As the weather cools down, the kitchen is the perfect place to warm up. Fall means breaking out the family recipes, whether you’re staying cozy with tasty soups and stews, cooking up festive treats, or preparing holiday feasts for the whole family. Plus, having the oven on heats up the whole house.
The Overland Park Farmers’ Market can help you prepare your fall dishes with locally sourced, farm-fresh ingredients from vendors from across the Kansas City metro area. Vendors offer a variety of seasonal products, including fruits, vegetables, baked goods, jams, nuts and more.
Only a few dates remain in this year’s Farmers’ Market season. The market takes place in the parking lots of Matt Ross Community Center on Saturdays through November 20, from 8 a.m. to noon. Following that, you can shop during a special holiday market on Saturday, Dec. 4, at the same time, same location.
Head out to the market while you can, and shop for local goods this fall. Need some guidance as you prepare your next trip to the Farmers’ Market? We’ve got some ideas to help your autumn shopping go to good use.
Fruits in season at the market
Pick out some ripe apples for a homemade apple pie, apple cobbler, or caramel apples (or to slice and dunk in peanut butter). Pears and even strawberries are also in season this time of year and go well as sides and desserts. Add the berries, apples and pears to your fruit medley, or to top your waffles during Sunday brunch. You can also saute your pears with cinnamon for a warm treat.
A farm-fresh Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is coming up in late November, and there are plenty of products at the market to help you complete your family feast. For your side dishes, green beans, squash and sweet potatoes are in season.
As a locally sourced alternative to canned pumpkin, opt for a homemade pumpkin pie using fresh pumpkin from the market, or buy one of our scrumptious pumpkin, pecan or apple pies.
Leafy, local greens
Cabbage, spinach and an array of other greens are also big at the market this time of year, and they’re the perfect salad alternative to iceberg lettuce. Add spinach to your pizza or pasta, or incorporate it into an artichoke dip.
Have you ever had bierocks? They involve stuffing rolls with cabbage and ground beef and baking them (and they’re very tasty).
More farm-to-table veggies
Other veggies in season during the fall include beets, eggplant, carrots and turnips. All go great in soups and stews, to warm you up on a chilly fall day. You can also incorporate beets into salads and stir fries. Roasted squash and turnips make for excellent side dishes.
If you’re feeling extra ambitious, swap out the chicken for eggplant, and make eggplant parmesan.
Other tasty market products
Vendors at the Farmers’ Market also sell a variety of baked goods, including cookies, bread, tortillas and more. You can find jams and jellies for your morning toast, and butter, vanilla and eggs for your fall baking escapades (did someone say sugar cookies?). Nuts are great when spiced and served as a snack, and they can also be added to trail mixes and salads.
The Overland Park Farmers’ Market gives shoppers access to the freshest local produce and specialty products, including the items listed above and many more.
Before your fall shopping spree in the Matt Ross Community Center parking lots, find a full vendor list, buyer’s guide and other market details.
