The crisp feel of autumn was in the air this morning when I made my way over to the Portland Farmers' Market in Monument Square around 8 am. For anyone unable to feel that cool Canadian air, the sight of pumpkins at many stands proved that fall is right around the corner.

Squash was in abundance too, in a range of varieties.

With truly cold weather only a month or so away, it's a good time to start eating apples to keep doctor's visits at bay. Personally, I always try to go for the organic ones because my mouth feels all tingly when I eat the ones that have been sprayed. Look for the organic apples from Ricker Hill Farm.

Another wonderful vegetable to enjoy in the fall is farm fresh celery. Once you've tasted the amazing flavor of locally grown celery there's just no going back to those anemic, plastic-wrapped stalks you can buy in a supermarket. The other night I cooked up a super tasty Market vegetable & amaranth soup using this Fishbowl Farm celery.

In case you're wondering what in the world amaranth is, here's one variety. Here in Maine we tend to see these as ornamental flowers. But the plant has been prized throughout human history for its seeds.