Lake Worth Farmers' Market Goes Year-Round

Tired of the rubber-ball tomatoes, wilted corporate greens and vegetables older than Michael Jackson's last hit at your local giant-mega-supermarket? It's not like you have many options, because most farmers' markets close during South Florida summers, when the only thing that grows is mold.

Well, on July 4 the Oceanside Farmers' Market in Lake Worth moves to J Street and Lake Avenue until late in the year before heading back to its regular spot near the Lake Worth casino. Beginning with the opening celebration on the Fourth, the market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday, with more than 30 purveyors of everything from organic greens and heirloom tomatoes to artisan breads, and herb and spice-infused Loxahatchee honey. 

Many of the vendors from the beachfront market will be at the new location, including Farmhouse Tomatoes, whose heirloom varieties make the supermarket stuff taste like so much red cardboard. Better act fast, though, because they'll only have product for three weeks before shutting down to get ready for next season.

Newbies include Swank Farms, purveyor of extraordinary produce to some of SoFla's best restaurants. Likewise, Swank will only be around for two weeks before retooling for next season. The Lake Worth Green Marketplace will offer a selection of Latin vegetables and dried chilies, and Pickled Pink will hawk New York-style pickles and old-fashioned relishes.

Impetus for the year-round market came from the vendors themselves, says market director Peter Robinson, who noted: "In this economy, they need the work." 

They need the work. We need food that doesn't taste like something excreted from back end of a Sysco truck. Sounds like a good deal all around.