PITTSBURG FARMERS MARKET 10/25/14/SAT/ 9am to 1pm / SEASON ENDS

Posted:  21 Oct 14


Well, another year has zipped by and the market will close, this Saturday, till next May or so.  I hope and trust that they had another successful season here.  Each opening is eagerly anticipated -- each closing, dreaded.  Goodbye to all our vendor friends -- thanks for another job, well-done.

Here's the market's web-link.


David Nelson








All Original Content © 2014, The MENTOR Enterprises / ELMS, All Rights Reserved. BUT, I hereby waive those rights, to this extent: You may freely copy and pass this along -- and are urged to do so -- as long as it's all done free of charge, unchanged, you include this statement, AND you inform me as to how it is being used -- at YOUR convenience but, hopefully soonest.

PITTSBURG FARMERS MARKET RETURNS 5/3/SAT!!!

Posted: 19 Apr 14

ONLY A MATTER OF DAYS, NOW!

The anxiously awaited 5-month, 22-day season 

opens on Saturday, 3 May and closes on Saturday, 25 Oct.

Here is their website link.  

As you will see, they've already begun to schedule events to add to the festive atmosphere in the Old Downtown Plaza.

I can't wait to get some of those pluots -- and all the rest -- but I simply have to have my pluots.

Click here to see Farmers Markets in the rest of 

Contra Costa County

All Original Content © 2014 , The MENTOR Enterprises / ELMS, All Rights Reserved -- BUT, I hereby waive those rights, to this extent: You may freely copy and pass this along, if you think it will do some good -- as long as it's free of charge, unchanged, and you include this statement.

Pittsburg Farmers Market Newsletter -- September 2013 (Ends: 10/26)

Posted:  30 Aug 13

On Fri, Aug 30, 2013 at 9:32 AM, Pacific Coast Farmers Markets
<Pacific_Coast_Farmers_Markets@mail.vresp.com> wrote:

