A sure sign that November is here is the warm orange glow emanating from many stalls at the market. This deep red-orange luminescence comes from what is known throughout much of the world as kaki (a Japanese word, pronounced ‘kah-kee’), a fruit we know as persimmon. ‘Persimmon’ is a variant of an Algonquin name ‘pessamin’...Read More

Which kind of pumpkin is best for baking? Smaller is better – large field pumpkins, which are specially bred for Halloween jack-o-lanterns, are generally too tough and stringy for baking. Choose “pie” or "sugar" pumpkins or other flavorful varieties, such as Sugar Baby. Small and sweet, with dark orange-colored flesh, they're perfect for pies, muffins,...Read More

Instead of reaching for a can of commercially canned pumpkin, consider making your own delectable fresh pie filling with locally grown squash from the farmers’ market. But wait — which pumpkins are used for pies? Pumpkins are squash — but not all squash are pumpkins — nor are all pumpkins created equally! To understand this...Read More