Farmers Market Update: Springtime!
There’s no denying it, springtime has hit SF! I know it’s February, we’re all confused. But whaddaya gonna do?
Not only do we now have tulip and fava greens, today I spotted the first tomatoes!

Love Apples
Granted they weren’t particularly impressive. There were just a few and they were probably grown in a greenhouse. But crappy tomatoes are the first step toward real, legit summer tomatoes. They’re right around the corner.
Tomatoes weren’t the only sign of spring this weekend. Green garlic and spring onions are making their first appearances. It’s all very exciting. (BTW, here’s some info on how to tell the difference between green garlic and green onions).
Of course none of these announcements should overshadow the real stars of the farmers market this week. The oranges, grapefruit, clementines and kiwi are ridiculously good. Seriously ridiculous.
The last few weeks I’ve been focusing on clementines and mandarins, but this week the grapefruit and oranges were the sweetest option. I also brought home a huge pomelo. Yum.
Another thing I noticed this week was that leeks are becoming more common, another sign of spring. Leeks are generally unappreciated. Their flavor is amazing and I sometimes eat them alone sauteed in olive oil with a sprinkle of sea salt.
I also spied some beautiful romanesco at the market today. Who could resist buying nature’s fractal? Their flavor is like a mixture of cauliflower and broccoli, only more delicate. I like to roast it in florets so they keep their beautiful shape. This roasted cauliflower recipe works well.
And of course we still have the late winter carrots and kale, that I’ve been subsisting on for the past few months.
A few other notable, more exotic items I found this week include cardoons (an artichoke relative that resembles celery and tastes a bit bitter), walnuts (also walnut oil, which is amazing) and fresh bay leaves.
What did you find at the market this week?
Today’s purchases (~$20):
- Romanesco (Eatwell Farm)
- Collard greens (Eatwell Farm)
- Parsley (Eatwell Farm)
- Cilantro (Star Route Farms)
- Kale (Dirty Girl Produce)
- Pomelo (Paredez Farms)
- Navel oranges (Hamada Farms)
- Cara cara oranges (Hamada Farms)
I love seeing all the fresh fruits in spring time. For me it is a sign of eating good food instead so many processed food.
Thanks for the pose
Beautiful tulip photo. How I wish I lived where you are!
Tulips! My favorite. I’ve got a bunch around my house right now. I like that you included the amount of money you spent on this week’s farmers market post. Delicious, healthful food is affordable! 🙂
I wish we had a farmers market like that near me. Ours is pretty weak in comparison. Maybe this spring will be better though.
Love the photo of the tulips. My fav as well 🙂
The leeks look really yummy. We cook them with carrots, a bit of minced meat (optional) and lots of lemon juice.
I LOVE that you referenced nature’s fractal! One of the easiest examples to identify and actually hold in your hand. Looks great. Nice pics.
As much as I love fava greens and pea shoots, I can’t help thinking we’re being ripped off. Aren’t those what farmers clip off young plants to make them more productive? Five dollars a pound for prunings/trimmings!
I wonder if the farmer used to throw these out or use for composting before someone figured out that someone would pay for them?