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!
This Saturday at the Aptos Farmers Market… come visit Edible Paradise!
Our concierge booth is back, bringing the Edible Paradise website to life right here at the market — with seasonal inspiration, simple how-to ideas, and a focus on living (and eating) a little more self-sufficiently.
✨ This week’s theme: Fermented & Fresh✨
We’ll be exploring a few easy and delicious fermentation projects using what’s in season now:
🍓 Strawberry Shrubs — a bright, tangy way to turn fresh berries into refreshing spring drinks
🫐 Infused Vinegars — with fruit and herbs like mint and tarragon (perfect for gifting, too)
🫚 Ginger Bug Demo — learn how to create natural, old-fashioned fizzy drinks
🥛 Homemade Yogurt — a quick look at making creamy, foolproof yogurt using a sous vide method
Stop by, say hello, and get inspired. We’ll have QR codes at the booth so you can easily access recipes and guides on the site — no paper needed.
It’s all about helping you cook what’s in season and make a little more from scratch.
We’d love to see you there!
#edibleparadise #aptosfarmersmarket #minidemos #fermenteddrinks #homemadeyogurt
✨ Sunday mornings just got better ✨
The Del Monte Farmers Market is back for the season—opening Sunday, May 3 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Del Monte Shopping Center (behind California Pizza Kitchen).
Ease into your morning with a stroll through one of Monterey’s most relaxed markets. You’ll find fragrant fresh-cut flowers, just-picked organic strawberries, and a beautiful selection of seasonal produce from local farms.
Pick up something special for the week ahead, chat with the growers, and enjoy the simple pleasure of shopping outdoors.
📍 Del Monte Shopping Center, Monterey
🕗 Sundays | 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
🚗 Plenty of free parking
We can’t wait to welcome you back.
#montereyfarmersmarket #delmonteshoppingcenter #shoplocalmonterey #eatseasonal #delmontefarmersmarket
A little tropical beauty to brighten your home!
In addition to orchids, Bay Area Orchids also brings another tropical showstopper to the market—Anthuriums.
Also known as laceleaf, these striking plants are loved for their vibrant, heart-shaped blooms (called spathes) and glossy green foliage. From rich reds to soft pinks and crisp whites, they add an instant pop of color to any space.
And the best part? They’re surprisingly easy to care for. Anthuriums thrive in bright, indirect light, appreciate a bit of humidity, and do well in loose, well-draining soil—making them a perfect choice for both new and seasoned plant lovers.
Find them at Bay Area Orchids at the Monterey Farmers Market at the Del Monte Shopping Center.
#montereyfarmersmarket #plantlovers #anthurium #houseplants #tropicalplants
They’re here… and earlier than expected! 🍑
The first peaches of the season have arrived—and they’re every bit as juicy, sweet, and fragrant as you’ve been dreaming about. Straight from Stackhouse Orchards, these early beauties are bursting with flavor.
There’s nothing quite like the beginning of stonefruit season… and this year, it’s starting a little sooner. 🎉 We’re not complaining.
The Monterey Farmers Market at the Del Monte Shopping Center is open until noon. Come join us!
#montereyfarmersmarket #seasonalfruit #peaches #stonefruitseason #stackhouseorchards
Surprise! 🍒
We were just as excited as you…cherries have arrived early this year—and they’re absolutely stunning.
The first of the season cherries from Minazzoli Farm are here this morning at the Monterey Farmers Market, glowing in that deep ruby red that signals peak sweetness.
If you’ve been waiting all year for that first bite—this is your moment. They won’t last long.
Come early for the best pick—these sell out quickly!
#montereyfarmersmarket #eatlocal #seasonalfruit #cherries #farmersmarketfinds
Let’s talk dogs. 🐾
This continues to be an issue at farmers markets, so we want to be very clear:
Dogs are not allowed at the farmers market unless they are trained service animals.
➡️ Under the Americans with Disabilities Act:
• Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks
• Emotional support animals are not considered service animals
• Emotional support animals do not have public access rights
When people continue to bring dogs despite clear signage, it creates difficult situations for staff and detracts from the safety and comfort of the market for everyone.
👉 To read the full article about the confusion regarding service (working) dogs and emotional support pets, please go to MBCFM link in bio.
#farmersmarket #foodsafety #servicedogs #communityfirst
Cooking Demo today with Chef Jody at the Aptos Farmers Market! Come join us!
REMINDER! Join us for a live cooking demonstration with Chef Jody Lombardo of Bay Living Culinary at the Aptos Farmers Market this Saturday, April 18.
The demo begins at 9:45 AM—arrive early to grab a seat and enjoy the experience!
For more details, click the link above in bio.
#cookingdemo #aptosfarmersmarket #baylivingculinary #cabrillocollege
✨🫐 They’re back! 🫐✨
A sure sign of the season—Triple Delight Blueberries have returned to the market, and they’re every bit as irresistible as we remember.
Plump, juicy, and bursting with sweet, sun-ripened flavor, these are the kind of blueberries that don’t make it home without a few handfuls disappearing along the way.
Perfect for:
• Morning yogurt or cereal
• Baking into muffins, crisps, or cobblers
• Tossing into salads
• Or simply enjoying by the handful
Welcome back to Monterey Farmers Market—we’ve missed you!
#montereybayfarmersmarket #blueberryseason #tdberries #eatseasonal
Gardeners, this is your moment!
It’s peak planting season, and your summer garden starts here. The booth at Cavanaugh Color Nursery is filled with vibrant, ready-to-plant-flowers—everything you need to get your garden growing now.
#montereybayfarmersmarket #gardenseason #plantingtime
A feast for the eyes (and the table) 🍅🌶️
There’s something truly special about the stand at Borba Family Farms—piled high with the season’s best, vibrant, organic veggies, and grown with love and care.
Today, it’s all about the tomatoes and sweet red peppers. The tomatoes are bursting with flavor—juicy, rich, and exactly what you want this time of year. And those glossy red peppers? Crisp, sweet, and perfect for everything from fresh salads to slow roasting.
Stop by, take it all in, and bring home something that was just picked at its peak.
#borbafamilyfarms #organic #montereyfarmersmarket
Tiny but mighty!
Kumquats may be small, but they deliver one of the most surprising flavor experiences at the market.
Unlike most citrus, you eat the whole fruit—skin and all. The peel is sweet and fragrant, while the inside is bright, tart, and juicy. Bite into one and you get both at once: a perfect balance of sweet and tangy in a single pop.
Not sure how to use them? Here are a few suggestions:
• Slice into salads for a burst of citrusy brightness
• Simmer into a quick marmalade or glaze
• Add to cocktails or sparkling water
• Toss with roasted vegetables or seafood
• Candy them for a beautiful dessert garnish
They’re as versatile as they are beautiful—you’ll find these little gems at the market today at Brokaw’s Ranch’s booth.
#montereybayfarmersmarket #edibleparadise #eatseasonal #citrusseason #kumquats
