Grilling is popular year-round in Florida, but summer is when you can find the absolute best Mother Nature has to offer for the grill.

Start with Chesser Seafood for some fresh, wild caught shrimp, or perhaps pair up Lulu’s at the Thompson House’s spicy pimento cheese spread with a buttery crostini from Catering by Liz. Another great appetizer option is Simply Savory Spreads. Ned brings about 40 dips and you can sample them all. He offers savory, sweet, and spicy dip mixes that are usually mixed with either cream cheese or sour cream, but some are made with whipped cream to satisfy those with a sweet tooth.

Stop by the Upstream Alaskan Salmon booth for your main dish selections, or you might prefer a nice cut of all natural, fresh Angus beef for JD Beef. May I recommend his New York strip, porterhouse, filet mignon, or a rib eye? Their cows are raised with no antibiotics, no hormones, and no steroids.

King’s Kountry Produce, Boatright Farms, Cabbage Creek Farms, and Bacons Select Produce bring everything you could possible imagine to put into a tossed salad. Lettuce from the Bacons, is big beautiful butter head that is grown in a hydroponic green house and sold with the roots still on for longer shelf life, and it is amazing on a grass fed, grilled hamburger.

Pick up some fresh baked bread, rolls, or buns, from either Nana Teresa’s Bake Shop, or Maria’s Bakery. These two bake their breads specifically for the customers of the farmers market, and it doesn’t get much better than that!

Side dishes on the grill include summer favorites like corn on the cob, grilled eggplant, or S.T.O.P (squash, tomatoes, onions, and peppers). Or whip up some potato salad, Cole slaw, or a ready made dish from the African Love Kitchen.

Looking for something different for dessert? Try a gluten-free specialty from Something Good, or try your hand at grilled pineapple, peaches, or watermelon slices.

With the kids heading of to school, this may be your end of the season opportunity to enjoy a big family cookout, and your friends at the Fernandina Beach Market Place farmers market can help you find all of the right ingredients!