Lavender, with its unmistakable fragrance and calming properties, has long been prized for its beauty and therapeutic benefits. Native to the mountainous regions of the Western Mediterranean, this versatile herb was introduced to America by early settlers and has been cultivated for centuries. Of the approximately 40 known species, English lavender remains the most sought-after,...Read More

Once considered a Roman delicacy, asparagus is a perennial vegetable that is a member of the lily family. The “spears” are the shoots from an underground crown. It takes about three years for crowns to mature to the point of producing, but once they do, the crowns produce asparagus for about 20 years. Spears are...Read More

It is a great time for leafy greens at the farmers markets. I mean this in a couple of ways, too. It is great to have the greens since it is winter and there isn’t a huge variety of things growing. But best of all, this is a great time for eating them because the...Read More

The Meyer lemon arrived in the U.S. in 1908, brought back by USDA agricultural explorer Frank Meyer from one of his expeditions to Asia. Among the 2,500 plant species he introduced, this unique lemon-orange hybrid became known as the Meyer lemon, named in his honor. First planted in Texas, Florida, and California, the Meyer lemon’s...Read More

Sweet potatoes, originating in South America, hold a fascinating history. Not only were they cultivated by ancient civilizations in the Americas, but they also made their way across the Pacific to Polynesia, where they are called kumar. Though often confused with potatoes, sweet potatoes belong to an entirely different plant family and are only distantly...Read More

A sure sign that November is here is the warm orange glow emanating from many stalls at the market. This deep red-orange luminescence comes from what is known throughout much of the world as kaki (a Japanese word, pronounced ‘kah-kee’), a fruit we know as persimmon. ‘Persimmon’ is a variant of an Algonquin name ‘pessamin’...Read More

Pumpkins in the US are widely recognized as the classic orange-skinned winter squash with orange flesh, often used for Halloween carving and pies. However, the term “pumpkin” encompasses a diverse array of squash varieties from around the world, boasting a range of shapes, colors, and sizes. While the typical pumpkins associated with autumn are orange...Read More

Pears are among the world’s most captivating fruits, celebrated for their voluptuous contours and buttery texture. A perfectly ripe, luscious pear stands unrivaled as one of autumn’s sweetest pleasures. This ancient fruit even captured the admiration of the famous Greek poet Homer, who referred to pears as a “gift of the gods.” The Romans developed...Read More

Get ready to spice up your salsa with the zesty flavors of tomatillos! These little green gems are hitting their peak season at farmers markets, bringing a burst of tangy goodness to your kitchen. Dating back to the Aztecs, who cultivated them as far back as 800 BC in Mexico, tomatillos have a rich history...Read More

Stone fruit season has finally arrived! The market booths are filled with sweet, juicy peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots, pluots, and apriums. Did you know California grows about 90 percent of the nectarines and plums produced in the US and approximately 70 percent of all the peaches? A Bounty of Varieties With over 200 varieties of...Read More