This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

This Week at the Smart Markets Reston Farmers' Market

This week at the market, we'll have rhubarb and strawberries and some great recipes for fresh chicken.

This Week at Our Reston Market
Wednesday 3–7 p.m.
12001 Sunrise Valley Dr.
Map

We did it the hard way, it seems, but it looks as if it will be smooth sailing for us the rest of the year weather-wise, at least when it comes to being struck by lightning. We did indeed experience a close call last week during the market; lightning struck a tree right at the edge of the woods across from the market, but by that time most everyone, shoppers and vendors, were in their cars, and only the guys at Fat and Happy have a tale to tell. Just ask them. I doubt that they welcome the opportunity to advertise their brisket as "Fired by God," but last week's meats on the smoker may actually have benefited from a little extraterrestrial heat.  

I know it looks like spring, and the calendar says it is, but the farmers will tell you that they are dealing with temperatures that are colder than they any of them remember for this time of year. Max Tyson was worried about the green-bean seedlings, and the strawberries are two weeks late in ripening even in the Northern Neck. But this week we will have strawberries at Ignacio's stand and rhubarb at Heritage Farm, so maybe you will finally be able to make my Strawberry-Rhubarb Sherbet recipe and enjoy it on the patio instead of in front of the fire.  

Find out what's happening in Restonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

I am no different from most of the rest of the shopping public in thinking that radishes serve us best in salads, but there are many great uses for them that take advantage of their color, crispness, and concentrated health benefits. Please check out the Smart Markets table this week for several new radish recipes.  

You may want to have a recipe for fresh chicken in mind so that you can take best advantage of it at Heritage Farm. But rest assured that you should be able to buy it every week through the summer season. Once home, it will keep in the coldest part of your refrigerator for nearly a week, as it is processed on Tuesday before the market. When we say "fresh," we mean it. This week at the Smart Markets tent, we'll have a reprint of a Mark Bittman article about many interesting ways to prepare chicken breasts.

Find out what's happening in Restonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

And plan to spend some time with Chef Bon at the Yum Truck, where she will let you sample all kinds of good, healthy, gluten-free foods and drinks while deftly sharing with you lots of good advice and cooking tips of her own.

See you at the market!

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?