Snow Peas, Peas, Fava Beans

These are the cheapest fava beans I've seen this spring. They won't be around much longer. Time to load up on them, and time for my once-a-year batch of Catalan-style fava bean stew, which you'll find among these nine fava bean recipes. It's the most labor-intensive of the recipes, but well worth it, at least once a year.

Price: $1/lb. fava beans
$5/lb. shelled peas
$2.50/lb snow peas

Beets, Spring Onions, Tokyo Turnips

Price: $1/bunch for onions
$1.50/bunch for turnips and beets

Carrots

Dried Garlic, Fresh Garlic

Price: $1/bunch for fresh garlic
$.50/each for dried garlic

Basil, Chinese Spinach

Big bunches of basil, for less than $2 a bundle, are arguably the best bargain at summer time farmers markets. In a grocery store, .you'd pay at least twice the price for a third as much basil.

Price: $1/bunch

Japanese Eggplant, Carola Potatoes, Russian Fingerling Potatoes, Zucchini

Price: $2/lb. for potatoes and zucchini
$2.50/lb. for eggplant

Fuji Apples

Price: $2/lb.