strawberries

How many ways do we love ripe, red strawberries from Suzie’s Farm and Kawano Farms at the San Diego Public Wednesday Farmers’ Market? We like to sip them in a smoothie with fresh squeezed citrus juice from Doucette Farms, or in this fancy fizzy strawberry lemonade.

We’re thrilled to toss them in this salad with Paradise Valley Ranch avocados and Maciel Farm’s kale, and we adore them mixed with fresh chevre from Nicolau Goat Farms and aged balsamic vinegar from Bistro Blends in this strawberry goat cheese bruschetta.

We’re crazy for halibut with strawberry salsa using wild Alaskan filets from the Salmon Slinger and fresh basil from Gilbert Quintos Farm. And we can’t resist asking L’Ardiquel to fill a hot crepe with strawberries for a sweet breakfast.

We’re so berry glad that strawberries are in season!

Ripe red strawberries from Suzie’s Farm, J.R. Organics and Kawano Farms brighten the Pacific Beach Tuesday Farmers’ Market this week. Make them part of a special breakfast with Belen Bakery’s multi-grain bread, chevre from Nicolau Goat Farm and pastured Paradise Valley Ranch eggs in strawberry danish French toast topped with a drizzle of Mikolich Honey.

Enjoy them at lunch with fresh greens from Gilbert Quintos Farm and apples and nuts from Smit Orchards in a spinach, strawberry and pistachio salad. Try them at dinner with wild Alaskan fish from the Salmon Slinger and Berry Balsamic from Bistro Blends in halibut with strawberry salsa. Or simply slice strawberries and toss them with citrus segments from Lone Oak Ranch for a refreshing, low calorie snack anytime of day.

Stock up on strawberries this Tuesday!

When Little Italy restaurants are saying goodnight to their last dinner guests on Friday evening, Pudwill Berry Farms’ truck is leaving their Central Coast fields loaded with just picked raspberries, blueberries and blackberries for the Little Italy Mercato!

They’ve found the perfect location to grow sweet, ripe berries all year long and it’s made them a very popular stop at the market. Try fresh blackberries with Ancient Secret’s Greek yogurt and a sprinkle of Safari Crunch Granola, mix blueberries into Sustainable Pantry’s pancake batter, or spoon raspberry coulis over grilled sea bass from Poppa’s Fresh Fish or Salmon Slinger for a savory-sweet sensation. 

Strawberries from Suzie's Farm, Kawano Farms and J.R. Organics have been coming to the market in abundance. Chop these juicy, sweet fruits and use Greek yogurt from Divine Fresh to make these strawberry shortcake muffins. For lunch, toss arugula from Sage Mountain Farms, roasted almonds from Hopkins AG and feta from Nicolau Farms with bright red strawberries for a wonderful seasonal salad. Drizzle aged strawberry balsamic vinegar from Bistro Blends on to bring out the flavor of the berries. 

No matter how you eat them, berries from the Mercato will be berry good! 

Buy fresh sweet basil from Suzie’s Farm or Valdivia Farm at the North Park Farmers’ Market and lend its lovely aroma to fruit, vegetable, cheese and pasta dishes each Thursday. You’re probably already imagining ripe tomatoes from JR Organics mixed with chopped basil and spread over bruschetta of toasted slices Belen Bakery’s ciabatta rubbed with California Olive new truffle oil. What says summer like simple plates of basil, tomatoes and sinful fresh burrata from Taste Cheese? Try fresh linguine from Lisko Imports topped with homemade basil pesto.

Basil also gets friendly with fresh summer fruits: try a salad of fresh greens from Maciel Farm topped with sliced peaches from Smit Orchards, a little chevre from Nicolau Farms and a healthy handful of freshly chopped basil. Use strawberries from Kawano Farm and Eureka lemons from Paradise Valley Ranch in this strawberry-basil lemonade or add an apple for this summery Sangria. Basil’s in season throughout the summer, so add a little basil-dazzle to dinner tonight!

It's not too late to rev up the romance, just check in at the Pacific Beach Tuesday Farmers’ Market this Valentine's Day. 

Get in the mood with juicy, sweet strawberries from J.R. Organics, sweet Fiji Apples from Smit Orchards and some lemon quark from Springhill Cheese for dipping. Almonds are considered an aphrodisiac, even without Hopkins AG's luscious Mexican chocolate coating, so don't forget those. 

Buy two Elderberry, Lemon Curd or Red Velvet Sugar and Scribe cupcakes and toast to your happiness. 

Select a special gift from our newest vendor, Ramona Bath and Body. Choose a made-from-scratch goat milk soap, lotion or relaxing bath salts. Or tell her "Bee Mine" with cute personal sized love bears or honey sticks from Mikolich Honey, and a favorite tea from Pangea or Agora Bean & Leaf.

Of course you can’t have Valentines’ Day without flowers! Maldonado Growers, Gilbert Quintos Farms, and JR Organics all have perfect blossoms for your beloved! Or choose a unique succulent bloom from John Gilruth to make your Valentine's eyes light up.

No sweetheart to share the holiday this year? Delight your 4-legged Valentine with goodies from Natural Pet. Your furry friend will always be true, but a brand new handmade collar and a bag of all natural treats couldn't hurt. Love the one you're with!

