Not food related, but in Chicago one first each spring is the return of legs.

Vidalia Onions :D

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It may have appeared earlier in Texas, but in the Florida Panhandle, Shiner Ruby Redbird (a beer brewed with ruby red grapefruit) has made it's appearance in the Publix beer cooler. Summer is officially here!

I had the first tomato from my garden yesterday :) Several more in the ripening stages, I love summer!

Sweet calico corn, beefsteak tomatoes, mulberries and wild strawberries. Life is so good in SoCal.

^^

I was passing the produce section in the local grocery store and could smell the stone fruits from across the aisle. These are the first plums and nectarines I've seen this year with a US sticker. I bought a load and made a fresh fruit salad with plums, nectarines, cantaloupe, strawberries and blueberries. None of it was local, but none was from the other hemisphere either and all was delicious. Also cherries were $4.99 a pound and not bad, just too much trouble to cut up for the salad.

First of our locally grown strawberries, absolutely delicious.^

A little later than usual as I've been on the road, but I yesterday purchased cherries for the first time this season.

According to the newspaper in Anniston Alabama, the locally grown watermelons have not yet appeared at the farmers' market. However, here in the Florida panhandle, I have seen pickup trucks with the beds loaded with them. With the 4th of July right around the corner, it would be about time.

Here in Northwest Florida this week, watermelons and green tomatoes seen in the back of pickup trucks strategically parked in empty gas stations. I will stop Friday night and pick up some of them 'maters for a Saturday afternoon fry up.

Watermelons have yet to make an appearance in the So Cal Farmer's Markets. Can't wait, as my favorite summer salad is watermelon with heirloom tomatoes and mint. Heirloom tomatoes are starting to look so good and the beefsteaks have been wonderful.

Sprite and lemonade are completely different. :cool: