Strawberries Strawberries are the harbinger of spring — they usually the first fruit to ripen in spring. Strawberries are grown in every state in the U.S., but California grows over 75% of the commercial strawberries in the U.S. Strawberries are packed with nutrients and make a healthy snack, a delightful addition to salads, or healthy desserts. First Fruit of Spring Learn More Healthy Kale Kale, the queen of the greens, is loaded with vitamins A, C, and K, along with vitamin E (antioxidant), calcium, phytonutrients, and helps lower cholesterol — not only is it one of the healthiest vegetables on the planet, it tastes great in salads, braises, soups and even smoothies. Here are some tips for selecting, storing and prepping winter greens from our market chef.
A Nutritional Powerhouse
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Mushrooms What were once exotic are now commonplace — shiitakes, oysters, cremini, chanterelles, and Portobellos. The Monterey Bay area produces over 200 million pounds of mushrooms per year and 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.
Spore-Powered Superfood
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Cabbage While cabbage is available year round in our area, it’s especially appreciated in early spring for making homemade sauerkraut! It’s a great beginner’s project. Rich in probiotics, sauerkraut promotes gut health by introducing beneficial bacteria to the digestive system, aiding in digestion and enhancing nutrient absorption. TIME TO MAKE SAUERKRAUT Learn More Beets Both red and gold beets are abundant in essential nutrients that offer a myriad of health benefits. They are delicious roasted, steamed, or raw. Beets can be used in savory or sweet dishes lending their rich, earthy flavor to salads, soups, pickles, and vegetable medleys. Click on the link below for our favorite recipes! A VERSATILE VEGGIE PACKED WITH ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS Learn More Asparagus Without a doubt, asparagus is one of the harbingers of spring at the farmers’ markets. And these nutritious spears can be cooked in numerous ways — grilled, roasted, steamed, or sauteed. Add them to quiches, pasta or salads, or enjoy them as an appetizer.
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StrawberriesKalemushroomsCabbageBeetsAsparagus

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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California Mission figs are a unique and highly prized variety of figs that are renowned for their rich flavor and succulent texture. These figs are grown primarily in our sunny state of California, where the climate and soil conditions provide an ideal environment for their cultivation. Here are some interesting facts: Figs are members of...
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Display of raw peanuts at KT Farm's farmers market booth.
California, known for its diverse agriculture, is a surprising yet significant player and is positioned to become an emerging leader in the peanut industry. While our state is more famous for almonds and pistachios, peanuts have carved out a niche, particularly in the Central Valley. California’s peanut production benefits from its unique climate, providing the...
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Standing in front of a vast display of pears can be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to remember which variety is best for your recipe. We hope this guide will make your selection easier! The key to picking the perfect pear lies in your personal preferences and the dish you’re planning to create. Pears come...
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Crabapples remind me of the “Lemon Tree” folk song by Peter, Paul, and Mary. For those too young to remember, the lyrics went — “Lemon tree, very pretty, and the lemon flower is sweet But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat.”   The same can be said for crabapples. Sometimes called...
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Creamy tomato soup with crispy croutons on top
As Fall approaches, farmers markets and gardens are overflowing with the bounty of summer harvests—especially sweet, vine-ripened tomatoes! On the coast, our evenings are growing cooler, making soup a welcome addition to the dinner table. There’s something about a warm bowl of tomato soup that just feels like home, especially when it’s made with fresh,...
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Halved fresh raw green finger lime caviar with sour pearls close up
Don’t you love discovering something new at the farmers’ markets? We do too. We especially enjoyed finding the unique citrus fruit called “finger limes” at Prevedelli Farms’ booth recently. Finger limes are at their peak season from late summer to early fall. Their versatility and unique texture make them a popular ingredient among chefs and...
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