Local Flavor: New London Field of Greens farmers' markets is keeping things fresh

New London - The manager of the New London Field of Greens farmers' markets is predicting a tsunami of produce.

"By the end of June it will explode," Sam Fritzsche said last week during the Friday farmers' market at the Parade at the foot of State Street.

And the market at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, which is held every Wednesday, will also be bursting with fresh and local produce and goods, he said.

Field of Greens hosts the two certified Connecticut Grown Farmers' Markets.

The L&M market, located in a parking lot on Montauk Avenue across from the hospital, is open noon to 3:30 p.m. every Wednesday.

It features the obvious farmers' market fare: local fruits and veggies, as well as eggs, meat, baked goods and cornmeal.

The downtown market, which is open every Friday from noon to 2 p.m., is a being done in conjunction with Fiddleheads Food Co-op. Farmers also sell the local produce such as strawberries and radishes, and other vendors offer soaps and handmade body care products, books by local authors and honey.

The downtown market runs at the same time as New London Main Street's Fridays on Parade, a one-hour musical preview of events occurring in the downtown.

"It's as much about community as it is about the food,'' said Art Costa of New London Local First, a network of locally-owned independent businesses which supports the markets.

Fritzsche said as the summer growing seasons come into full bloom, he plans to bring people to the market to talk about nutrition and offer dishes using all natural ingredients.

"We want to educate people on the benefits of eating natural foods and show them the difference between fresh and processed foods," he said.

- Kathleen Edgecomb