Pittsburg Farmers' Market                 September 2013 Spotlight on September Fruit Grapes: Colorful, sweet and good for you, grapes are one of America's favorite fruits. Grapes came to California with the Spanish padres in the 1700s and, as settlers continued to arrive from Europe, other Old World grape varieties came, mostly as wine grapes. Table grapes became popular during the Gold Rush and fed the gold miners fresh fruit. Today, 99% of commercially grown table grapes are from California! More..... Pears: You can find both European pears and Asian pears in your farmers’ market this season. Bartletts, Bosc, Comice, and other varieties are available at the market. All these pears have a sweet buttery flavor with some acidic notes. The Asian pears ripen on the tree, can be eaten right after picking, and have a crisp texture with less acidity. Read more... Figs: Figs were brought to California by the Spanish missionary fathers who first planted them at the San Diego Mission in 1759. Fig trees were then planted at each succeeding mission, going North through California. The Mission fig, takes its name from this history. More info... Can It! Summer is at an end and all the wonderful peaches and nectarines, strawberries and raspberries, juicy tomatoes and peppers will soon be gone until next year. Sweet pears and crisp apples are here now, and persimmons will be here soon. If you want to save summer’s delicious flavors and enjoy fall’s fresh tastes, get out the canning jars and preserve the season’s best produce. Read more here... PCFMA celebrated its 25th Anniversary Open House on August 12, 2013. A good time was had by all! Photos left to right: Cookin' the Market demo; the PCFMA staff; PCFMA 25th Anniversary Garden; Board Secretary Mike Billigmeier and Director Emeritus Narsai David; the Fresh Cargo mobile market; food booths. More here--- Market Highlights From the Manager: Melon season will be over soon and we will be seeing the last of the peaches and nectarines, but tomatoes and peppers are still going strong. Don't forget to enter to win a brand new bike - it's become our yearly tradition! See you at the market! ---Eric Mario Lopez Farms: Awesome heirloom tomatoes and squash for some great grilling, big heads of gorgeous cauliflower and broccoli, yummy artichokes, fat potatoes and onions, and big red and golden beets for roasting or for salads. Nou Vang Farm: Interesting Asian produce and other fun eats like raw peanuts, jicama, kolhrabi, spinach, greens of all kinds, Chinese broccoli, daikon, lemongrass, and much more. Try some new tastes this year. Beckmann's Old World Bakery: Their whole grain and whole wheat breads are awesome, their marble rye to die for, and their cheese sourdough amazing. For a sweet treat try some of their pastries and shortcakes. Kernal Steve's Kettle Corn: A farmers' market staple, freshly popped sweet salty kettle corn. Watch as they pop it and enjoy a bag as you walk the market. Hummus Heaven: A wide variety of delicious flavored hummus like sundried tomato and roasted garlic, fresh baked pita bread and seasoned pita chips. Take some home for appetizers for your Labor Day gathering. Sunrise Nursery: A wonderful array of roses and colorful summer flowers like roses, carnations, lilies, alstroemerias, freezias, eucalyptus branches, and so much more. Market Events All month: Enter to win a brand new bike from Bay Area Bikes in Pittsburg, just in time to ride to school! September 7: The market will be closed for the day because of the Seafood Festival. September 14 & 28: Enter to win a big bag of fresh fruits and vegetables. September 21: East Bay Karate-Do will be showing off their karate moves at 10:30am and 11:30am. Come cheer them on! ►Keep up-to-date! Check the farmers’ market Facebook page for event updates or changes. Cookin' the Market - Chef Anna Buss Cranberry beans! Late summer to early fall is when we start to see beautiful varieties of beans enter the market.  