3 Things to Pick Up at the Market This Weekend

Here at Food52, we like to talk about what we’re buying at the market: what’s new, what’s exciting, the market's best finds. This is our water cooler talk. And now, we want you to join in.

Summer produce is finally starting to hit its stride, which means the market is getting busier, and we're setting our alarm clocks just a little bit earlier, lest we miss out on the best selection. You know what they say; the early bird gets the...watercress?

Care to come along? Here’s what the Food52 editors can’t wait to pick up from the market -- and why you should be adding it to your bag, too.

Lettuce
Yes, crisp heads of lettuce are something your eyes might skip over, in search of something more exciting, but don't let them -- lettuce satisfies the need for something cold and crunchy like nothing else. Bonus: After polishing off a big bowlful of crisp lightly-dressed leaves, we still have room for ice cream.

Cherry Tomatoes
While we’re waiting for their larger counterparts to arrive in force, we’re buying up sweet little Sun Golds and Yellow Pears: for snacking, for summery pastas, and for salads (sliced in half first, to avoid an eyeful of juice thanks to a well-placed fork).

Mint & Co.
Pick up bushy bouquets of mint, and scatter roughly chopped leaves on top of (and inside of) everything you eat (and drink). Look for some of mint’s family members too, like lemon balm and summer savory, the latter of which we like to use with beans and mushrooms.

What's catching your eye at your farmers market? Tell us in the comments!

Photos by James Ransom