Farmers Market Update: The Great Outdoors
Today is the first truly nice warm day of the year, so I am not going to spend the rest of it writing this blog post. Instead I am going to quickly mention what’s hot at the San Francisco Ferry Plaza Farmers Market and let the pictures speak for themselves. Then I’m going outside to enjoy the sunshine!
Strawberries ruled the market today. They are officially everywhere and consistently delicious. I bought these lovely stemmed berries from Lucero Organic Farms, which has recently moved into the former slot of Ella Bella farms (source of the now infamous “Please don’t squeeze our tomatoes” photo I love to use). It turns out Ella Bella has relocated to Hawaii; I am a little heart broken.
Morel mushrooms finally dropped below $40/lb, so I gave in and bought some (don’t worry, they don’t weigh very much).
Tamarillos, or tree tomatoes, made an appearance today as well. They didn’t seem particularly ripe so I didn’t buy them, but it is an exciting prospect that they are back already.
English shelling peas and fava beans are both at the height of season right now. This week I chose the peas, since they are a little easier to work with. Fava beans will have to wait until next week.
Marin Roots Farm has kale rabe, which you could describe as a being similar to broccoli except ridiculously beautiful. The kind I bought is purple.
Eggs from Happy Quail Farms are back.
Jumbo leeks seem to be all the rage.
I bought tomatoes!!!! I got some yellow ones and a few heirlooms because they finally smelled good enough to eat. I couldn’t resist and had one for lunch today. They could be sweeter, but what Bruins Farms is offering is already vastly superior to anything you can get in a grocery store.
Hint of the day: The line at the Acme bread stand in the back is much shorter than the line inside the Ferry Building.
Purchases:
- English shelling peas (Iacopi Farms)
- Strawberries (Lucero Organic Farms)
- Morel mushrooms (Far West Fungi)
- Ramps (Far West Fungi)
- Red kale rabe (Marin Roots Farm)
- Eggs (Happy Quail Farms)
- Assorted tomatoes (Bruins Farms)
- New Mexico chili powder (Tierra Vegetables)
- Asparagus (Zuckerman’s Farm)
- Kiwi (Four Sisters Farm)
- Fennel (Star Route Farms)
- Arugula (Star Route Farms)
- Tatsoi (Star Route Farms)
- Thyme (Star Route Farms)
- Swiss chard (Eatwell Farms)
- Meyer lemons (Hamada Farms)
- Tangelos (Hamada Farms)
- Rio grapefruit (Hamada Farms)
- Organic mandarins (Twin Girl Farms)
- Epi loaf (Acme Bread)
Tell us what you found at the market today!
The strawberries look yummy! I love to go to that market, but don’t get there often enough, thanks for the beautiful reminder!
My pleasure!
Looks like a beautiful day at the market! I am so interested in those tree tomatoes, I wish I could find some; are they grown locally? How much are they?
Yes, the tree tomatoes are locally grown. I am not sure what exactly they cost (they are never labeled and I forgot to ask). I don’t think I have paid more than a couple dollars.
The Berkeley farmer’s market exploded with strawberries today too!! SO excited, I’ve been waiting for weeks!
Yay!!!!
I second that about the Berkeley Market! I didn’t get any strawberries this week, but I did buy spinach, baby escarole, sage, asparagus and rice from Massa. They had maui onions at the Oakland market on Friday – they were so delicious, much sweeter and milder than yellow onions.
I love Maui onions! Curious how you feel about the Massa rice. I’m intrigued, but it is so much more expensive than Whole Foods organic rice. Is it worth it?
+1 for the tamarillo pic
We have a wonderful farmers market here in middle TN. I love to walk through with about 3-4 dollars while I pick and choose random fruit to snack on. The fruit and veggies are always so fresh and taste much better than what I get at the local grocer.
Wow, you are very lucky! Most people complain about not having farmers markets this time of year.