.

To find out what summer seasonal vegetables  and tropical fruits  are available, visit the Florida Department of Agriculture’s Web sites before you shop.

Pineapples, tomatoes, tomatillos, green beens, and assorted peppers
– with piñatas dangling from the rafters – at the Mexican produce
market in Redland Market Village Bargain Town. © 2009 George Leposky

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Summer markets by locations

South Miami-Dade County

Homestead and the Redland communities have two year-round farmers markets, one open ten months of the year, and many roadside stands with schedules that vary seasonally. Covered facilities help them stay open all year because rain is an almost daily presence in south Florida summers.

• Homestead: Robert is Here. Family owned and operated. Open seven days 8 AM to 7 PM including holidays, except September and October. Covered market.

• Redland: Redland Market Village Bargain Town.  Open weekends all year. Covered market. Opens about 7 AM as soon as merchants set up their stalls. Closes about 6PM.

• Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden sells fruit on weekends at a fruit market  that is part of its tropical research farm, Williams Grove at the Fairchild Farm, 14885 SW 248th St. Directions . Open Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM to 3:30 PM. 305-258-0464.

• Redland: Whitney Produce and Market Place. One of south Florida’s newest markets, with big growth plans. Family owned and operated. Covered market. Sells fresh fruit smoothies, key lime pie, banana and mango fruit breads made from scratch with local fruit, and homemade spaghetti sauce and salsa using local tomatoes. Open 10 AM to 7 PM daily except Monday.

Rob Burr, a member of the Burr's Berry Farm family, lists local points of agricultural interest on his Rob's Redland Riot Road Rallye Web site. Some of these sites are open only in winter, so read about them and wait patiently.

Finding road stands in the Redland or Homestead means being in the right place at the right time of year. Stop, talk to the people, find out what they are selling (which may be local honey or anything else in season), and purchase what you want. Most roadside stands along the agricultural roads in the Redland and Homestead open only on weekends.
 

Central Miami-Dade County

• Coconut Grove: Coconut Grove Farmers Market.  Open Saturdays all year. Easily the largest organic market in Miami-Dade County, selling locally grown conventional and organic products – in season – under a huge tent. Products also available online and from Redland Farm in Perrine. Call before visiting the farm.

• Miami:  The original El Palacio de los Jugos, 5721 W. Flagler St., a fixture in Miami’s largely Hispanic Flagami neighborhood for more than three decades. It’s more a green grocer for Cuban fruits and vegetables than a farmers market – a cross between a roadside Cuban restaurant and a Latin produce market, with prices that often are the best in Miami. If you don’t speak Spanish, other patrons will assist you. Covered  picnic-style outdoor seating. Small, busy parking lot. Don’t park behind the adjacent Assumption Ukrainian Catholic Church, which will have your car towed. Open daily 7 AM to 9 pm.

• Miami: The Jackson Memorial Foundation Green Market at Alamo Park (1611 NW 12th Ave.) on the Jackson Memorial Hospital campus. Miami-Dade County’s newest farmers market, developed and managed by The Market Company. Outdoors. Open Thursdays from 9 AM to 4 PM. For more information, call 305-531-0038.

North Miami-Dade County and Miami Beach

These markets in North Miami, Miami Beach, and Ft. Lauderdale are organized and managed by The Market Company.

• Miami Beach:  Lincoln Road Farmers Market between Meridian and Washington avenues, and organic market in front of the Lincoln Theatre at Lincoln Road and Pennsylvania Avenue. Every Sunday, 9 AM to 6:30 PM. Outdoors

• Miami Beach: Normandy Village Marketplace, in 900 block of 71st Street at the Normandy Isle Fountain along the Rue Vendome, North Beach. Open Saturdays from 9 AM to 5 PM. Outdoors.

• Aventura: The Aventura Mall Farmers Market, Saturdays 10 AM to 9:30 PM and Sundays Noon to 8 PM, February though October, two weekends a month. Call 305-531-0038 for exact dates. Summer 2009 dates: June 20-21, July 11-12 and 18-19, August 1-2 and 15-16, Sept 5-6 and 19-20, October 10-11 and 24-25.

Broward County

• Ft. Lauderdale: Las Olas Outdoor Gourmet Market, 1201 E. Las Olas Blvd. Sundays 9 AM to 2 PM. Outdoors.

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