Snappy asparagus, juicy tomatoes, plump, sweet cherries – it’s easy to enjoy the taste of fresh, seasonal produce. Unfortunately, despite the abundance of it we have here in Boston, there are still some neighborhoods that don’t have access to any of it. Thankfully, a group of locals are hoping to change that – with a farmers’-market-meets-food-truck.

Daniel Clarke and Josh Trautwein – both Northeastern grads - recently launched a Kickstarter campaign for their invention, Fresh Truck (you can learn about the rest of the Fresh Truck team here). Their goal was to raise $30,000 in order to bring healthy food to the communities that need it most, in bus form. Not surprisingly, Clarke and Trautwein reached their goal, and plan to deliver their first busload of goods in April or May.

“Everyone deserves the opportunity to eat healthy and be well,” Clarke said.

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a Summertime Salad Tasting event hosted by Backyard Farms and Neptune Oyster.

Backyard Farms is a year-round tomato grower based in Madison, Maine. They grow three different kinds of tomatoes: on the vine, beefsteak and cocktail tomatoes. Backyard Farms’ tomatoes only travel as far as the farm can drive in one day.

At the event, Backyard Farms’ VP of marketing,Pete Lewis, taught us a lot about the farm and their tomatoes. We learned that Backyard Farms uses beneficial insects as their main source of preventing unwanted insects from coming near their fruit, and they also depend on bees to naturally pollinate their plants. Due to their year-round growing season, Backyard Farms is also able to provide more than 200 jobs in their community. 

Fresh fruits and vegetables. Locally-made cheese. Hard-working farmers. These are just a few reasons why we frequent the farmers’ markets. Add to this some live music, the sun setting, and string lights overhead, and you’ve got yourself a whole new reason to get excited about local food.

Thanks to the popularity of their Saturday morning farmers’ market, Union Square Main Streets launched Swirl & Slice last Thursday – a market dedicated to specialty foods produced by Massachusetts farms. The market, which takes place every Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m., provides consumers with specialty foods they can, for instance, pack for a picnic, or take on a weekend getaway with friends. Items at this brand new market include wine, cheese, breads, jams, cut flowers, cured meats, nut butters and other locally-produced foods. 

Local in Season had a blast at the Wayland Winter Farmers' Market! Thank you to all of the vendors who made us forget that it's winter in New England!