Welcome, Heidi, a Farmers' Market aficionado who recently toured around the market at Union Square in NYC to give us an early-season report...
While the Union Square Greenmarket this time of year is nothing like it is in September, there is still a bounty of locally produced goods. You’ll hear talk of that evening’s dinner plans, you’ll smell the sausage being cooked for samples, and of course, the feast your eyes get.
Pick up some baby greens and arugula and top off a salad with those apples and a little fresh goat cheese. You could also add some of the first radishes of the season. Their ruddy pink skins are a pleasure to behold.
Further exploration finds beautiful herbs like orange mint and mountain mint, standing sprightly in their pots, just waiting to be plucked or planted. If you’re one of the lucky ones with a backyard or garden plot, there are tomato starts ready for Mother Nature’s tending. Beautiful orange and yellow zucchini blossoms invite some questions from those unfamiliar with them. They can be pan-fried in olive oil or battered and fried to a crisp. 
I don't remember the name of the vendor, but I saw zucchini blossoms at the Abingdon Square Greenmarket last Saturday. They were at the booth 2nd from Jane street. Hope that helps!
I've been promised a meal of stuffed (and perhaps fried) zucchini blossoms if I can find them. Any tips on who has them at the green market? Sightings?
really nice report! i spent an hour there on saturday just walking around and could feel the excitement that you write about here.
i just rinsed some baby arugula i bought at the farmer's market over the weekend. in union square there was a great salad being made that had arugula, baby spinach, shallots and sauteed asparagus w/lemon and garlic! it was delicious!!
I just planted a window box of orange mint.
Do you do anything special with it?
I'm used to spearmint for salads et al