Beans with splashes of pink and purple, yellow beans, green beans, and purple beans, oh my! Some you can eat fresh while others must be shelled and cooked. One of my favorite beans of the season is the cranberry bean. It stands out from the rest with the splatters of magenta that are embedded on the shell and bean. Unfortunately when cooked the pinkish hue dissipates, but the delicious nutty flavor makes up for the loss of color. To prepare, add the cranberry beans to boiling water for 20-25 minutes and make sure to taste them before draining the water. I like the beans to be tender but still hold their shape. They can be served at room temperature with a simple shallot dressing and herbs, tossed with pasta, or put into a soup. You can also buy cranberry beans in bulk, remove the outer shell and store them in their dried form in a cool, dark dry area to use throughout the winter. Look for them at your local Farmers’ Market! ►Look for recipes, cooking tips, tricks, and more on the Cookin' the Market Facebook page! September Recipes It's a great time to try some wonderful early fall produce in your recipes. Here are some sweet ideas! Grilled Figs with Goat Cheese Pan Seared Scallops with Grapes Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Mustard Sauce Pear, Squash, and Onion Gratin Roasted Pears with Goat Cheese & Pistachios In This Issue September Fruit Can it! 25th Anniversary Open House Fall Food Festivals A Good Read Market Highlights Market Events Cookin' the Market Locavore September Recipes What's in Season Fresh Approach Your Community Pittsburg Farmers' Market, Saturdays, 9am to 1pm, through October 26, Railroand and 6th St. Fall Food Festivals Lodi Grape Festival & Harvest Fair Thursday through Sunday, September 12 to 15, Lodi Fairgrounds. Food, wine, entertainment, competitions, and displays abound! National Heirloom Exposition Wednesday thru Friday, September 10 to 13, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa. See over 3,000 varieties of heirloom produce from every state. With more than 70 speakers and 250 natural food vendors, this is the world's largest heritage food event. The Exposition creates awareness on issues surrounding 'pure food' with proceeds from this not-for-profit event benefitting school gardens and other food programs. A Good Read Saving the Season by Kevin West. Over 220 canning and preserving recipes for sweet and savory jams, pickles, cordials, cocktails, candies, and more; plus 300 full-color photos. Good for the novice or the pro!  Fresh Approach Two Volunteers Already Top 50 Hours of Service in 2013! Congratulations and huge thanks to two of our volunteers who have each surpassed 50 hours of volunteer service to PCFMA and Fresh Approach in 2013: Larry Rao is a superstar volunteer. He regularly helps out at PCFMA's farmers' market in Vallejo and has even helped out at events in Richmond and Fairfield. John Geraghty is also a regular farmers' market volunteer who has quickly become a fixture at the Concord Farmers' Market on Tuesdays. Fresh Approach and PCFMA are incredibly thankful to Larry and John for their dedication and to all of our volunteers for all that they do every week to support our work and their communities. Locavore What gives a region its local personality? Its local character? Its local flavor? It is a combination of things like the surrounding landscape, the people, and the history of the area. One important factor is the local food. Washington is famous for for its apples, Wisconsin for its cheese, Idaho for potatoes, Maine for its lobster, Georgia for its peaches, and San Francisco for its sourdough bread and seafood. Local cuisine makes a city what it is. With exceptional chefs producing award-winning meals made from locally-grown, locally-sourced food, you can't help but feel lucky to live in the Bay Area. Think back to when Alice Waters had the revolutionary idea of eating sustainable and local! How things have changed! Listen to Alice Waters of Chez Panisse talking about local sustainable food. What's in Season Fruit: Apples, Asian pears, figs, grapes, melons, pears, persimmons, pomegranates, strawberries. Vegetables: Artichokes, beets, bell peppers, bok choy, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, corn, cucumber, eggplant, garlic, green beans, hot peppers, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, onions, potatoes, spinach, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes. Pittsburg Seafood Festival Saturday And Sunday, September 7 & 8, 10am to 6pm, Old Town Plaza. Seafood, entertainment, arts and crafts, beer and wine pavilion, and lots more. The market will be closed for the day. If you don't already receive this monthly email newsletter, sign up today! Forward this message to a friend         800.949.FARM         www.pcfma.com

