Edible Paradise :: Seasonal Cooking

Edible Paradise celebrates the year-round abundance of the highest quality, freshest food grown on the Central Coast by our family farmers at the Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets. If you enjoy preparing and eating locally grown food, this blog is for you!

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Tray of assorted wild mushrooms
On the Central Coast, winter and early spring bring peak mushroom season. From foraged chanterelles to market-grown oysters, fungi are shaping how we cook, garden, and think about wellness.
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Blood oranges are one of winter’s most beautiful citrus treasures. Learn about California-grown blood orange varieties, how to cook with them, and where to find them at the farmers market.
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Kiwi fruit in a wooden bowl.
Kiwi fruit is a winter standout on the California Central Coast, offering vibrant flavor, impressive health benefits, and easy versatility in both sweet and savory dishes.
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If you love lemons but sometimes find them a little sharp, the Meyer lemon may be your new favorite winter citrus. With its thin, fragrant skin, deep golden color, and naturally sweeter flavor, the Meyer lemon is a standout fruit that bridges the gap between lemon and mandarin orange. Unlike standard lemons, Meyer lemons are...
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Dried beans are a cornerstone of every well-stocked pantry. Nutritious, inexpensive, and incredibly versatile, they can be transformed into soups, stews, salads, dips, and side dishes. While cooking with dry beans requires a little planning, the results are far superior to canned beans in both taste and texture. Here are some essential tips and techniques...
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If you’ve never cooked with duck eggs, you’re not alone—and you might be pleasantly surprised. While chicken eggs are familiar and dependable, duck eggs bring a richness and performance in the kitchen that chefs and home bakers quietly swear by. At first glance, duck eggs look similar to large or jumbo chicken eggs, though they’re...
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There’s nothing like a hot cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich at the farmers market—especially on a rainy morning.

Hidden Fortress Coffee has you covered with a tempting lineup of breakfast favorites, from avocado toast and lox with cream cheese to simple cheese or jam on toast, plus a selection of hearty breakfast sandwiches for bigger appetites.

The Aptos Farmers Market is open until noon today—come warm up and treat yourself!

#aptosfarmersmarket #hiddenfortresscoffee #aptosia

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Rain or shine, our Aptos Farmers Market community always shows up! ❤️

We’re so grateful for customers who come out to support our hardworking farmers—rain boots and all! And we love that Pinnacle even provides a tent so shoppers can line up comfortably.

The Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College is open until noon today. Grab your raincoat and umbrella and come enjoy a little rainy day market fun with us.

#Pinnacle #philfosterranches #aptosfarmersmarket #aptosia

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Does your home feel a little bare after putting away the holiday décor? We have a beautiful solution!

Stop by Bay Area Orchids and treat yourself to a few flowering orchids—an instant lift for any room. We love grouping several together in a low bowl or terrine for a centerpiece that’s elegant, modern, and long-lasting.

Quick care tip: Orchids thrive in bright, indirect light and prefer to dry slightly between waterings—no soggy roots needed.

Orchids bring color, life, and calm to the winter months—and with care, they will bloom again!

Visit Bay Area Orchids at the Monterey Farmers Market today. We’re open until noon!

#bayareaorchids #montereyfarmersmarket #orchidcare #winterblooms

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Stock up today at Clara’s Eggs—and be sure to grab some of the fresh duck eggs! We’ve been singing their praises for years, especially for baking.

Duck eggs are a baker’s secret weapon. Their larger yolks and higher fat and protein content create loftier cakes, richer crumb, silkier custards, and beautifully structured pastries. They also lend a deeper golden color and more consistent emulsification—perfect for butter cakes, pâte à choux, brioche, and cookies.

Pro tip: When baking, one duck egg can replace one large chicken egg for noticeably richer results.

Find Clara’s Eggs at the farmers market today and bake something extraordinary. 

