The extreme heat that has left the Washington area melting makes it hard to work and play outside. But the farmers and vendors of Central Farm Markets are braving the heat to bring great food to the farm markets, despite the triple digits predicted this weekend.  Mix the ravaging heat with the freak storm last week, complete with long electrical outages, and you get havoc. Some people are just getting their refrigerators filled again. Shopping can be easier in this heat if you come out early, stay hydrated and bring coolers to keep delicate items like lettuces, tomatoes, cheese and fruits cool.

There are also tricks for what foods to eat during a heat wave. Eating smaller meals helps your body generate less heat and of course keeping hydrated with water is critically important. But there are a lot of foods at the market that can actually help your body stay cooler in this heat.

Eating fruits  and vegetables with higher water content is one way to keep cool. Watermelons, berries, and melons are all good choices as are vegetables like lettuces, cucumbers, and peppers which have a water content all over 90%.  For a truly cool snack freeze melon balls. Place the balls on a cookie sheet and freeze overnight. After they are frozen they can be stored in a container with layers of wax paper.  The melon balls are delicious as a snack or in a cold drink.

Pike Central Farm Market will be open from 9 am to 1 pm on Saturday and Bethesda Central Farm Market will open from 9 am to 1 pm on Sunday. For more information visit www.centralfarmmarkets.com.