SPREAD THE JOY O’ CHERIMOYA

Mark Twain called it “the most delicious fruit known to men,” while others have compared its flavor to a blend of pineapple, banana, peach, papaya and strawberry. R&L Farms has plenty of fresh cherimoyas at the North Park market, but the season is short so stock up today. The creamy white flesh of a ripe cherimoya has the rich consistency of custard and a decadent tropical aroma. 

If you’re an immigrant to San Diego (like me), you might not have seen this delicious fruit before; almost all the plantings in the United States are right here in this county.  Look for a light green fruit, about the size of an avocado, with indentations that look like thumbprints; from a distance you might mistake it for an artichoke. Pick one that feels slightly soft if you’ll be eating it today - both the taste and texture triumph only when the fruit is perfectly ripe.  Choose firmer fruit if it will be on your shelf for a few days.

Spoon the tasty treat right from the pale green skin, and enjoy it straight up or dress it in the Mexican style by adding a squeeze of lime from Paradise Valley Ranch.  Hmmm, why not try a squeeze of navel orange or even tangelo for something very Californian?  Another great way to appreciate the fragrant fruit is to scoop it atop a bowl of freshly sliced strawberries from Kawano farms - think of it as a vegan version of yogurt with fruit. Or get fancy with this Cherimoya Soup recipe with apple juice from Smit Orchards and honey from Meljess Bees. You'll enjoy-a your cherimoya!

LABOR OF LOVE

Labor Day weekend is here and whether you're barbecuing, picnicking or just partying the North Park Farmers market has all the traditional and some of the not-so-traditional holiday food faves. Why not give your favorite summertime lemonade made with lemons from John Gilruth or Paradise Valley Ranch a new twist by adding Hillside Family farms' passion fruit. Try adding a sharp Firehouse Jack from Springhill to your Da-Le Ranch ground beef burger or top your veggie burger with some cool tzatziki from Baba Foods. Kick your "tried and true" salsa to the curb and make some peach salsa with the sweetest  peaches of the season from Smit Orchards or R& L Farms.Tired of your old sides? Dip grilled okra from Suzie's in your favorite Bitchin' Sauce. Layer JR Organics strawberries with fresh goat cheese from Nicolau Farms and Safari Crunch granola. 

Of course there's always room for some traditions and Labor Day would not be the same without corn from Kawano farms and watermelon from the Produce Stand, JR Organics or Valdivia farms.  Whatever you do with your day, the North Park Farmer's market wishes you a happy and delicious holiday!

Prickly Pears Beware!

Now, when you pick a pawpaw or a prickly pear, take advice from the big brown bear and don't pick the prickly pear by the paw! For a limited time only, visit Rancho Mexico Lindo and choose from their supply of super ripe prickly pear fruit at the Little Italy Mercato! Native to California and Mexico, this cactus fruit tastes like a fusion of sugary guava and juicy watermelon. Bursting with magenta or golden hues, it's chalk full of essential minerals like calcium and magnesium. All in all, something hard to resist and not to miss!

Enjoy a refreshing summer salad by combining the fruit of 1-2 prickly pears, with a basket of fresh chopped, glistening strawberries from JR organics. To add some tang to your tongue, toss in a few yellow raspberries from Pudwill Farms and chunks of sweet valencia oranges from Paradise Valley Ranch. Drizzle with raw, organic honey from Heritage Farms and you've got all the pear necessities.
 

REFRESHER COURSE

Agua Frescas are a great way to capture the sweet flavors of the season in a pitcher.  Simply puree your farm-fresh fruit (or other fresh produce) with a little water, a squeeze of lime and maybe a dash of sugar in a blender and strain.  A 4:1 ratio of water to fruit works well, but adjusting for your taste is easy. Adding fresh herbs will kick things up even more.

At the Adams Avenue Farmer’s Market, start by choosing Kawano Farms Strawberries and a little basil from Suzie’s Farm.  Guavas from Rancho Mexico Lindo with a little extra lime  from Paradise Valley Ranch will make a sweet-tart mixture that's sure to refresh.

Over at the North Park Farmer’s Market, JR Organics has what you need for the classic cucumber lime rendition or a sweeter strawberry mint batch.  Or squeeze the juice from R&L Farms oranges into the blender with a few sprigs of Suzie’s Farm cilantro for an interesting twist. Serving these in a glass rimmed with ginger infused sea salts from Salt Farm  and a wedge of your favorite citrus will dress your frescas to impress!

FRESH AND DIRECT

The days are getting longer and we can think of no better way to spend those extra daylight hours than shopping and strolling the North Park Farmers' Market. Come join your neighbors as they mingle with chefs, farmers and purveyors. Frenchie's Crepes and Salvadorean Pupusas are the perfect stop for an exciting after work meal when you're too tired to cook. Do like the local chefs do and create your own market pasta with help from Lisko Imports and a saute of the latest veggies from R&L Farms, maybe some grilled and sliced chicken from Da La Ranch too? Poppa's got your fresh fish for tacos, perfect when kicked up with a dollop of chipotle Bitchin' Sauce. Grab some strawberries from JR Organics, oranges from Paradise Valley and apples from Smit Orchards to make a simple fruit salad. Come and enjoy the fresh air, sunshine and endless possibilities!