| AUGUST 21, 2011 -- Mid-August through mid-September is peak picking season in Connecticut, according to Rick Macsuga of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, and the rain didn't do much harm at all.
"The rain, the rain, the rain," he said. "It's not a welcome sight but it's also not killing anybody."
Macsuga said a month's worth of rain fell in two days and the farmers are tolerating muddy fields.
"Their biggest problem is they lost two days of picking, it's basically a headache and a delay."
And, according to Macsuga, there is a lot to pick.
"It is our peak for fruits and vegetables," he said. "We have lots available, this is a very good time to buy local."
Macsuga said peppers are still coming in strong and this that the "suntan" is the most recent pick. "It's green and it's basically turning red and it's not quite there, that's what we call a suntan."
Macsuga said there are two new apple varieties available, the Paula red and ginger gold. He said they are both sweet, early apples and that the they should be available for about three weeks."
Also, Clapp pears are available.
"It's the first pear of the season, they are available for two and a half to three weeks, then we'll move on to the next variety."
Macsuga also said blueberry season is winding down and blackberry season is here.
What's fresh this week:
Peppers: all kinds
Musk melon
Honeydew
Baby watermelons
Summer squash: all kinds
Sweet corn
Cucumbers
Peaches
Plums
Nectarines
Cabbages: red, yellow savoy
Green beans: green, yellow
Carrots
Potatoes: all kinds
Eggplant: all kinds
Tomatoes: all varieties
Beets
Kale
Swiss Chard |