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Pacific Coast Farmers Markets 5060 Commercial Circle, Ste. A Concord, California 94520

All Original Content © 2013 , The MENTOR Enterprises / ELMS, All Rights Reserved -- BUT, I hereby waive those rights, to this extent: You may freely copy and pass this along, if you think it will do some good -- as long as it's free of charge, unchanged, and you include this statement.

Bluegrass at Pittsburg Farmers Market 8/24/SAT (9 to 1:00)

Posted:  23 Aug 13

 Saturday

"Second Calling" to Perform

1.  Local band "Second Calling" is scheduled to perform at the Pittsburg Farmers Market on Saturday, August 24, bringing bluegrass to Old Town at this free public event.

2.  The market runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Old Town Plaza, along Railroad Avenue between Fifth and Sixth Streets. Come to the market for fresh produce, treats and fun activities.

3.  "Second Calling" is a unique East Bay band, formed by experienced musicians who found a renewed passion in creating music as life slowed a bit on other fronts.

• The blend of music spans decades and is rooted in bluegrass, with additional songs and influences coming from country, folk, gospel, Celtic, Old-Time and Western swing. 
• The group performs at a variety of venues throughout the Bay Area, including restaurants, farmers' markets, festivals, and private events. 

4.  The Certified Farmers Market operates Saturday mornings through October 26.

• Exception: the Farmers Market will not be held on Saturday, September 7 due to the Seafood Festival. 
• Here is a link to the Seafood Festival on the "Old Town Pittsburg Historic District" website
• Here is a link  to the Seafood Festival's Facebook page

5.  Eating fresh and healthy foods and adding exercise to your daily routine contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Try it!

6.  Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association operates the market as a project of the Los Medanos Community Healthcare District, Pittsburg Power Company, Pittsburg Arts and Community Foundation, Inc. and the City of Pittsburg.

