Las Vegas Late Summer Produce Guide
Marilyn YamamotoCowboy Trail Farms
6550 Cowboy Trail
Las Vegas, NV 89131
(702) 604-3165
www.organicedibles.org
Cowboy Trail Farms brings fresh, organic and healthy fruits and vegetables to families in Las Vegas that need affordable alternatives to traditional produce at grocery stores. In addition to the market on Cowboy Trail, the team has a traveling market to provide Las Vegas neighborhoods with fresh produce, and you can sign up for a CSA Basket filled with fresh produce, delivered to your door weekly or bi-weekly. Owner and founder Marilyn Yamamoto is a great resource for information about produce in Las Vegas and she shared her wisdom with CBS Local Las Vegas.
"Summer brings the biggest variety of fresh produce, such as squash, cucumbers, beans, eggplant, sweet and hot peppers and, of course, everybody's favorite: tomatoes," Yamamoto said. "All of the various greens and juicy sweet fruits are ready as well, [not to mention] fresh and free-range eggs."
While there are several area farmers' markets where Las Vegas locals can pick up fresh produce (see below), sometimes choosing the best fruits and vegetables can be a challenge. When choosing squash and tomatoes, Yamamoto advises to "pick firm and bruise free." When it comes to greens, Yamamoto said to look for items that are "fresh, lush and green with no brown crispy ends." Finally, when picking vegetables, Yamamoto said to "choose vegetables that are fresh and firm."
Once you've picked your produce, you're going to want to keep the items fresh. After all, there's nothing worse than throwing away spoiled fruits and vegetables just days after you've purchased them. Yamamoto offered several helpful tips to ensure your summer items don't spoil too quickly.
"For most greens, wrap them in a damp paper towel and place them in a plastic bag," Yamamoto said. "To keep avocados from browning, be sure to keep the pit in the avocado half. If you want your avocados to ripen faster, you can place them in a paper bag. And don't refrigerate your tomatoes!"
Now that you know how to keep your fruits and vegetables farm fresh, where are the best places to buy seasonal produce? Here's a look at several places known for their fresh seasonal produce.
6550 Cowboy Trail
Las Vegas, NV 89131
(702) 604-3165
www.organicedibles.org
Every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., guests can tour Cowboy Trail Farm and visit its farm stand. The family farm is known for growing a variety of vegetables and herbs and features a small orchard with 50-plus fruit trees.
Downtown3rd Farmers Market
300 N. Casino Center Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89101
(702) 953-4353
www.downtown3rdfarmersmarket.com
Open Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., this indoor farmers' market showcases organic produce and artisanal foods from local farmers. It's also known for hosting healthy lifestyle classes, art shows and chef demonstrations from local chefs.
Fresh52 Farmers & Artisan MarketTivoli Village
302 S. Rampart Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89145
(702) 900-2552
www.tivolifarmersmarket.com
Date: Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sansone Park Place
9480 S. Eastern Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89123
(702) 900-2552
www.tivolifarmersmarket.com
Date: Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This popular farmers' market features choice vendors selling organic and pesticide- and chemical-free seasonal produce as well as freshly baked goods, gourmet olive oils, salsas, spices, sauces, nuts, handmade modern crafts and more. On select dates, shoppers can also enjoy special events, live entertainment, chef demonstrations and free kids craft parties.
Bruce Trent Park
1600 N. Rampart Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89102
702-562-2676
www.lasvegasfarmersmarket.com
Date: Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Gardens Park
10401 Gardens Park Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89135
702-562-2676
www.lasvegasfarmersmarket.com
Date: Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs
9100 Tule Springs Road
Las Vegas, NV 89131
702-562-2676
www.lasvegasfarmersmarket.com
Date: 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2p.m.
Stock up on farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, homemade baked breads, hand-crafted items and more at this popular Las Vegas farmers' market. Summer items include melons, strawberries, peaches, nectarines, plumbs, pluots, squash, beans, broccoli and cucumbers. Herbs and garlic are also available. Due to the extreme summer temps, leafy greens are limited (when available), as they don't hold up well in the heat.
Las Vegas, NV
(800) 946-3371
www.winderfarms.com
Known for hand delivering farm-fresh groceries direct to customers' doorsteps in southern California, southern Nevada and throughout Utah, Winder Farms recently began offering a new organic produce box to Las Vegas customers. Although the contents vary from week to week, the box always includes farm-fresh vegetables such as Granny Smith apples, carrots, kale, lettuce, oranges, grapefruits and lemons.
