Each year during farmer’s market season, I make the same mistake at least once: I head to Kansas City to hang out, and realize at some point during the night that I won’t be able to make it to the Downtown Topeka Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning. I beat myself up for forgetting my Saturday morning ritual. I succumb to the fact that I will have to settle for frozen market produce preserved from the previous season, and I vow all week to never, ever make the same mistake again.

Lucky for you, though, I visit David’s Herbs almost every week, and I can share everything I know about their market offerings. David’s Herbs is run by Susan Warriner, and her daughter and son-in-law

Elizabeth and Lee Kelley. David’s Herbs has been a vendor at the market since the early years, when there were only six vendors. Warriner sells ready to use herbs and herb plants, all kinds of jellies, farm fresh eggs and free range chickens, my two favorites. The chickens won’t be available until the second week of June, but eggs are almost always available (as long as you get them early – they sell out quick).

If you haven’t had farm fresh eggs from David’s Herbs, you are missing out on one of the best local foods the farmer’s market has to offer. The yolks are firm and golden, and you need an extra slice of toast to soak up all the runniness after frying them to over-medium perfection.

Two weeks ago, Lee Kelley sold me eggs from Americana chickens, which lay blue eggs. It was like getting Easter eggs without all the mess. The jellies, especially the jalapeno raspberry jelly, go great on roasted pork loin. Enjoy David’s Herbs wide variety of local, homegrown foods, and as the weather gets warmer, be sure to ask Susan about her free range chickens, available in mid-June, and her herb plants that will be available in the coming weeks.

Follow Larissa all season as she highlights local vendors and keeps us up-to-date on what to look for and when in her Farmers’ Market Grab Bag blog.

[ Larissa Keller | photos by EJ Drake ]