RIght off the vines

By LEE WARD / THE INDEPENDENT

May 15, 2008 10:10 am

— Fresh fruit and vegetables — one of the joys of summer.
Not everyone has a green thumb, though. Thank goodness for the roadside markets.
In Kentucky, the farm bureau issues a yearly director of Kentucky Certified Roadside Farm Markets with a chart telling what produce will be available when and where. This year the guide contains information on 80 roadside farms across the state.
It’s early in the season, so you can expect to find asparagus, lettuce, green onions and maybe some peas and strawberries now.
Next month, add to the list beans, berries, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, peaches and summer squash.
In this area, state-certified roadside farm markets include:
Bennett’s Mill Covered Bridge, 103 Bennett’s Mill Road, South Shore.
The market has in-season vegetables with corn and melons that you can pick for yourself when they’re in season, which don’t be until July and August. The market will be open through October. Hours are Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Imel’s Greenhouse, 2836 Ky. 1, Greenup.
Imel’s opens in March and remains open through October with a wide selection, including pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, peppers, tomatoes, beans and sweet corn, as well as non-food items like fodder shocks, spring bedding vegetable and flower plants, hanging baskets and flowering crops. They also sell concrete items and garden soils and mulches, sometimes offering planting demonstrations. School tours are available and some antique equipment is on display. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Alley Farms, 595 N. Highway 3, Louisa.
This market offers bedding and vegetable plants, hanging baskets and ornamentals, as well as vegetables, including pumpkins and gourds, and herbs. Also for sale are baked goods and Kentucky crafts. School tours are available.
For more information, write to Kentucky Farm Bureau, commodity department, P.O. Box 20700, Louisville, KY, 40250-0700, call (502) 495-5000, e-mail roadside@kyfb.com or visit kyfb.com.

To everything there is a season
This month, you may find asparagus, lettuce, green onions, peas and strawberries at your local farmer’s market. Other produce will be added as it comes in season.
June — beans, blackberries, blueberries broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, peaches, raspberries summer squash.
July — apples, cantaloupe, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, onions, peppers, plums, potatoes, tomatoes
August — grapes, pears, winter squash, watermelon,
September — turnips, sorghum
LEE WARD can be reached at lward@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2661.

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