AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
“The sweet corn is the best we’ve had for years and the tomatoes are wonderful,” said Jennifer Diehl, manager of Diehl’s Produce in Severna Park. Her remark was typical of those heard at other farm and produce stands as we made our way about Anne Arundel County this week.
Protective curtains were drawn against the late-August sun at four o’clock Tuesday afternoon but the intensity of the beams shining through the canvas of Diehl’s colorful tents produced a rosy glow highlighting well-arranged rows of fruits and vegetables at their peak.
Spring onions, mushrooms, okra, radishes, cucumbers, red and yellow cherry tomatoes, zucchini and yellow squash occupied the central spaces with full-sized tomatoes, cantaloupes and watermelons along the back and sides of the tent and, lo and behold, there were peaches. Customers flowed in and out the entire time we were there with check-out counters so busy Diehl pitched in to help.
We decided we’d wait to speak with her until the crowd lightened.
The scene at Chase’s Produce on Route 424 in Davidsonville was busy as well – so busy that, by late afternoon, the stand had run out of several kinds of vegetables farmer Bob Chase hand-picked from the fields that morning. Thankfully, there was still plenty of their extraordinarily good sweet corn to buy.
After commenting that summer was going by in a flash, I asked Chase’s wife Margie if she knew when the farmstand would be closing for the year.
“That’s the million-dollar question,” she said. “We’re already closing on Wednesdays because, historically, Wednesdays are slow in August. However, we’re hopeful a long growing season will allow us to maintain normal operation through Labor Day. Typically, after that, the stand pulls back from full-time operation seven days a week to being open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
“As it is now, we’re beginning to run out of things,” she added. “Today, I was out of green beans, yellow squash and cucumbers. I have more coming of all three but they’re not ripening fast enough.”
Both Chases noted that the weather was so odd this year that it affected the business adversely. The unexpected freeze on April 20th not only killed the blossoms on the farm’s own U-Pick strawberry crop but also impeded their ability to obtain the tree fruits they normally carry from orchards they work with.
“We had very limited peaches this year, and no cherries or blackberries because the orchards were affected by the same freeze we had,” Margie said. “We got a small number of early peaches but then the orchards had to cut us off in order to have enough for their own customers.”
The Chase’s Produce schedule is posted daily at Chase’s Produce – Fruits and Vegetables, Fresh Produce or at Facebook.
Also on Route 424, Marco Ridge Farm Produce has had a busy summer this year. Arriving there late in the afternoon, we found that Marco Ridge had sold quite a bit of produce over the course of the day, but still had plenty of bell peppers, a variety of hot peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, eggplants, onions, and tomatoes though most of the sweet corn was gone from the stand.
“All our crops have done very well this year,” said Diane Klinken who manages the produce stand for farmer Alan Covington with her husband Fred.
We noted that there was a sufficient supply of cantaloupes and watermelons left in front of the stand but no shortage of good-sized red and green tomatoes.
There was still quite an impressive grouping of Marco Ridge dressings, pickles, salsas, dips, pepper jams and barbecue sauces. However, customers are warned to buy them before the season closes as, once they’re gone, they’re gone. We also discovered that a few of Fred Klinken’s charming birdhouses remain to be sold.
“As you’ve probably heard, our peaches from local orchards were in shorter supply due to the cold snap experienced in April,” Diane noted.
If things go as planned, Marco Ridge Farm will be closing on Labor Day but will continue to have serve yourself pay-as-you go vegetables for sale on their produce wagon well into fall. Follow their schedule at Facebook.
Getting back to Diehl’s Produce in Severna Park for a moment, it was interesting to see that the stand did have Adam’s County Pennsylvania peaches. Jennifer Diehl explained that they’ve been lucky in that the orchard they’ve dealt with for decades is large enough to be less affected by the April freeze. The orchard eliminated some of their other wholesale customers, but Diehl’s was able to get as many peaches as they needed.
“Peaches will actually be ending this week,” Diehl said. “But our Adam’s County apples will be coming in. We’re debating now whether to wait for Labor Day to bring in our autumn chrysanthemums or sooner. The mums will shortly be followed by our pumpkins, gourds, winter squash and cider.”
Diehl emphasized that the stand won’t be closing until October 31st.
We were unable to get to Jen’s sister, Abby’s Diehl’s Produce Annapolis locations in Eastport at 921 Chesapeake Avenue or at Clocktower Place Shopping Center at 1410 Forest Drive. They too, have an abundance of fresh produce from the Eastern Shore as well as Adam’s County peaches and apples. Both stands will continue to be open through October 31.
The Peninsula Farms produce stand at 826 Mayo Road in Edgewater is another wonderful source for summer produce that we discovered while sourcing ingredients for a sharonleestable.com recipe. We’ve been back many times as their sweet corn, tomatoes, green beans a melons never fail to please. We understand that the stand will be open this year until the middle of October.
We already focused on Pumphrey’s Farm stand in Millersville in last week’s column, but we’ll remind you that they are among the latest to close – generally mid-November.
We couldn’t end this column without mentioning lovely Zang’s Farm Stand which we discovered at 4475 Muddy Creek Road on the way to historic Galesville. Zang’s is a family owned and operated farm that grows seasonal fruits, vegetables and cut flowers.
Zang’s is blessed with plenty of peaches to sell as the farm has its own orchard with over 200 peach trees. There are apples, pears and melons too with pumpkins coming in the fall. Zang’s is very well known for its field-grown and high tunnel cut flowers from March until October with dried flower centerpieces and holiday wreaths.
The farm stand will remain open through October.
We haven’t forgotten the Anne Arundel County farmer’s markets but are saving those for autumn.
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center. Jing Ying also offers a homeschool Kung Fu program this fall. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high-quality consistent care.
