On Tuesdays in the summer, you’ll often find me at New Morning Farm’s market at Sheridan School (36th Street and Alton Place. And one recent Tuesday, I thought I’d pick up something my daughter, son-in-law and almost two-and-a-half-year-old grandson might like. (I’ll also admit that Mom and Dad were afterthoughts.) So I purchased a pint of sungold tomatoes – an experiment for the next evening when my husband and I joined them for dinner.
Mom and Dad never had a chance.
When we grandparents got to their house, I placed the tomatoes on the kitchen island. My grandson climbed up the stool, sat down and started scarfing them down. And when his mom suggested he go out to play with his water table, he grabbed the carton with the tomatoes as she helped him down.
When he reached the front porch, he scrambled onto a chair, the carton still firmly in his hands. He continued to push one tomato after the other into his mouth. Tomato seeds spilled out and descended onto the chair.
Eventually, the lure of water table got him to descend the porch stairs, still holding tight to the tomato container. Even then, the water table could not compete.
By the time we sat down for dinner, only three tomatoes were left. And the next morning, my daughter reported those were gone, as well. Lesson learned: Next time, bring two containers.
New Morning Farm sells far more than toddler-approved sungold tomatoes. The market includes the farm’s own organic fruits and vegetables as well as produce from other Pennsylvania growers, plus baked goods and organically raised meats from partners.
New Morning Farm market hours
June to September: Tuesdays from 3 to 7 p.m.
May to November: Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
December to March: Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The offerings vary by season.
