Farmers Market

Local farmers, crafters, businesses and bakers will present their fare this Thursday, June 14, at the debut of this year's Towson Farmers Market on Allegheny Avenue. From 10:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Thursday until Nov. 22, Allegheny will be closed between York Road and Washington Avenue for the weekly farmers market, which the Towson Chamber of Commerce hosts to shine a spotlight on local businesses and showcase downtown Towson. In addition to the normal fare from the restaurants along Allegheny Avenue, the farmers market boasts fruits, vegetables, flowers, Baltimore County wines, deserts, gently-used clothing, purses, breads, snacks, and more.

The Aberdeen Farmers Market is open for the season, Fridays from 3 p.m. until 7 in Festival Park at 60 N. Parke St. The market features Hickory Chance Farm's Angus cross beef, Keyes Creamery ice cream and cheese, herbs, flowers, heirloom vegetables, baked goods, seasonal produce, handmade furniture, bird houses, hanging flower baskets, dog treats and many more vendors. The market is open rain or shine. Festival Park is across from Aberdeen City Hall. For more information, call 410-272-1600

Three weeks ago we told you that The Pea Man (aka Thomas McCarthy of Woodside Greenhouse, Caroline County) said he should be bringing peas in about three weeks. Three weeks later he brought peas. By 10 a.m. all of his peas were gone. And so was he. He'll be back next week with more peas. Still, the market seemed especially crowded on Mother's Day, and the craft booths were doing brisker business than usual. Baltimore Sun contributor John Houser III checked out the market's new pizza vendor, Pizza Ruby , which has just stepped in for the departed Red Zebra.

Strawberries and asparagus were once again the big stars of Week Six at the Baltimore Farmers' Market, and the mild, overcast morning brought out big crowds. "Crops are about two weeks ahead of schedule this year due to the warm winter and early spring" said Maryland's agriculture secretary Buddy Hance. The Maryland Department of Agriculture sent along some useful strawberry tips. -- Select plump, firm, fully red berries. The small berries are often most flavorful. -- Strawberries measurements: 1 quart = 2 pints = 4 cups and is about the same as 1 liter and weighs 1.25 lbs to 1.5 lbs (or 600 to 700 g)

For her debut at the Baltimore Farmers' Market, vendor Eula McDowell brought what she figured was more than enough black-eyed pea, lentil and navy bean soup to last through the day — and sold out in two hours. "I was really proud of myself," McDowell said about her early market success with Savory Bean Soups. "At first I was satisfied with just being at the farmers' market, but customers told me they wanted to see me throughout the week. " McDowell listened. Her market fare has now grown into The Big Bean Theory, a full-time operation she opened last November at Owings Mills Mall.

See some asparagus, snap it. See some peas, shoot them. When you're out at the farmers market this weekend, take some photographs and send them to us. That way, we can all follow the growing season in real time. Even better, we can look back next year and see what came when. You can upload your photographs from your a hard drive of directly from Facebook here. There's room for you to give caption information telling us where and when you snapped your beautiful images.

B in Bolton Hill has a new executive chef. Chris Clune came on board March 1 but took over the kitchen for real on March 21. For now, Clune will be happily executing the menu put in place by departing executive chef Jamie Forsythe, who stayed around for the transition. But come May, when the spring bounty really arrives, diners will be start to see more of Clune's personality. Clune grew up in the business — his mother owned restaurants in Oxford and Barnegat Light, N.J. Asked to describe his cooking philosophy, he invokes the French chef Joel Robuchon.

The Baltimore Farmers' Market & Bazaar begins its 35th season April 1. This is the second year the popular market is starting so early. Until 2003, when it was moved up to the first week in May, the opening came in early June. Last year, skeptics wondered if the crowds would come to the market before the spring bounty started showing up in stalls. Although there was a drop-off after the first week, sharp shoppers began noticing what was at the market rather than what wasn't. There are, of course, vendors selling things like breads, pastries, sauces and meats that don't depend on the season.

On Saturday morning, Katie Morris strolled through the Waverly Farmers' Market with the patience of a regular, stopping frequently to inspect apples and granola cups over the rim of her glasses. She's been coming here for eight winters, when the downtown farmers' market closer to her Butchers Hill home is closed for the season. Her Saturday ritual is to drop off her young daughters Isadora and Estelle at art class, grab her three half-gallon jars to be refilled with milk, and drive to Waverly.