Grown In Connecticut

All the fixings for a fruit salad should be available at markets this week, according to Rick Macsuga of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture.

"I did see my first cantaloupe, or what we call musk melon," he said. "Just think of regular cantaloupe from the grocery store on steroids." 

Macsuga said the Connecticut melon is bigger with a ridged outside instead of a textured webbed rind and that it is "fragrant with a really strong, sweet smell…and it's a very flavorful splash of flavor."

Blueberries, peaches, nectarines are widely available and a special variety of strawberry is available in some markets. Macsuga said the strawberry season ends in June but a couple farmers in the state have grown a summer strawberry that will be around for a couple weeks. Macsuga said pears will make an appearance in some markets this week as well.

Macsuga said the "peppers are coming into their own," and that all shapes, sizes, colors, and heat indexes will be available through August. He said peppers ranging from very mild to very, very hot are abundant and "to know your peppers before you pick them."

Also fresh this week:

Green beans

Beets

Blueberries

Cabbages: savoy, green, red

Eggplant: tons of different varieties

Carrots

Kale

Collard greens

Swiss chard

Nectarines

Peaches

Pears

Squash: all types in great numbers.

Sweet corn

Tomatoes: heirlooms, cherry, grape, plum, pear

Potatoes

Peppers: all varieties and heat indexes

Where to find them:

Mystic Farmers’ Market is on Tuesdays from 2 to 6 p.m., at the Quiambaug Firehouse located at 50 Old Stonington Road. WIC/Senior FMNP Accepted. 

Groton Farmers’ Market is on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Groton Shopping Plaza next to the Post Office on Route 1. WIC/Senior FMNP Accepted. 

Westerly-Pawcatuck Farmers’ Market is on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 85 Main St., just past The Bridge restaurant in Westerly. 

Stonington Farmers’ Market is on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon near the town fishing pier in the borough. WIC/Senior FMNP Accepted. 

Mystic-Denison Farmers’ Market is on Sundays from noon to 3 p.m., located at 120 Pequotsepos Road across from the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center. www.denisonhomestead.org/farm‐market, WIC/Senior FMNP Accepted.