Illustration: Melinda Beavers

Broccoli rabe
Shopping tip: The bitterness mellows with long cooking.
Best to buy: Mid-April through June
Recommended vendor and location:
Migliorelli Farm: Wed, Fri, Sat Union Square (E 17th St at Broadway); Sun Stuyvesant Town (14th St at Ave A), starts in June

Illustration: Melinda Beavers

Eggs: duck, pheasant, wild turkey, goose
Shopping tip: Chickens lay eggs year-round; not these fowl.
Best to buy: April through Mid-June
Recommended vendor and location:
Quattro’s Game Farm: Sat Union Square (E 17th St at Broadway)

Illustration: Melinda Beavers

Fresh pastured chicken
Shopping tip: Pastured chickens eat grasses and grubs.
Best to buy: June
Recommended vendor and location:
Arcadian Pastures: Sat Grand Army Plaza (northwest entrance of Prospect Park, Brooklyn), McCarren Park (Lorimer St at Driggs St, Greenpoint, Brooklyn)

Illustration: Melinda Beavers

Herbs: chives, mint, sage
Shopping tip: First come the chives—mint and sage follow.
Best to buy: May through June
Recommended vendor and location:
Stokes Farm: Wed, Fri, Sat Union Square (E 17th St at Broadway); Thu Tucker Square (W 66th St at Columbus Ave); Sat Tribeca (Greenwich St at Duane St), Tucker Square (W 66th St at Columbus Ave)

Illustration: Melinda Beavers

Leeks
Shopping tip: These fall leeks are plucked from thawing soil.
Best to buy: April through June
Recommended vendor and location:
Paffenroth Gardens: Sat Union Square (E 17th St at Broadway)

Illustration: Melinda Beavers

Lettuces
Shopping tip: Tender now, these may suffer in summer heat.
Best to buy: April through June
Recommended vendor and location:
S&SO Produce Farms: Wed Union Square (E 17th St at Broadway), Sat McCarren Park (Lorimer St at Driggs St, Greenpoint, Brooklyn), Union Square (E 17th St at Broadway)

Illustration: Melinda Beavers

Nettles
Shopping tip: Once boiled, the stingers are harmless.
Best to buy: Late May through June
Recommended vendor and location:
Berried Treasures: Wed, Fri Union Square (E 17th St at Broadway); Sun 77th St (W 77th St at Columbus Ave)

Illustration: Melinda Beavers

Radishes
Shopping tip: Request product that's crisp and peppery.
Best to buy: June
Recommended vendor and location:
Yuno’s Farm: Mon, Fri Union Square (E 17th St at Broadway); Wed Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza (E 47th St at Second Ave); Sat Abingdon Square (W 12 St at Hudson St), Tucker Square (W 66th St at Columbus Ave)

Illustration: Melinda Beavers

Rhubarb
Shopping tip: The leaves are toxic, the stalks are not.
Best to buy: May through June
Recommended vendor and location:
Samascott Orchards: Thu, Sun Columbia (Broadway at 115th St); Fri Union Square (E 17th St at Broadway); Sat strong>Inwood (Isham St at Seaman St)

Illustration: Melinda Beavers

Salsify
Shopping tip: Some say this root tastes like oysters.
Best to buy: April through June
Recommended vendor and location:
Paffenroth Gardens: Sat Union Square (E 17th St at Broadway)

Illustration: Melinda Beavers

Scallions
Shopping tip: Trim off the ends and use the rest.
Best to buy: Early April through June
Recommended vendor and location:
D’Attolico’s Organic Farm: Sat Union Square (E 17th St at Broadway)

Illustration: Melinda Beavers

Spinach
Shopping tip: For best flavor, sauté with a pinch of sugar.
Best to buy: April through June
Recommended vendor and location:
Maxwell’s Farm: Mon Union Square (E 17th St at Broadway), Sat Grand Army Plaza (northwest entrance of Prospect Park, Brooklyn) (starts in May)

Illustration: Melinda Beavers

Spring onions
Shopping tip: Young onions are milder and more tender.
Best to buy: Starting mid-June
Recommended vendor and location:
Paffenroth Gardens: Sat Union Square (E 17th St at Broadway)

Illustration: Melinda Beavers

Strawberries
Shopping tip: The best are red throughout.
Best to buy: June
Recommended vendor and location:
Berried Treasures: Wed, Fri Union Square (E 17th St at Broadway); Sun 77th St (W 77th St at Columbus Ave)

Illustration: Melinda Beavers

Sugar snap peas
Shopping tip: Remove the stem and string, then eat.
Best to buy: June
Recommended vendor and location:
Kernan Farms: Wed Union Square (E 17th St at Broadway); Sat Abingdon Square (W 12 St at Hudson St), Grand Army Plaza (northwest entrance of Prospect Park, Brooklyn); Sun 77th St (W 77th St at Columbus Ave)