August at the Pittsburg Farmers' Market

Posted:  2 Aug 13

Pittsburg Farmers' Market                         August 2013 In This Issue Mad for Melons Pick a Perfect Pepper Farmers' Market Week Food Festivities Market Highlights Market Events Cookin' the Market Locavore Fresh Approach What's in Season End of Summer Recipes Your Community National Farmers’ Market Week is August 4 to 10. Communities are converging to celebrate a simple miracle: farmers coming together to share a harvest that’s feeding local families. The result? Farmers' markets are bolstering local economies, improving community health, and bringing diverse groups of people together through a shared social space. We're celebrating with contests, cooking demonstrations, photo exhibits, and other events. To learn more visit the Farmers’ Market Coalition and stop by your farmers’ market information booth. Food Festivities Gravenstein Apple Festival Saturday and Sunday, August 10 & 11, Ragle Ranch Park. Live music on two stages, delicious food, cooking demonstrations from local chefs, arts and crafts booths, a petting zoo, pony rides, apple pie contest, and so much more. Bodega Seafood, Art & Wine Festival Saturday & Sunday, August 24 & 25, at 16885 Bodega Hwy. Enjoy a juried fine art and craft marketplace, a variety of foods with an emphasis on seafood, three stages of entertainment and large dance floor, kids games, and wine and beer tastings. The "Freshest Cargo" Mobile Farmers’ Market is here! This 22-foot truck equipped with on-board cold storage will take the ‘cool factor’ of the food truck movement and apply it to fresh fruits and vegetables. The truck is designed to sell fresh produce procured from local farmers in food deserts in Contra Costa County’s Richmond, San Pablo, Pittsburg, Brentwood, and Concord areas. Keep up-to-date on the Freshest Cargo Facebook page, on Twitter and Instagram! Locavore                          Strong ties have always existed between small family farmers and their communities. There is an organization that strives to continue to keep farmers and consumers in close contact. The Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) is a non-profit organization that advocates for California’s family farmers and sustainable agriculture. One of their most popular programs, and one of the most recognizable, is the Buy Fresh, Buy Local campaign which connects producers and consumers by publishing regional editions of the Eater’s Guide to Local Food, providing marketing assistance and materials to businesses and farmers, and running public education and awareness campaigns to promote local food. Please join with them in their efforts to keep the connection between farmers and consumers. See how you can help! What's in Season Fruit: Apriums, blackberries, figs, grapes, melons, nectarines, peaches, plums, pluots, raspberries, and strawberries. Vegetables: Artichokes, beets, bell peppers, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, corn, cucumber, daikon, eggplant, garlic, green beans, herbs, hot peppers, kale, leeks, lettuce, longbeans, mushrooms, onions, potatoes, spinach, summer squash, tomatoes. Coming Soon: (September) Apples, pears, winter squash. Your Community Classic Car Show Thrusdays, August 8 and 22, 6pm to 8pm, Railroad Ave. between 4th and 6th St. Featuring live performances and other entertainment. Car Shows begin at 5pm and end at 8pm. The entrance fee for cars will be $10 and all cars will need to be in their parked positions by 6pm. If you don't already receive this monthly email newsletter, sign up today! Mad for Melons                                                                              Cut a big slice of juicy watermelon and dig in! Summer is in full swing when melons appear at your farmers' market. Big watermelon, fragrant cantaloupe and honeydew, and a variety of specialty melons like Persian, casaba, canary, and Crenshaw, just to name a few, are available. Each has a distinctive sweet flavor and each is a must-try this season. Cube into fruit salads, blend into a smoothie, or eat out of hand. Enjoy! Read more here. Pick a Perfect Pepper                                                                   From the sweet bell pepper to the hottest habanero, there are pepper varieties for every taste at your farmers’ market. Like peppers mild? Try bell peppers in red, green, orange, yellow, and yes, even purple! Sweet Italian peppers and banana peppers have a mild flavor as well. Like a little hotter pepper? Try pepperoncini or Anaheim pepper for a little zing in your recipes. Or move higher on the Scoville hotness scale to the jalapeño, poblano, or the yellow wax chili pepper. Want a five-alarm chile pepper that’ll make your eyes water? Then brave the habanero, the Scotch Bonnet or the little Thai chili peppers. There's a pepper for every taste and every recipe at the market! More on peppers here. Market Highlights                                                                          C&M Farm: All kinds of summer veggies like green beans, eggplant summer squash, okra, chili peppers, and bok choy. BerryLicious: It's just not summer without a big bowl of fresh strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries, so get some for your summer picnics. Resendiz Farms: Get your cantaloupe, watermelon, and orange-fleshed honeydew here! Sweet! And get some stonefruit while you’re at it. Cobblers, salads, and jams are perfect for these awesome juicy fruit. Ellen's Gourmet Granola: A variety of granola, homemade with fresh ingredients. Try the 5-Nut Granola or the Chocolate Lover's Granola. Fantastic! Rockin' O BBQ: No time to fix dinner? Take some of their awesome barbecue home. They have brisket, lamb kabobs, pork ribs, baked beans and lots more. Hummus Heaven: A wide variety of delicious flavored hummus like sundried tomato and roasted garlic, fresh baked pita bread and seasoned pita chips. Take some home for appetizers for your next gathering. Market Events                                                                               August 3 & 10: Enter to win a backpack filled with fresh new school supplies! August 17: Be one of the first 25 customers to be at the info booth at 11:25 and get a basket of strawberries for 25¢! One basket per family/customer. August 24: Guess the weight of the big melon and you could win your own big juicy melon! August 31: Find the secret word of the day on the market Facebook page and mention the word to the market manager for a free produce prize. While supplies last. ►Keep up-to-date! Check the farmers’ market Facebook page for event updates or changes. Cookin' the Market - Chef Anna Buss Moringa/ Malunggay: The farmers’ market is not only a place where I can find the most delicious tasting produce around, it has also become a “farmacy” for me. The other day I was out at the farmers' market in search of produce for the next cooking demonstration. While I was strolling along I noticed that people were flocking to buy leaves and long thin green pods labeled Moringa (it can also be found labeled as Malunggay). It turns out Moringa, also known as the “Miracle Tree,” offers an abundance of medicinal properties. Every part of the plant is edible including the bark, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, and gum. The Moringa leaves are high in vitamin C, and vitamin A. They are also a good source of protein and are high in iron and calcium. Besides being called the “Miracle Tree” Moringa is also known as the “Horseradish Tree” because of its horseradish-like flavor. The leaves can be tossed in a salad, soups, or used as spice for a main dish. They can also be dried and saved for later use. Next time you are at the farmers’ market buy some Moringa! ►Look for recipes, cooking tips, tricks, and more on the Cookin' the Market Facebook page! Summer's End Recipes                                                                Melon Salad with Basil Vinaigrette A tangy sweet salad served chilled. Eggplant, Pepper & Feta Salad Great for picnics and barbecues. Peach Chutney A real sweet tangy taste of summer, great on toasted baguettes or as a topping for meats and chicken. Corn Stuffed Tomatoes A summer favorite, light and refreshing, great for a cool dinner. Find more great recipes on our website! And pick up the Summer Produce Guide at your market's info table for tips on how to purchase and store your fresh summer produce. Pittsburg Farmers' Market Saturdays, 9am to 1pm, year-round, rain or shine, Old Town Plaza, Railroad and 6th. Forward this message to a friend 800.949.FARM, www.pcfma.com