#claraseggs #bakersofinstagram #duckeggs #farmersmarketbaking #bakerssecret

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There’s nothing quite like biting into a crisp, juicy apple from Prevedelli Farms. These local, organically grown apples are legendary! Whether you are snacking on them or cooking with them, you’ll never be disappointed in the flavor. 

The Monterey Farmers Market at the Del Monte Shopping Center is open today until noon.

#prevedellifarms #montereyfarmersmarket #organic #localapples

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Good morning from the Monterey Farmers Market at the Del Monte Shopping Center! 

Now this is the way to start the new year. Borba Farms has cracked the magic code—organic hothouse tomatoes and peppers that look and taste like peak-of-summer beauties. And yes… it’s January!

California farmers never fail to impress us.

The market is open until noon today. Come shake off the holiday sluggishness, get some fresh air, and stock up on something truly special.

#montereyfarmersmarket #delmonteshoppingcenter #borbafarms #californiagrown #organicfarmers

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🍓 Strawberry season… in December? Yes, please! 🍓

Can you believe these gorgeous, greenhouse-grown strawberries—in December? That’s right! Ichigo Farms is back at the Monterey Farmers Market at the Del Monte Shopping Center, bringing beautifully ripe, flavorful strawberries that feel like a little holiday miracle.

Enjoy them by the handful, spooned over morning granola, or dipped in chocolate for an extra-special treat. Fresh, vibrant, and so very welcome this time of year.

Welcome back, Ichigo Farms!

The Monterey Farmers Market is open today until noon. Bundle up and come see us!

And good news for our Aptos Farmers Market customers—Ichigo Farms will be at the Saturday market next week! 

#ichigofarms #delmonteshoppingcenter #strawberries #californiagrown #montereyfarmersmarket

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✨ 🎄✨ Meet the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree — proudly scraggly, perfectly imperfect, and full of heart.

Coastal Paradise Nursery has this iconic little tree available at the Aptos Farmers Market, reminding us that the holidays don’t have to be big, shiny, or cookie-cutter to be full of joy. 

A symbol of celebrating what’s different, going back to basics, and appreciating the little things that matter most. Sometimes the most lovable tree is the one that stands out — not the one that blends in.

Find yours at the market this morning and give this humble holiday classic a good home! 

The Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College is open until noon. 

#aptosfarmersmarket #charliebrownchristmastree #coastalparadise

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🎺 Sound the fanfare—Olio Nuovo has arrived at Belle Farms!

Just in time for the season, Belle Farms’ new-harvest, first-press Olio Nuovo is here—and it’s something truly special. Made from freshly harvested olives and pressed immediately, Olio Nuovo is vibrant, grassy, and boldly aromatic, with a peppery finish that olive oil lovers wait all year for. It’s the freshest expression of olive oil you can taste—available only for a short window each year.

If you’re looking for a perfect gift for someone who loves to cook, this is it. Belle Farms produces gold-medal, award-winning extra virgin olive oil that consistently sets the standard, and this new harvest is exceptional.

Also just in: their fresh-pressed lemon-infused extra virgin olive oil—bright, fragrant, and made with whole lemons pressed together with the olives.

Limited quantities available.

The Monterey Farmers Market at the Del Monte Shopping Center is open until 12.

#BelleFarms #montereyfarmersmarket #olionuovo #olionuovo2025 #oliveoil

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Good morning from the Monterey Farmers Market at Del Monte Shopping Center! 🌞

Today, CE Farms is here with their California-grown organic pecans—a true rarity, as pecans are rarely grown in California. Just in time for the holidays, these fresh, flavorful nuts are perfect for roasting, snacking, and adding a delicious crunch to salads and seasonal dishes.

Looking for inspiration? We’ve just added new pecan recipes to our companion site, Edible Paradise. (See link in bio ⬆️ )

#Californiagrown #californiapecans #organic #montereyfarmersmarket #cefarms #delmonteshoppingcenter #pecans #edibleparadise

The market is open until noon—we hope to see you soon!

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