Summer Squash

I do not want to call it summer just yet, but we’re certainly getting close. I was finally able to return to my beloved Ferry Plaza Farmers Market this weekend in San Francisco. What a delight!

Last time I visited cherries were just starting to get good and a few apricots and tomatoes were peeking out. Now stone fruits have completely taken over the market, tomatoes are abundant and summer squash have exploded in a way I don’t remember from years past. Truly breathtaking.

Larian & Rainier Cherries

Organic Plums

Strawberries are particularly sweet right now, while blueberries are the perfect combination of sweet, tart and crunchy. I saw raspberries for the first time today, but did not get a chance to taste them.

Another remarkable sight was the fresh herbs. Scents of basil, thyme, mint, oregano and lavender infuse the air with the unmistakable fragrance of the coming summer. I couldn’t help but buy all I could carry.

Oregano

Spearmint

Some notable early spring items have also disappeared. There are no longer aspargus or *sniff* ramps. Citrus is also on it’s last legs.

Finally, today was the first time I have been to the market since plastic bags were banned. I bought a roll of the biodegradable kind from the CUESA information booth. Some vendors gave them out for free, but most did not. All around the experience is a little bit annoying (I accidentally spilled a bag of cherries on the ground because of the chaos in my shopping bag), but mostly manageable. I do wish there were a better solution, but I’m sure I will get used to the inconvenience eventually.

Salad Mix

Garlic and Squash Blossoms

Today’s Purchases:

• Bing cherries (Bella Viva Orchards)
• Summer squash (Lucero Organic Farms)
• Strawberries (Dirty Girl Produce)
• English shelling peas (Iacopi Farms)
• Garlic scapes (Marin Roots Farms)
• Tokyo salad turnips (Marin Roots Farms)
• French thyme (Marin Roots Farms)
• Lettuces (Star Route Farms)
• Mediterranean cucumbers (Happy Quail Farms)
• Padrones (Happy Quail Farms)
• Fresh eggs (Happy Quail Farms)
• Basil (Chue’s Farm)
• Italian parsley (Chue’s Farm)
• Morel mushrooms (Far West Fungi)
• Heirloom tomatoes (Bruins Farms)

What did you find at the market today?