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Pacific Coast Farmers Markets 5060 Commercial Circle, Ste. A Concord, California 94520 US Read the VerticalResponse marketing policy.

I Love My Farmers' Market Photo Contest!

Posted:  2 Aug 13

Click this link for a list of Farmers Markets celebrating around the Bay Area (and its main website).

	I Love My Farmers' Market PHOTO CONTEST! Join Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association (PCFMA) in celebrating National Farmers’ Market Week, August 4-10, 2013. Farmers’ markets provide a source for healthy produce, an area for people to connect with local farmers and a community gathering place. “We’re really excited about National Farmers’ Market Week,” said John Silviera, Director of PCFMA. “It’s a great opportunity to highlight the benefits of farmers’ markets and we’ll be celebrating with a lot of fun activities and giveaways at our markets.” PCFMA will celebrate National Farmers’ Market Week during the entire month of August with the “Love My Market” photo contest. Those interested in participating, should submit a photo of what they love about their farmers’ market to lovemymarket@pcfma.com. Please include the name of your farmers' market! Additionally, entry forms can be picked up at one of the    70+ PCFMA farmers’ markets. Contestants will have a chance to win the GRAND PRIZE of a two night retreat at Lone Oak Ranch including cottage accommodations on the Kings River, dinner and a farm tour! Lone Oak Ranch is a certified organic 4th generation family farm that produces citrus fruits, grapes, almonds and more. Second and third prizes include “Carrot Cash” (which is good at any farmers’ market that PCFMA operates), a reusable bag filled with fresh seasonal produce and a market cookbook. Each year, an increasing number of Americans in diverse communities get more of their food from farmers’ markets. From 1994 to 2011, the number of farmers’ markets in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Farmers Market Directory increased from 1755 to 7175 – a 308% increase! Still continuing to rise, from 2011 to 2012, farmers’ markets increased 9.6 percent, with 7,864 farmers markets being listed in the directory. Farmers markets benefit: Producers – small and medium-sized producers can achieve reliable income, obtain better prices than other distribution channels and develop/test new product lines. Consumers – give consumers access to locally-produced, farm-fresh food, and the opportunity to develop relationships with farmers, as well as directly contributing to local farm viability. The Community – farmers’ markets contribute toward robust local economies and neighborhoods and provide more accessible healthy and fresh food options. Forward this message to a friend          800.949.FARM           www.pcfma.com

