By Katherine Jones
For The Salisbury Post
Memorial Day always marks the beginning of summer for me. I enjoy all the celebrations for our brave and wonderful veterans. Included in the celebrations are cookouts and picnics and they continue on through the summer.
The local farmers market not only provides you with food items for your daily use but it is ideal for most of your backyard barbecues and picnics.
Here are some things to consider.
Meat
Wild Turkey Farms has a good selection of beef, pork, chicken and sausages. Several choices are available for grilling. T & D Charolais offers assorted cuts of beef including bone-in and boneless ribs.
Vegetables
Side dish possibilities are too numerous to mention but I would suggest grilling squash, onions, zucchini, peppers and tomatoes. All these are available at Eagle Farm, Correll Farms, Cress Farm and Miller Farm.
Let’s not forget the delicious mushrooms at Landis Gourmet Mushrooms.
Bread and dessert
Check out the various fresh baked breads and the wonderful selection of pies, cakes and pastries available from Erica Miller, The Bread Basket, Posh Pasta and Cakes and How Sweet It Is.
These good folks will also take special orders.
Backyard entertaining is not only about the food. How about a beautiful centerpiece for your table? There are a large variety of container plants that would be stunning, available at Country Garden, Dawn’s Greenhouse, Joyce’s Flowers and Bluebird Acres Farm. There are also some lovely cut flowers to consider at Bluebird Acres.
Fresh cut herbs offered by Dawn’s Greenhouse and Country Garden would greatly complement your culinary efforts.
The last of my suggestions for this week is that you visit Ruth Booker’s Crafts. She has some good-looking straw hats, visors and, believe it or not, aprons. Happy shopping!
For more information about the farmers market, visit www.salisburyfarmersmarket. com. The farmers market is located in downtown Salisbury at the corner of South Main and Bank streets. It is open from 7 a.m. to noon each week on Wednesday and Saturday.

Katherine Jones is a Master Gardener Volunteer for the Cooperative Extension Service in Rowan County. She and Sue Davis will be providing a Farmers Market update each week.