Cantaloupe and blackberries have made their debut this week at local farm stands, joining an abundant stock of tomatoes, cucumber and the sweet corn — ears of which usually run out around mid-October, according to Jamesport Farmer Tom Wowak.
, Wowak's small farm stand in Laurel had a steady flow of customers seeking the fresh produce.
"I come here a few times a week every year," said Mattituck resident Jack Berdinka, adding that Wowak is the only farm stand he patronizes.
on Sound Avenue in Mattituck is currently stocked with fresh melon, bell peppers and plenty of the misshapen but delicious heirloom red tomatoes, the first batch of which came out a few weeks ago.
But Mt. Sinai resident Tracey Friend said she was braving the heat to hit up Harbes for their super sweet corn.
"We always hit a few of the farm stands — I grew up out here as a kid," she said.
Head east to Cutchogue to on Route 25 and you'll find plenty of red and yellow field tomatoes — the latter of which just started coming in, according to farm stand manager Gekee Wickham.
"People like the yellow tomatoes because they are lower in acid and you feel like you are eating more of a fruit than a vegetable," she said.
Blackberries have also just started to come in, joining bins of their raspberry and blueberry cousins on the shelves. People who want to make more of a day with the family are still trying to fill their baskets with the earlier fruits out in the "you-pick" fields, Wickham added.
"It's not impossible to fill the basket at this point with raspberries, but it's harder to do and it'll take longer," she said.
