Fresh, locally grown tomatoes are plentiful at farmers’ markets and farm stands right now. We use them in salads. We cook with them. But they truly shine in the tomato sandwich. Choose your tomato. There are so many varieties — yellow tomatoes, red tomatoes, heirlooms of all types. ...

Summers’ end marks an abundant harvest. The farmers’ market and farm stands are loaded with seasonal veggies — corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini ... and beans. I was surprised to learn from local grower Jim Tucker that some people aren’t aware that not all fresh beans are ...

It has been hot. And I’ve been craving something cool with just a little spice. Gazpacho. Icy, thirst-quenching and invigorating, gazpacho is perfect for hot summer days. Because it is a blend of fresh vegetables, it is also a healthy treat. There are many variations — some more like ...

August is midsummer. Strawberries came in June, blueberries in July. Our currants are waning. I’ve been picking raspberries off bushes along the yard and driveway. I pick a few every day; most go straight into my mouth. I try to save some to stir into a salad or put on cereal or yogurt. I ...

“An apple is an excellent thing — until you have tried a peach.” — George du Maurier (1834-1896) One of the highlights of summer are fresh peaches and apricots. They’re aromatic, tender, juicy and sweet — so unlike their counterparts that come shipped from California or even ...

Woodland clearings are full of low bushes loaded with berries, abundant and free for the picking. Area berry farms (like those in AuSable Forks and Peru, New York) have high bush berries for those who want to purchase them or pick their own without bending so low. Delicious, satisfying, ...