Farmers Market: What's Ripe This Week

BOULDER -- Boulder has weathered one hard frost this season, but most of the local produce survived and continues to flourish. Stock up on roasting veggies like beets, potatoes, and carrots for the next time a soup craving hits. Start stockpiling your winter squash too - much of it can last through the winter! Fruit vendors will now have their full complement of apples, as some of the sweetest varieties, like Fujis, get better after a few cold nights.

What's in: Winter squash, roots, hearty greens, salad greens, turnips, broccoli, and cauliflower. Try sweet, white Hakurei turnips - they can be eaten raw and are delicious sliced into a salad with apples. After a hot summer, vendors who sell eggs will start to have a bigger supply again as the hens up their laying in the cool weather.

Don't miss out: Many vendors will have a good supply of broccoli, cauliflower and brussels sprouts right now, but it won't last forever. Fill your bags before shorter days slow down the longer-maturing crops too much.

How to make it: Don't want to wait for a stew to simmer or a squash to roast? Try a locally sourced frittata for a quick weekday dinner.

You'll need: 2 tablespoons of olive oil, between a pound and a pound-and-a-half of potatoes of your choice (try a variety of colors!), one large, thinly sliced onion, 2 cups of chopped kale, and 6 fresh eggs. Heat the oil in a large, cast iron skillet, and add the onions and potatoes and cook until the onions brown and the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Toss in the kale and cook until bright green before seasoning the mixture with salt and pepper. Turn off the heat and pour whisked eggs over your veggies. Smooth with a spatula, then place back on medium heat until the edges of the eggs begin to set. Place the entire skillet under a pre-heated broiler and cook until golden brown.

For an extra twist, add local cheese or herbs.

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When and Where:
Saturday - Boulder, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., 13th St. between Arapahoe Ave. and Canyon Blvd
Denver, Union Station, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1701 Wynkoop St.
Longmont, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 9595 Nelson Rd.

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Photo Credit: Mara Abbott/Patch