Autumn Produce Parable

By Adam Calder

As summer gives way to autumn, the ranks of local produce swell in the produce department. We have ample selection of summertime produce, and the autumn produce is starting to roll in as well.

For local summer produce, we have organic: rainbow chard, red chard, cucumbers, green zucchini, yellow summer squash, globe eggplant, Japanese eggplant, dill bunches, beets, yellow onions, red onions, green bell peppers, red bell peppers, saladette tomatoes, sunflower sprouts, snow pea shoots, daikon sprouts, wheatgrass, red radishes, carmen peppers, jalapeno peppers, and poblano peppers.

We also have local broccoli sprouts, red raspberries, black raspberries, buttercrunch lettuce, garlic, white onions, basil, thyme, lemongrass, bay leaves, rosemary, chives, baby dill, mint, red tomatoes, dried shiitake mushrooms, dried porcini mushrooms, heirloom tomatoes, gold tomatoes, flower bouquets, garlic, oyster mushrooms and okra.

That’s just the summer produce! The autumnal produce we have includes gala apples, Jonathon apples, Jonagold apples, Honeycrisp apples and Golden Delicious apples. We also have local organic butternut squash, kabocha squash, acorn squash, delicata squash, and spaghetti squash.

In the near future we can expect to see more local winter squash varieties, more apple varieties, chestnuts, greenhouse baby lettuce mix, baby collards, baby chard, and cayenne peppers.

Take advantage of these rare few weeks when the local produce from two seasons overlaps, and enjoy all the delicious fruits and vegetables Iowa has to offer.