The joys of summer

Fresh blueberries, peaches, green beans and tomatoes ... yum!

One of my favorite things about summer is enjoying just-picked fruits and veggies. Fortunately, there's a farmer's market steps from my office that operates on Fridays during lunch in the summer months. Last week, I got all of the above for $6.50. The peach was one of the juiciest I'd had in years and the blueberries were a perfect topping for my cereal in the mornings.

I like the farmer's market because you can actually meet the people who work on the farm that grew your produce; buying local products is better for the environment, too. And while food from the farmer's market may be a tad more expensive than grocery-store produce, you'll support the local economy and may even spend less than if you took another trip to the grocery store (and ended up with a few extra things in your cart you hadn't planned on).

Chances are, there's a farmer's market near you. It's an enjoyable way to spend an hour. And a great way to taste the best summer has to offer.