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Pacific Coast Farmers Markets 5060 Commercial Circle, Ste. A Concord, California 94520 US Read the VerticalResponse marketing policy.

June at Pittsburg Farmers' Market

Posted: 1 Jun 13

Here is the PFM Facebook page

Pittsburg Farmers' Market                       June 2013 Summer Shenanigans! In This Issue Apricots Summer Squash Foodie Festivals Market Highlights Market Events Locavore Cookin' the Market Fresh Approach Father's Day Recipes What's in Season    Foodie Festivals Crawdad Festival Friday to Sunday, June 14 to 16, Isleton. Crawdads, jambalaya, gumbo, and more food and drink. Great music, a carnival and kids’ activities, a 5K run, and vendor booths. Sponsored by the Isleton Chamber of Commerce and Budweiser, Southwest Airlines, 95.3 KUIC, and the Contra Costa Times. The Golden Glass Saturday, June 29, 2013 1:00pm to 5:00pm, 11:00am-1:00pm, City View at the Metreon, 135 4th Street, 4th floor, San Francisco. The Golden Glass is a lively gastronomic and educational event featuring local and international sustainable wines complemented by culinary delights from the Bay Area's top restaurants and artisan producers. Golden Glass is the annual fund-raiser for Slow Food San Francisco. Fresh Approach June is a great month to get involved with Fresh Approach! Our Healthy Food/Healthy You classes, VeggieRx program, and “Freshest Cargo” mobile farmers’ market truck are up and running. Interested in checking out one of our events that is open to the public? We’ll be at the Health Fair at The Garden Academy in Bay Point on Saturday, June 8th from 11am-2pm! This free celebration will have food samples, games, crafts, raffle prizes and much more. It’s located at 205 Pacifica Avenue in Bay Point right next to Riverview Middle School. We’ll also be at the District 2 Health Fair on Saturday June 15th, from 10am to 2pm at Kaiser San Jose, at 250 Hospital Parkway. This free event will have live entertainment, kids’ activities, prizes, fresh fruits and vegetables, and more. Come stop by! Or, find out about our events by following us on Facebook! What's in Season Fruit: Apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, peaches, plums, raspberries, strawberries. Vegetables: Artichokes, arugula, asparagus, avocados, beets, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, collards, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, green beans, herbs, kale, leeks, lettuce, longbeans, mushrooms, onions, peas, potatoes, spinach, summer squash, tomatoes. Coming Soon: Bell peppers, corn, melons. ►Pick up a copy of "Summer Produce Selection & Storage" at your farmers' market information booth to learn how to keep summer fruits and vegetables at their best. Pittsburg Farmers' Market Saturdays, 9am to 1pm, May 4 to October 26, Old Town Plaza, Railroad and 6th. Forward this message to a friend 800.949.FARM www.pcfma.com If you don't already receive this monthly email newsletter, sign up today! Market Highlights Diablo Creek Apiary:  Sweet local honey and honeysticks in a wide variety of floral and clover flavors. Make a summer marinade for your next barbecue! Stackhouse Brothers: April Glo and Arctic Gold nectarines, Super Lady peaches, and lots more stonefruit as the season progresses. Stop by for some of their delicious almonds. G&S Farms: Awesome Brentwood sweet corn has returned, perfect for Father's Day on the grill. BerryLicious: It's just not summer without a big bowl of fresh strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries. Delish! Beckmann's Old World Bakery: Their healthy whole grain and whole wheat breads are awesome, their marble rye to die for, and their cheese sourdough amazing. For a sweet treat try some of their pastries. Apricots Fresh apricots are now available at your farmers’ market, a sure sign that summer is here. Gather them now and make some fresh fruit salads, apricot sherbet, or apricot preserves. Yum! About 95 percent of the apricots grown in the U.S. come from California. Many different varieties grow in California, each with special characteristics. The most prevalent varieties are the Poppys, Pattersons, Blenheims, Tiltons, and Castlebrites. The season usually runs from May through July. Look for fairly firm, smooth, plump, well-formed fruit that has an orange-yellow to orange color. If the fruit is hard and tinged with green it won’t develop its full flavor. Fully ripe fruit is soft to the touch, full of juice, and should be eaten as soon as possible. More here.. Summer Squash Summer squash tops the list of easy-to-prepare and good-for-you summer fare. A very prolific vegetable (remember all those zucchini your neighbors tried to pass on to you?), summer squash is a soft-shelled variety with thin edible skins and edible seeds, as compared to the hard-shelled winter squash with inedible skin. It has a tender flesh that requires only a short cooking time. It's available now through August or September. And don’t forget you can eat squash blossoms! Squash Blossoms are the flowers from the squash. They come in varying shades of yellow and orange, with a flavor similar to the squash itself. Use as a garnish, either slivered or whole, for almost everything from soup to main dishes, stuff and grill them, or use them to add color and flavor to salads. Read more here... Market Events June 1 & 8: Enter to win a gift card to EJ Phair for Father's Day! June 15: Bring the kids for some Father's Day card making and button making. Lots of fun for everyone! June 22: Fine the secret word of the day on the market Facebook page and mention the word to the market manager for a free produce prize. While supplies last. ►Keep up-to-date! Check the farmers’ market Facebook page for event updates or changes. Cookin' the Market - Chef Anna Buss Kohlrabi, a member of the brassica family, is one of those vegetables at the farmers’ market that people tend to look and think “what am I supposed to do with this? I don’t even know where to start.” In contrast to its perplexing appearance, preparing kohlrabi is actually very simple. The flavor is mild and delicious; it tastes like the marriage of cabbage and broccoli with a little bit more sweetness. The middle is crisp and hydrating which makes it easy to enjoy raw. You can also purée, roast, or sauté kohlrabi. Don’t forget to blanch the leaves and add them to your dish for more kohlrabi goodness. Next time you are at the farmers’ market make it a point to try something different, you may just stumble on your new favorite vegetable! ►Look for recipes, cooking tips, tricks, and more on the Cookin' the Market Facebook page! Locavore "The changing of the seasons provides us with the unique opportunity to buy a variety of fantastic foods that are only available during that season. Seasonal foods offer a natural diversity that we should take advantage of when eating holistically for both our health and the health of our planet. There is nothing better than eating a juicy organic summer peach, vine-ripe heirloom tomato, or sweet strawberry grown by a local farmer that you know by name."* The best thing about summer produce is that you will find varieties of fruits and vegetables you won't find in the grocery store! Many of these old heirloom varieties do not travel well and therefore are found at the local level. They were not bred to travel thousands of miles! Blenheim apricots are a prime example of produce that is found locally. Many types of heirloom tomatoes or interesting summer squash have varieties best purchased and eaten locally. So get out there and try some yummy heirloom produce with honest-to-goodness flavor! *Shelley Alexander, CHSF, eatlocallygrown. Dinner for Dad Keep it simple for Father's Day with great grilling recipes, plus side recipes and dessert recipes guaranteed to please. Plank-Grilled Sweet Soy Salmon Spicy Grilled Zucchini Grilled Herbed Potatoes & Onions Grilled Peaches with Brown Sugar More delicious recipes can be found at pcfma.com/recipes.

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Pacific Coast Farmers Markets 5060 Commercial Circle, Ste. A Concord, California 94520 US Read the VerticalResponse marketing policy.

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