Featured Seasonal Produce

Our farmers markets are a veritable showcase of the freshest California grown produce available year round.

The Central Coast is one of the most productive regions in the U.S. With its mild marine climate and fertile alluvial soil, we enjoy four seasons of vegetables and fruits. Known as the “Salad Bowl of the world,” our area produces numerous varieties of lettuces and greens, along with vegetables, mushrooms, carrots, peppers, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries as well as orchard fruits like heirloom apples, Blenheim apricots and many other row crops.

February Highlight: Leafy Greens

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...

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January Highlight: Meyer Lemons

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,...

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January Highlight: Mushrooms

Did you know the Monterey Bay area is the second largest producer of mushrooms in the US and third in the world? Pennsylvania, where mushroom farming was pioneered, ranks first in the US for mushroom production. The Chinese learned mushroom farming in Pennsylvania for shiitake production and are the number...

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December Highlight: Sweet Potatoes

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...

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November Highlight: Persimmons

A sure sign that November has arrived is the warm orange glow of persimmons lighting up many stalls at the farmers market. This deep red-orange radiance comes from persimmons—known in much of the world as kaki (a Japanese word pronounced kah-kee). The name persimmon comes from “pessamin,” an Algonquin term...

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October Highlight: Pumpkins

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...

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September Highlight: Eggplant

Eggplant, also known as aubergine, is a member of the nightshade family, sharing its botanical lineage with tomatoes and potatoes. This strikingly diverse fruit—often mistaken for a vegetable—carries a long and fascinating history. In the 1600s, eggplants were called mala insane or “mad apples,” reflecting the belief that eating them...

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August Highlight: Tomatillos

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,...

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July Highlight: Stone Fruit

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...

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