The Spreewald biosphere reserve 100km south of Berlin is the origin of Germany's most famous gherkin. Luebbenau's market stalls sell pickled cucumbers and Sorbian potato pancakes (Kartoffelpuffer); Restaurant Zum Gruenen Strand der Spree serves traditional canalside lunches with fresh-caught pike-perch.
Beelitz, 40km south of Berlin, grows the asparagus that fills Berlin's restaurant menus from late April to 24 June. The Spargel- und Erlebnishof Klaistow at Glindower Str. 28 offers pick-your-own strawberries in summer; the town's Spargelfest each June draws 50,000 visitors.
Waren at the edge of Mecklenburg's Mueritz lake is the destination for freshwater fish that supplies Berlin's better restaurants. Lakeside Fischerstuben smoke eel and pike-perch on the premises; the smoked-eel sandwich from a market stall at the harbour is the canonical Mueritz meal.
Werder an der Havel, 35km west of Berlin, supplies the capital's markets with cherries, apples and redcurrants. The Baumblutenfest in late April celebrates the orchard blossom season; farm stands around the Wachtelberg sell estate-pressed apple and cherry juices and light fruit wines.
Potsdam combines Schloss Sanssouci's park gardens with the cobbled Dutch Quarter built by Frederick William I for Dutch craftsmen in the 1730s. Buena Vida Coffee Roasters on Brandenburger Strasse is the specialty coffee anchor; the canalside restaurants serve Brandenburg pike-perch and asparagus in season.