Atlanta etc.: Marilyn Wolf's Food Blog and Restaurant Blog

A few pockets of farmland still exist around the South Bay. I found one next to Cadence headquarters. In the middle of the large field was a tarp and a very nice family selling a variety of fruits and vegetables. I bought some raspberries that I enjoyed over the next two days. I am impressed by the hardiness of these farmers. Some day, another corporate headquarters may be dropped onto this land. In the mean time, I'm glad that these folks are making use of the land and enriching our lives.

I am sad to report that the C. J. Olson cherry stand on El Camino has closed. Olson's was for decades a reminder of the agricultural heritage of the area now known as Silicon Valley. Their Web site is still available here .

During a gas stop at Green River, I discovered that this town is the world melon capital. Keep in mind that this part of the country isn't just desert---it is so forbidding that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid used this territory to hide from the law. Of course, I had to try some. Vetere is a long-standing grower with a stand very convenient to the highway. The proprietior was very friendly and encouraged me to try samples. She explained that the melons are picked every day; workers unloaded the truck while I was there. These are, quite simply, the best melons I have ever had. I bought a Crenshaw because I don't think I had ever tried one before. Once I arrived at my hotel room, I devoured half of it immediately and saved the rest for the next day. The melon was sweet but not overpowering, juicy, and very silky in texture. The texture as much as anything else signals the freshness of these melons.

I stopped by Shearl Produce, one of my favorite farm stands, at the Georgia/North Carolina border. I was intrigued by their sign proclaiming ramp season. I had heard vaguely of ramps but didn't know what they were. They are, it turns out, these delicate little roots. I decided to give them a try. Ramps, as it turns out, are gathered rather than cultivated and are considered a rarity. Here are the ramps in the middle of the chopping process. The stem is purplish. I used them in Alton Brown's potato soup recipe, substituting the ramps for leeks. I also hand-mashed the soup rather than pureeing it because I wanted to preserve the ramps. Their taste was delightful---not acidic like onions, a little sweet like garlic but not without its punch. They had a tangy quality but one that was very delicate. I would definitely make this soup again and use ramps in other recipes. That is, if I ever find them again. And here is the delicious fresh corn I bought to go wi...

I know that strawberries have been available for several weeks, but these are my first strawberries of the season. I purchased them from the farmer at a stand somewhere between Pine Mountain and Warm Springs. She told me that the strawberries had been a bit hit and miss this year due to the weather, but I happened to stop by on a good weekend. Now I need to get busy canning preserves. But first, pancakes!

Fall has its own harvest and rituals. One of mine is to enjoy the apple crop. So I got in the car and drove past Clayton to my favorite farm stand, Osage Farms. Before I looked for produce, I enjoyed a half rack of ribs from Tomlin's BBQ; sorry, no photos, I was too hungry. With my hunger sated, it was time to get down to business. I surveyed the huge selection of apples and was about to select two small bags. Then I saw this box of assorted apples for only $12. Assorted apples are exactly what you want for a variety of baking needs---a mix of varieties gives the best flavor. I also picked up some eggplant, peppers, and okra. My next stop was the drug store in Clayton for a root beer float. Their soda fountain is a reminder of a simpler time. My next stop was Blue Ridge Honey Company. They sell an impressive array of beekeeping equipment as well as maintaining a large honey processing operation. They also stock beeswax; you could make one heck of a candle with some...

A beautiful weekend seemed to be a good time for me to check on the state of north Georgia agriculture. The frost that descended across Georgia and South Carolina earlier this year damaged quite a bit of the fruit harvest. Jaemor seemed like a good place to survey the state of the crops. It may be easy to dismiss Jaemor as touristy, but behind that big stand is a big spread of all sorts of crops. And who can pass up their fried pies? This beauty was filled with dried peaches. The result was a marvelous variation on the standard. The dried peaches gave a more intense flavor and denser texture. When I made it over to the produce section, I found that they had good stocks of several varieties of peaches and a big crop of blackberries. I consulted with one of the Jaemor staff, who was very knowledgeable and helpful. Given that my destination for this fruit would be pies, he pointed me to some bargains. The blackberries were labeled as overripe and priced 40% off. The peaches we...

My quest for peaches took me to Lane Southern Orchards. I visited them last year so I knew that I had to sample their peach cobbler once again. The smell hooks you as soon as you walk in the door. They do also have peaches so I picked up a box, equal to a half bushel. They were still firm so I let them sit for a couple of days before prepping them for preserves.

The primary goal of my farm tour was to look for peaches. That's why I went to Fitzgerald, whose signature crop is peaches. This year's peach crop was badly damaged by frost earlier this year, but Fitzgerald did have some in stock. Their farm is at the end of the road. A beautiful cabana sits in the middle of their fields. Several people sat in the shade and chatted. They have a small kitchen, but they were out of strawberry shortcake for my visit. I bought this half box of small peaches, which equals a quarter bushel. A taste after I made it home showed them to be very flavorful. Since they are destined for preserves, the cosmetics don't matter. I also scored a bargain on this half gallon bucket of strawberries. The staff told me that I should do something with them right away, so I topped and froze them as soon as I got home. They will also make great preserves.

As part of my effort to better appreciate Georgia agriculture, I took a road trip through middle Georgia. My first stop was Eight Oaks Farm in Moreland. After driving down a pretty side road for a mile or two, guided by signs with strawberries on them, I found the farm with the stand right at its edge. The owner explained that they have pick-your-own strawberries as well as fresh-picked strawberries and other vegetables. I bought a box of strawberries that will reside on top of my pancakes in the morning. I also bought some nice looking zucchini that will grace some future lasagna.

A few weeks ago, I visited Mountain Fresh Creamery and picked up some of their cheese. I finally had a chance to eat some and it is great. This is the cheddar. The cheddar flavor come through very well, bright but not strong. Perhaps even better, the texture of this cheese is wonderful. Some cheeses produced in high volumes have a bit of a gummy texture. This cheese feels great when I chew---it feels like something made by hand with the help of a cow. And that is what cheese should taste like.

Thompson Family Farms is a little out of the way, standing halfway between the two main roads from Atlanta to Athens. But it is well worth a visit. As you can see, the well-maintained stand holds a large selection of produce. When I asked the proprietor what they grew on their farm, she reeled off a long list of vegetables that come ripe throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Today, I picked up some beautiful okra, sweet potatoes, Vidalia onions, and a cantaloupe.

I finally stopped at Shearl Produce and I'm very glad I did. It is located on US 23 just over the North Carolina border, on the way to the Smokies. As you can see, they have a well-stocked selection of all sorts of produce. In the back, they have some refrigerators with Amish butter and some meats. As with most farm stands, they carry a mixture of local produce and items from farther away. The owners were very helpful; they explained that the local strawberry crop wasn't yet ready. I took home some very nice South Carolina strawberries and some dried beans. I will definitely be back and soon----I look forward to some local strawberries.