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WILKES-BARRE — For Malcolm Barber, it was mission accomplished.
The Wilkes-Barre man left opening day of the 2016 Farmers Market on Thursday morning, jubilantly showing off a bag filled with 18 light green, slightly bulbous Lebanese zucchinis from Albert Broyan’s stand.
“I’m going to hollow them out and stuff them with rice, lamb, cumin and different spices,” said Barber, who was pleased that the zucchinis, which the Broyan family calls “goudas,” were small and tender.
Hundreds of area residents seemed equally happy with fresh produce farmers brought to Public Square for the first time this year, whether it was rhubarb for a pie, eggs for tomorrow’s breakfast, or kohlrabi for a crunchy snack.
“I’ve got leaf lettuce and red beets,” customer Mike Mulvey, of Mountain Top, said. “I’m going to make a big salad.”
“I’m going to get some fresh spinach,” said Bobbie Shurnacki, of Swoyersville, adding she was a bit disappointed because “the lady who usually sells me sour cherries said they were frozen out this year.”
Still, there were plenty of sweet cherries, plus strawberries and blueberries at various stands.
“My favorite fruit is peaches,” said retired teacher Joe Dombek, of Kingston, knowing he’ll likely have to wait a few more weeks for that local crop.
Farmers Market vendors sell tie-dye dresses, woven rugs, doggie treats, fancy hair barrettes and jewelry, as well as ice cream, baked goods, sandwiches and pizza.
But the farmers who got up early to pick cauliflower, broccoli, sugar snap peas, beans, squash and garlic scapes are the backbone of the weekly event, which will run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursdays through Nov. 17.
Nineteen-year-old Shania Broyan said on market day she’d started harvesting at 6:30 a.m. at the family farm in Nescopeck with her 16-year-old brother, Logan, and their neighbor Tyler Smith, also 16.
Logan, incidentally, had picked the 18 Lebanese zucchinis that morning. After Barber departed the Broyan stand, Tyler said, sounding somewhat in awe: “That guy bought them all.”
