The farmer’s market is the perfect place to explore all the delicious local fruits, vegetables, lovingly prepared baked goods and other provisions available in your area. It’s easy to stick with what you know and buy the same things every time, but you also have the opportunity to discover a few new favorites. It’s always interesting to see strange looking vegetables pop up here and there as they come into season and I love the challenge of learning how to cook with them.

Next time you go to your local farmers market, look for some of these unsung heroes and consider giving them a try: 

Okra 

The green seedpods of the okra plant are a staple in southern cooking. They’re quite versatile and can be cooked a number of ways. You can batter and fry them as a dippable appetizer, chop them up and add them to salads, bake them in casseroles, grill them, roast them, add them to stews and much more. With all these delicious ways to cook okra, plus the fact that it’s low in calories and packed with fiber and vitamin C, adding a handful of pods to your farmer’s market haul is a no-brainer.

Scapes

Garlic scapes are the green stems of garlic plant flowers. I had never heard of them until I came across a big basket of their curly tendrils at my local farmer’s market. Their flavor is similar to garlic but a little milder and sweeter. You can eat them raw or use them in your cooking as you would use green onions or garlic. Need some ideas? Check out Bon Appetit’s 10 Things to Do With Garlic Scapes.

Celeriac

Celery root, also known as celeriac, is one of those weird looking root vegetables that pops up at the farmer’s market from time to time. Its curly, knobby exterior certainly makes it stand out among the smoother looking root vegetables like beets and potatoes. This strange exterior might turn some people off, but celeriac is definitely worth a try because it’s delicious both raw and cooked. Learn more about this interesting vegetable and some tasty ways to prepare it here: Celery Root 101.

Unusual Grains 

The farmer’s market isn’t only a great place to find fresh produce–it’s also a hotbed of fresh baked goods and other products made from local produce. For example, one stand at my local farmer’s market sells a variety of items made using red fife, which is a heritage wheat grain that’s having a bit of a renaissance. I picked up some fresh red fife pasta and whipped up a batch of pesto and the results were super yummy. You can usually find a variety of baked goods made with similarly unusual grains at many farmer’s market stands. I suggest giving them a try if you want to expand your flavor and nutritional horizons. 

Sheep/Goat Dairy Products

My local farmer’s market also features a broader range of dairy products than those found in typical grocery stores. In fact, it’s probably home to the highest concentration of non-bovine cheeses and yogurts than I’ve ever seen in one store. I personally enjoy the different flavors found in sheep and goat cheeses. One product I recently purchased was kefir made from goat milk. What’s kefir? It’s a fermented dairy product that contains lots of beneficial bacteria your gut needs to maintain its balance and digest your food efficiently. Fun fact: some people who have digestive issues with conventional dairy do not encounter those same issues with sheep and goat dairy products. Another favorite I often pick up is a spreadable sheep cheese flavored with sundried tomatoes and garlic. Yum! Look for these products at your local farmer’s market and try a sample if you’re unsure whether you’ll like the flavor.

Unusual Greens

Your farmer’s market is a wonderful place to explore the diverse world of nutritious and delicious greens that stretches beyond the old favorites like spinach and kale. Dandelion greens, mustard greens, and even the green tops of your bunch of beets can be eaten in a similar fashion. One great thing about farmer’s market vegetables is that they’re not usually separated from their green tops, which often happens in big grocery stores. That means you get two delicious things for the price of one! Check out more green tops you can eat here, and be sure to snatch up some of these unusual greens at your next trip to the farmer’s market.

Try these lesser known farmer’s market gems next time you do your shopping and let us know what you think! Share your thoughts in the comments or over on Twitter at @luvoinc.