By Francesca Patterson

Feeling this long week come to an end calls for a sigh of relief and a cheers. Between the bouts of intense storms and weather warnings that loomed over us and the event of towing our broken down produce truck off the side of the road, the elements were not working in our favor. This reflection reminds me, though, how each week in the summer can easily feel like an encapsulated season in itself. The four seasons at the markets become broken down into micro-seasons, where one can recall a specific time within it best by first pointing out what produce was available. As I’m writing this, the sun is rising on a typical hot and humid day here in Maryland. Today is my last day working at the markets for the season, and the several summers I’ve experienced with Norman’s have taught me to love days like today. These sunny Saturdays are meant for farm stands and families who roll out of their car in pajamas to grab an armful of corn for the grill later. They’re perfect for making friends while setting up fruit displays at 8 in the morning or for sharing a quiet moment to listen to the sound of a watermelon. While I am off to school in New York, I am sure my mind will often wander, especially on Saturdays, to what could be happening at the markets at any given time.

I want to thank all the CSA members for giving me a platform to explore creativity and develop recipes. I will be continuing to share my experiences and favorite recipes through this newsletter for as long as possible.

Right now, our farmers are picking more vegetables than ever before. However, fresh veggies like these will only be around for a few more weeks, so make sure to enjoy them as much as you can before Fall produce comes in. We are changing some of the setups at our farm stands back to old ways to accommodate the abundance of Norman’s vegetables, so be sure to check them out.