One of the greatest lessons nature teaches us is patience. You can’t command a tree to grow, block a hail storm, or fast forward through the boring parts. No amount of money can change its course. Instead, we are asked to sit with it — farmers learn its patterns, continuously testing new methods, adapting to its conditions, and making the most of what it gives to us.

The wait for summer often feels like one of those lessons in patience as we dream longingly for juicy fruit, abundant vegetables, grill-ready meats and more. Now, as we pass the summer solstice, we’re officially into the most exciting time for local food. Here’s what to expect at the farmers markets in the coming weeks.

Start stocking up on fruit

Each June, cherries are the first fruit to become available at the farmers market. These seriously delicious, ruby red treats not only make for the perfect to-go snack, but also act as nature’s best lip stain. You can also expect to start seeing more apricots this month. In our opinion, apricots are an underdog of fruit season and often are overshadowed by cherries and peaches because most people simply haven’t experienced the delicious flavor of an actually fresh apricot. If you haven’t tried one yet, make sure to stop by in the next few weeks before they are gone! For the peach enthusiasts, your time to shine has arrived early this year. We saw the season’s first Western Slope peaches this past weekend, making this official summer launch even more meaningful. While fruit season is just beginning, the forecast is looking delicious.

Don’t sleep on early summer veggies

Most people likely think of tomatoes and sweet corn when they think of summer produce. In Colorado, we harvest these summer staples much later than other agricultural communities. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of delicious vegetables to choose from as we enter summer. This time of year, you can expect to find carrots, broccoli, beets, bok choy, fennel, kohlrabi, Swiss chard, rhubarb, garlic scapes, hakurei turnips, snap peas, and plenty of lettuces and greens. On Saturday, Monroe Organic Farms had summer squash including zucchini, cue ball squash, and yellow squash, and our friends at Rocky Mountain Fresh were packed with tomatoes and cucumbers from their heated greenhouses.

Get ready to grill

We still have just over a week to go for Fourth of July, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start getting your grocery list together now. For starters, stocking up on frozen, local meats can start this week. For those looking for ground beef, Boulder Beef at the Longmont Farmers Market and Grama Grass & Livestock at the Boulder Farmers Market should be your first stops. Each one treats their cattle with care, resulting in the best tasting and most feel good beef out there. If you have plans to go beyond just burgers, you can easily elevate your cooking with wagyu beef from Boulder Better Wagyu in Longmont or Miraflora Wagyu in Boulder. These specially bred cattle produce the perfect marbling for the perfect balance of fat and flavor.

There are plenty of additional accoutrements for your summer cooking. From sweet and spicy pickles, to flavorful hot sauces and salsas, and fruit-filled pies, there’s something for every gathering, home cooked meal, and local snack at the farmers market this season. Come by and visit us in Boulder every Wednesday from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., or stop by the Longmont Farmers Market on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Or, you can always shop online with us at shop.bcfm.org.