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!
In case you haven’t noticed… this year marks our 50th Anniversary! 🤯
We can hardly believe it either.
For five decades, our farmers markets have connected communities with fresh, locally grown food from small family farms — and we are deeply grateful to the venues that make these gatherings possible.
We especially love being part of the Del Monte Shopping Center each Friday, year-round — a place where neighbors meet, farmers thrive, and good food brings us all together.
#delmonteshoppingcenter #montereyfarmersmarket #farmersmarkets
If you haven’t discovered the fresh eggs at Clara’s Eggs, here’s your sign. ✨🥚✨
Eggs may feel like an everyday purchase, but freshness makes an extraordinary difference — especially when you bake.
Fresh, pasture-raised eggs have firmer whites and richly colored yolks that create better structure, richer flavor, and more beautiful texture in baked goods. Cakes rise higher, custards set more smoothly, and pastries gain a natural richness you simply can’t replicate with older supermarket eggs.
At Clara’s Eggs, you’ll find both chicken and duck eggs.
Duck eggs are a baker’s best friend. With larger yolks and a slightly higher fat and protein content, they add exceptional richness, moisture, and structure to recipes. They truly shine in custards, flan, quiches, and are often the “secret ingredient” behind especially luxurious eggnog and silky desserts.
We also love duck eggs for their nutritional benefits — they’re naturally rich in vitamin B12, selenium, and omega fatty acids, making them as nourishing as they are delicious.
Once you bake with truly fresh eggs, you may never go back.
#claraseggsfarm #duckeggs #montereyfarmersmarket #farmersmarketfind
Nothing like a display of colorful peppers at Borba Family Farms to brighten our morning! Yes, it’s very chilly this morning at the Monterey Farmers Market 🥶 — but at least it isn’t raining! We will be here until noon, so throw on a jacket (and maybe a scarf, too!) and come see us.
#borbafamilyfarms #peppers #montereyfarmersmarket #delmonteshoppingcenter #farmersmarket
First stop this morning: Donna Dirt Farms for fresh, young ginger!
This beautiful early harvest is a true farmers market treasure — tender, juicy, and fragrant, nothing like the tough, fibrous ginger often found at the supermarket. Young ginger has a delicate heat, thin edible skin, and a bright, almost floral freshness that makes it incredibly versatile in the kitchen.
Of course, ginger is the magic ingredient behind many beloved Asian sauces and dishes, adding warmth and depth to stir-fries, marinades, and dressings. But it shines just as brightly steeped into winter teas.
When cold days arrive and sniffles threaten, few things are as comforting as a simple cup of hot ginger and lemon tea — soothing, warming, and naturally invigorating.
Pick up a fresh knob from Donna Dirt Farms this week and taste the difference that truly fresh ginger makes.
#ginger #donnadirtfarm #montereyfarmersmarket #delmonteshoppingcenter #farmersmarketfinds
✨ Look what’s new at Belle Farms! ✨
We are absolutely loving the new printed bottles of their award-winning Tuscan-style Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The upgraded packaging matches the elegance of what’s inside — bold, peppery, beautifully balanced, and truly exceptional olive oil.
But here’s something many people don’t see…
Growing olives and producing extraordinary olive oil is only part of the story. Creating packaging is its own challenge entirely. Bottles. Caps. Labels. Minimum orders. Printing costs. Sustainability considerations.
For small producers, packaging can easily cost as much as the product itself — not to mention the time it takes to fill, label, and prepare every single bottle by hand.
Finding a solution that saves time, controls cost, and reduces waste? That’s no small feat.
These new printed bottles are a win on all fronts — streamlined, upscale, and beautifully sustainable. And we couldn’t be happier to see Belle Farms continue raising the bar.
Congratulations, Marguerite! Now you’re ready for ANOTHER gold medal this year!
#BelleFarms #ExtraVirginOliveOil #FarmersMarketFinds #SustainablePackaging #MontereyBay
Love is in the air this morning at the Aptos Farmers Market! ✨❤️✨
Alongside the stunning flowers and chocolates, you’ll find heart-shaped Wild Mushroom & Goat Cheese ravioli at Bigoli’s Artisan Fresh Pasta — tender, earthy, and ready to become the easiest (and most romantic) dinner for two.
Add one of their house-made sauces and you’re officially winning at Valentine’s planning.
The Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College is open until noon — come enjoy the love vibes!
#aptosfarmersmarket #bigolispasta #valentinesday #farmersmarket #cabrillo ollege
These beautiful Valentine’s Day arrangements at Gatanaga Nursery are stunning! Colorful, fresh, and the one of the best ways to show someone they are loved! 💝
The Monterey Farmers Market is open until noon. Hope to see you soon!
#gatanaganursery #flowers #valentinesday #montereybayfarmers #farmersmarket
Love is in the air… and it tastes like handcrafted chocolate. 💝
Treat someone (or yourself — we support this fully) to a heart-shaped box of Qouign’s artisan chocolates — each one beautifully crafted and absolutely swoon-worthy. You can also place special orders @qouignpastries.
The Monterey Farmers Market at Del Monte Shopping Center is open until noon. Come share a little sweetness with us.
#qouignpastries #delmonteshoppingcenter #montereyfarmersmarket #chocolate #valentinesday
Good morning from the Monterey Farmers Market at the Del Monte Shopping Center! First stop—Coastal Paradise Nursery! ❤️ Give your special valentine a living gift to remind them they are loved all year round!
It’s a beautiful, sunny morning at the market—come get some fresh air and your groceries. We are open until noon.
#coastalparadisenursery #plants #valentinesday #delmonteshoppingcenter #montereyfarmersmarket
Have you met our lovely Qouign (pronounced “queen”) of chocolate, Santana Rodriguez? 👑🍫
One taste, and you’ll understand exactly why she’s earned the title. From decadent Dubai bars to beautifully handcrafted bon bons and delicate pastries, every creation is as stunning as it is delicious.
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, this is your sign to stop by Qouign’s booth and choose something truly special for your Valentine (or yourself — we fully support that decision).
We’re also thrilled to welcome Santana to the Saturday Aptos Farmers Market this year — even more opportunities to indulge in her swoon-worthy chocolates!
#qouignpastries #artisanchocolate #montereyfarmersmarket #delmonteshoppingcenter #aptosfarmersmarket
Who can resist these plump, sun-sweet blackberries from Cortez Farms this morning?
Grown in Santa Maria and harvested at peak perfection, they’re a reminder of just how fortunate we are to live in a state that produces beautiful food year-round. California berries don’t just nourish us here — they travel far and wide, bringing a taste of sunshine to places still wrapped in winter.
Come pick up a basket (or two) at Cortez Farms, soak up the sunshine, and enjoy the morning with us at the Monterey Farmers Market. 🌞
#californiagrown #cortezfarms #montereyfarmersmarket #delmonteshoppingcenter #berries
If flowers could talk, this little daffodil would definitely be saying, “Good morning!” 🌼
Spring is starting to show off at the Monterey Farmers Market at Del Monte Shopping Center — and Pacific Rare Nursery is bursting with beautiful potted blooms and garden favorites.
Swing by, soak up the color, and start dreaming about your spring garden. 🌷
The Monterey Farmers Market is open until noon. Hope to see you soon!
#pacificrareplantnursery #delmonteshoppingcenter #montereyfarmersmarket #gardening
