Top Five Signs of Spring at Farmers Market

• 1) Strawberries now appear on nearly every table. They vary widely in price and quality. We like the ones from Lane Farms: sweet and juicy for $3 a pint.

• 2) More varieties of berries are on the way! We should start seeing the first of the crop this week.

• 3) Look for fresh mustard and dandelion greens: Wilt them for an excellent side dish, or toss them in with the other baby greens for a twist on salad.

• 4) Sugar snap peas are starting to crop up here and there. These are perfect eaten out of hand, or blanched and tossed with a pat of butter.

•5) Asparagus has been at the Farmers Market for a while now, but it is just coming into the height of its season. Pass up the traditional hollandaise in favor of a drizzle of olive oil and freshly grated parmesan.