Pick Your Own

Local growers share tips on how to select the best produce.

- Caitlin Agnew

MAY MARKS THE RETURN of seasonal fare to farmers’ markets and grocery stores across the country. This handy guide will help you understand what to look for in local fruits and vegetables—and when your favourite varieties might show up on a shelf near you.

Spring

When wild leeks appear, the season has begun. Look for a firm bulb and a green leaf. “They’re best bunched and standing in an inch or two of water for better preservation when travelling to market,” says Sherry Patterson, owner of Chick-a-biddy Acres, a 72-acre farm near Peterborough, Ont. Since they grow in the wild, ask suppliers to confirm they’re harvested sustainably.