Here's a tip: Don't buy before you try

There's more to buying cherries than picking the prettiest ones, says Market Watch columnist David Karp:

Buying cherries is always a bit of a crapshoot for consumers — the same variety that is tart one week may be perfect the next, and over the hill two weeks later. Good past experience with a grower does count for a lot, but the best way to make sure you're getting top-quality fruit is to stay nimble and sample from several different vendors before you buy.

Click here to read more of Karp's latest farmers market report.

Photo: Swanson cherries (a local variety from Hanford, relatively small and soft, but very flavorful when dark) grown by David Avila in Hanford, Calif., are seen at the Canoga Park farmers market. Credit: David Karp / For The Times

Comments

[Mike Gockel]

Sorry if off topic, but I couldn't find a better place to ask this question.

We have some recipes that are improved by the addition of caraway seeds. The seeds are very expensive at the supermarket. I'd like to try to grow my own. I've looked at the seed sellers one finds by Googling, but none seem to sell the seeds or seedlings or whatever you need to grow caraway seeds. Do you know where I could find someone who sells them? Is there any chance that we could grow some from those we get from the supermarket? Is there some reason they won't grow in the San Fernando Valley? Roast pork just isn't complete without them.