Swank's Swanky Greens

I stopped by the Lake Worth farmers' market recently and ran into Jodi Swank, whose (with husband Darrin) Swank Specialty Produce is to the trash at your local supermarket what a Bugatti Veyron is to skateboarding with square wheels. 

She'll be at the market on J Street at Lucerne Avenue for another two weeks before shutting down to ramp up for next season's production, and if you haven't sampled the picture-perfect (and poison-free) produce used by the likes of James Dean Max (3030 Ocean) and Michael Wagner (Lola's on Harrison), then you're missing out on something really special. The mixed Asian greens, which can include everything from Chinese mallow and Japanese red mustard to tatsoi and mizuna, make the most amazing salads.

Jodi also had a couple of interesting bits of news. One, she and Darrin will double the size of the Loxahatchee farm by October, when Swank will be at its regular booth at the West Palm Beach Greenmarket. After that market closes in April, Swank will head back to Lake Worth. Look for more of all the good stuff the Swanks normally produce, plus more varieties of tomato and veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. 

The second bit of expansion is of Swank's Community Supported Agriculture program, which for $40 a week (with an eight-week minimum) gets you weekly or biweekly baskets of fresh from the farm produce. With a $320 up-front commitment, it's not exactly cheap, but if you go in with another couple-three foodies, it becomes a lot more affordable, not to mention a helluva lot cheaper than eating the same pristine produce at some hoity local restaurant. Jodi's looking for another 25 to 30 members (about all the farm can handle), so if you're interested, give her a call at 561-202-5648 or email her by clicking here. 

Your greens will make your friends green with envy.