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After a morning of unnaturally bright sunshine and ominous radio warnings of thunderstorms, rain- and 50-knot wind-advisories, my daughter and I set off for the first day of the Wallingford Farmers Market with umbrellas and trepidation.

We arrived on the dot at 4 for Rachel Yang of Joule Restaurant‘s cooking demonstration.  Asparagus was clearly the ingredient of the day (imagine cooking this on a hotplate under a tent):

1. Asparagus Pesto and Smoked Salmon on Hominy Toast
2. Asparagus, Purple Potato, Cheese Curd Omlet with Chickweed Salad
3. Asparagus and Orange in Sweet Millet with Creamy Orange Ice Cream

This being early in our growing season, the Market featured either early spring greens or crops like potatoes that had “wintered over”.  But, holy cow, check out the asparagus!

I also couldn’t take my eyes off these gorgeous radishes.

One brave farm offered some early strawberries.

We also ogled the cut flowers and fresh-baked bread.

At this point, we shrugged off warnings of the storm as overblown, but then the sky darkened dramatically under the steady drizzle and a torrential downpour abruptly hit.

Here are some parting facts about the Wallingford Farmer’s Market:

• It runs every Wednesday afternoon from 3-7 in the south parking lot of the Wallingford Center until the fall
• The good merchants there request that you do not park in the lot unless you are shopping in the Center, but as an enticement they are offering 10% off during Market hours if you aren’t shy about showing them your Market purchases
• 27 vendors attended today, including 16 farms and 11 food sellers
• Plenty more information on their blog, including What’s Fresh Now, a list of what’s available each week

Despite the inauspicious beginning, at least this big storm will provide plenty of water for young growing crops which should pay off later in the season!

Finally, I leave you with a perspective on Farmers Markets from an extremely funny book I read recently by Christian Lander called Stuff White People Like (or see the original blog for a hefty list).  Although I am not one of them, I notice Wallingford is full of white people so please take this in a spirit of love – it is not intended to offend!:

5 – Farmer’s Markets. White people are drawn to farmer’s markets like moths to a flame. In fact, white people have such strong instincts that if you release a white person into a random Saturday morning they will return to you with a reusable bag full of fruits and vegetables.

Laugh, take up your reusable bags, and go in peace.