Roadside Flavors
Author: Lindsay Jo Crenshaw
Summertime joys are abundant, but nothing is sweeter than the roadside flavors that can be found in your own neighborhood. Local farm stands, markets, festivals, and gardens offer up strawberries as saccharine as candy, flavor-punched tomatoes, and dazzling flowers in every color to brighten your home. The longer days and heat harken the honeybees, bring new life to the soil, and inspire chickens to lay in abundance. It’s one of the best times of the year for local produce, and the DMV never disappoints!
Nestled between their home and Interstate 81, Country View Produce in Maugansville, MD is a treasure trove of local produce, snacks, and preserved goods that Mr. Mylin Horst has brought in from local veggie farms, kitchens, “chicken ladies”, and dairy farms. His produce comes from all around the area, primarily York County, PA – he works with a produce wholesaler to buy only the top of the line seasonal produce for his stand. Mr. Horst endeavors to get as much of his stand’s offering as he can from locals, and is diligent about clearly marking where everything comes from.
Mr. Horst also shared that one of his favorite pastimes is helping his customers know how best to enjoy the goodies they pick up at his stand. He has tips and tricks for almost everything he sells. One of his most popular products is local ice cream made from Country Creamery Ice Cream of Greencastle, PA. He says that warming the ice cream container upside down in a microwave for about 10-15 seconds is the perfect way to soften the top layer before enjoying it. “This is high-end ice cream… (it is) very, very dense – you need to be careful not to break your spoon”, Mr. Horst told me with a grin.
Our local roadside stands and small farms allow you to enjoy the best berries, flowers, dairy products, peaches, tomatoes, melons, corn, honey, eggs and more while supporting the local food economy. Grocery store flavors could never compete with the freshness of locally grown, as they rely on greenhouse-grown produce packed and shipped long distances. When you buy open-pollinated summer crops at the peak of freshness, you’ll savor the unparalleled flavor and nutrients.
With rising food costs, there has never been a better time to stretch your dollar! When you buy from local roadside stands and farms, you’re able to make a positive impact in your home and in your neighbor’s. Local produce sellers have a smaller overhead cost, which means they don’t have to charge grocery stores prices. Plus, you’re helping to pay for their children’s next dance lesson, and not another mega-yacht for a faceless executive. By keeping your hard-earned money here in the DMV, you’re helping to create a more resilient food system while also supporting local families.
Did you know that buying local food makes you earth-friendly, too? When you buy food from local farms and gardens, you’re personally helping to reduce the emissions that it takes to transport goods from out of state.
Many of the most delicious and nutritious produce are in season during the summer months! In his roadside stand, Mr. Horst of Country View Produce has a helpful guide for April-November, so visitors can see exactly the right time to buy their favorites from asparagus to pumpkins. Although, he says, with his detailed roadside signage showing what’s available, most people have their mind made up about what they want to buy. Being informed about what’s in season helps you make an informed choice!
As many home gardeners know, summer brings unparalleled growth and color. There’s nothing quite as iconic as a vine-ripened tomato. Just as at home in a crisp salad as it is in a slow-cooked pasta sauce, tomatoes are the championed savory summer crop. Cucumbers, summer squashes like zucchini, and onions complete the classic summer garden bowl. Zucchini is fabulous grilled, turned into delicious breads, and for those more adventurous, can also be enjoyed as a sweet canned relish!
Summer also sees an explosion of antioxidant-rich blueberries, sweet strawberries, puckering raspberries, and tart blackberries – perfect for making your own jams, adding to smoothies, or snacking! Berries are also a perfect sweet treat for diabetic folks, as they’re the fruit lowest on the glycemic index.
Watermelons, grapes, honeydew, and cantaloupes see their heyday in the hot summer swelter. Bursting with juice and seeds, they’re all loved by both kids and adults. No summer soiree is complete without these colorful (and sometimes messy) fruits. Stone fruits like peaches, plums, and apricots also ripen beautifully in the summer and are perfect for making your dessert the star of the cookout!
Speaking of cookouts, another summertime staple is the fresh corn ready for grilling, boiling, roasting, or canning! Sweet and hot peppers, eggplant, and green beans also join the party with their versatility as fresh or preserved dishes.
Whatever your favorite summer flavors, local roadside stands and farms have you covered. A quick drive around town can help discover new vendors, but we’re here to guide you to some of the roadside stands ready for business!
MARKETS
Country View Produce
14440 Maugansville Rd.
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Monday-Saturday: 9am-6pm (Hours)
No Sunday Sales
Bushtail Creek Unique Gifts
340 Parish Drive
Martinsburg, WV 25403
Sat and Sun 12-5 – By appointment any other time
https://www.facebook.com/bushtailcreek
Country Creek Produce Farm
3794 Etter Rd.
Chambersburg, PA 17202
Monday-Friday: 9am-5pm
Saturday: 10am-6pm
Sunday: 12pm-5pm
https://www.countrycreekproducefarm.com/
Green Roof Produce
|
4479 Leitersburg Rd. |
Lehman’s Sweet Corn and Produce
9742 Downsville Pike,
Hagerstown, MD
https://lehmans-sweet-corn-and-produce.business.site/
Frantz Produce
10471 Buchanan Trail E.
Waynesboro, PA 17268
https://www.facebook.com/FrantzProduce
Andrews Farm Market
9523 Lincoln Way W St.
Thomas, PA 17252
https://www.andrewsfarmmarket.com
HONEY
Honey Moon Apiary
1270 Nipetown road
Martinsburg, WV
Self Serve Wagon Open Dawn to Dusk – 7 Days a Week
F and D Apiaries
17808 Greentree Lane
Hagerstown, MD 21740
By Appointment Only
https://www.facebook.com/fanddapiaries
EGGS
Dayze Farm
16857 Shinham Rd, Hagerstown, MD, United States, Maryland
Self Serve Stand Open 10am-9pm – 7 Days a Week
https://www.facebook.com/DayzeFarm
Waltz Family Farm
12063 Waltz Rd.
Smithsburg, MD 21783, US
PICK YOUR OWN FRUIT
Pryors Orchards
13841B Pryor Rd.
Thurmont, MD 21788
Open 8am-6pm – 7 Days a Week
http://www.pryorsorchards.com/
Gardenhour Orchards Inc
22511 Gardenhour Road
Smithsburg, MD 21783
Open Late May
Call (301) 824-7466 for Pick Your Own Hours
Looking for more? Try the Farmish App!
Farmish is the marketplace smartphone app for local food and farms, where users can buy and sell homegrown produce, garden supplies, plants, trees, honey, and more. Users can create a custom storefront and free product listings, and buyers search on a map or by keyword and message the seller to complete the sale. Farmish is positioned to do for gardeners and farmers what Etsy has done for crafters by giving users a path to go from hobby to building a scalable business. The free app offers users a platform to make money in a way that aligns with their current lifestyle of growing and producing food for their families.
