Fresh Vegetables and the Sweetest Little Neck Clams

Large buckets of clams were packed into the back of Pepe's Cream of the Crop, LLC, Shellfish Farm truck at the Monroe Farmers Market Friday afternoon. The cold area was refrigerated, but there was no ice in sight.

"These clams were harvested yesterday," said Ed Popadic, who owns the farm with his wife Laurie. "I was fed up with the way they're sold in stores, because they pack them in ice."

With ice, Popadic said the clams sense the water and open their shells, losing their juice. "A lot of times they're dry," he added of the store-bought seafood. "They have a shorter shelf life."

Popadic took out a package of clams and cradled them in his hands. All of the shells were sealed shut. "See how they're dry?" Popadic asked. "That's how they should be sold."

Pepe's Cream of the Crop was just one of the variety of vendors who showed at last week's Farmers Market, despite weather reports forecasting rain.

Christine Speight of Bridgeport placed an order of little neck clams. It was her first time buying seafood at the Farmers Market.

"I have not because I've always been very cautious of buying seafood out of the back of a van," Speight said. Looking over at Guy Beardsley, owner of Guy's Eco-Garden, the vendor next store, she added, "I know Guy and Guy knows him and said, 'These will be the best, sweetest clams you've ever had.'"

Beardsley was selling fresh vegetables from his farm in the White Hills section of Shelton.

"I love Guy's garlic," Speight said, holding her bag of seafood. "A little butter, Guy's garlic and these clams? Yummy! I'm telling you."

Karen Woodford of Monroe bought rainbow chard from Guy's Eco-Garden.

"What's good is he takes people out on his farm and shows us his ways," Woodford said of Beardsley. "He's a really guy too."

Beardsley's teaching helped Woodford with her own organic garden.

Diane Ganser said she has been going to the Monroe Farmers Market since it opened four years ago. She bought Swiss chard, kale and lettuce on Friday afternoon.

Of Guy's Eco-Garden, Ganser said, "He's got the best corn."

The Monroe Farmers Market is held in front of Monroe Town Hall, 7 Fan Hill Road, every Friday from 3 to 6 p.m.