THE MAINE MARKET BASKET

 A weekly news service for promoting 

 Maine's healthy, local and seasonal

 foods.

Featured crop: Carrots

Carrots are not Maine's most anticipated summer crop, unless of course you are a rabbit.  They are, however, one of the healthiest. 

Chock full of vitamin A and cancer-fighting properties, Maine carrots are available most of the year. 

While fall and winter storage carrots work well cooked in soups and stews, summer carrots are best enjoyed the "bunny way" - eaten raw as a healthy snack. 

For a pleasant change of pace, try them grated in a salad and topped with your favorite dressing.                         (high definition copyright-free photo available here) 

Shopping info:

Carrots should have a bright orange-gold color and be well shaped. If the tops are attached, the leaves should be bright green and fresh looking.

Carrots are best eaten fresh, but can be stored in the refrigerator in a plastic bag for up to two weeks. Remove green tops, leaving one inch of stem before storing.

Preparation info:

Carrots are not fussy about how you prepare them.  They can be grated, chopped, juiced or cooked whole. They are delicious roasted, boiled, steamed, stir-fried, grilled, and go well with almost any vegetable companion.

Cooking times vary from 4-8 minutes for most preparation methods except grilling which takes 10 minutes and roasting which can take anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes depending on the size of the carrots used.

Most people prefer their carrots peeled, but new carrots only require a good scrubbing.

Featured Recipe:

Simple Grated Carrot Salad
 

Ingredients:
1/3 cup vegetable or olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 pound carrots, grated
3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:
In large bowl, mix oil and lemon juice, parsley and garlic. Add carrots and toss gently. Season with salt and pepper. Chill.

Serves 6-8
 

Did you know?

• Carrots are native to Afghanistan and were originally available in almost every color but orange. 

• It was Dutch and French growers who developed the long, orange carrot we know today and the English who brought the carrot to the New World.

• The world's largest carrot was grown in Alaska in 1998 and weighed 19 pounds.

• Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs Bunny, was not very fond of carrots.

What else is in season?

Seasonal availability of produce in Maine varies from week to week and from one farm or farmers' market to the next.

Fresh Maine carrots are available from June through November and throughout the winter and early spring in the case of storage varieties.

The following items are also considered widely available statewide as of this date: salad greens, cabbage, carrots, beets, broccoli, beet greens, strawberries, peas, new potatoes, onions and scallions.

For more info on the seasonal availability of Maine produce, see the chart posted here.

Where to buy fresh, Maine-grown foods in your area:

       Find farmers markets in your area here

         Find farmstands in your area here

        Find CSA farms in your area here

     Find local "pick-your-own" farms here

For more info about the availability of Maine food and farm products, please see: http://www.getrealmaine.com

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