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
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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
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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
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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. Harbinger of Spring
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Rhubarb
What is it about rhubarb — it seems people either love it or hate it! Although technically a vegetable, most use rhubarb like a fruit in pies, cakes, sauces, relishes, and jams. Since rhubarb arrives about the same time as strawberries in spring, it's often paired with strawberries in desserts.
Love it or hate it?
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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!
Who doesn’t appreciate the special joy of indulging in ripe, juicy, and flavorful tomatoes during the summer season? Summer tomatoes are highly anticipated by many food enthusiasts because they tend to be at their peak of sweetness and flavor. The warmth of the summer sun seems to infuse these tomatoes with an extra burst of...{ Continue Reading }
With its vibrant red flesh and juicy sweetness, watermelon is a favorite summertime treat for many. But beyond its refreshing taste, this beloved fruit also offers a range of health benefits that make it a perfect addition to your diet. Hydration Powerhouse: As its name suggests, watermelon is incredibly hydrating. Comprising about 90% water, this...{ Continue Reading }
California peaches have rightfully earned a reputation for their succulent flavor and heavenly aroma. For those who seek the pure, classic taste of peaches, the yellow varieties are an ideal choice. Bursting with juiciness and sweetness, these peaches have a tangy bite due to their slightly higher acid content. On the other hand, California white...{ Continue Reading }
When it comes to apricots, there is one variety that stands out above the rest – the Blenheim apricot, a true California treasure. This variety gained prominence in the United States when it was introduced to California’s Santa Clara Valley in the 1880s. The region’s warm climate, ample sunshine, and well-drained soil provide ideal conditions...{ Continue Reading }
Growing kitchen herbs in containers is a convenient and rewarding way to have a fresh supply of aromatic flavors right in your kitchen, backyard, or deck. Whether you have limited outdoor space or simply want easy access to your favorite herbs, container gardening offers a practical solution. Many herbs and starts are available at the...{ Continue Reading }
It’s officially jam-making season, and the Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets are a haven for jam enthusiasts. In early June, a stunning array of berries, including strawberries, olallieberries, blackberries, blueberries, loganberries, raspberries, and gooseberries, are in season. Moreover, cherries and Blenheim apricots overlap for a short period, while early stone fruits such as plums, apriums,...{ Continue Reading }
The Aptos Farmers Market Cookbook Exchange returns! Need to downsize your cookbook collection? Bring your extra cookbooks to the farmers market information booth. If you see another book that you like, help yourself!
The Aptos Farmers Market Cookbook Exchange returns! Need to downsize your cookbook collection? Bring your extra cookbooks to the farmers market information booth. If you see another book that you like, help yourself!
Have you tried the lemon infused olive oil from Belle Farms? We can’t think of a better drizzle for broiling fresh fish, roasting asparagus or broccoli, or using in a dressing for a spring salad! Did you know that olive oil is also great for baking cakes?
Be sure to check out Belle Farms award-winning extra virgin olive oil too. We’ve lost count of how many years in a row they have come home with a gold medal from the prestigious New York competition for the best olive oils in the world!
Have you tried the lemon infused olive oil from Belle Farms? We can’t think of a better drizzle for broiling fresh fish, roasting asparagus or broccoli, or using in a dressing for a spring salad! Did you know that olive oil is also great for baking cakes?
Be sure to check out Belle Farms award-winning extra virgin olive oil too. We’ve lost count of how many years in a row they have come home with a gold medal from the prestigious New York competition for the best olive oils in the world!
Who can resist these incredible periwinkle blue hydrangeas at McCahon Floral? Arrange the pots in a basket to enjoy indoors for a few days, then plant outdoors in your garden. Hydrangeas are easy to grow and do well in our marine climate.
The Monterey Farmers Market is open till noon at the Del Monte Shopping Center.
Who can resist these incredible periwinkle blue hydrangeas at McCahon Floral? Arrange the pots in a basket to enjoy indoors for a few days, then plant outdoors in your garden. Hydrangeas are easy to grow and do well in our marine climate.
The Monterey Farmers Market is open till noon at the Del Monte Shopping Center.
Look who is back…Blue Heron Farms! Spring is extra special to us. We love when our farmers return to the markets and we have ‘the family’ together again! It might be a slower start this year due to the extra rainfall (which is both a good thing and a disruptive thing for some) but we are grateful for the water.
The farmers market will be open until noon today. Come by and stock up for the wet weekend. Don’t forget—the Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College is open tomorrow from 8 am until noon, rain or shine.
Look who is back…Blue Heron Farms! Spring is extra special to us. We love when our farmers return to the markets and we have ‘the family’ together again! It might be a slower start this year due to the extra rainfall (which is both a good thing and a disruptive thing for some) but we are grateful for the water.
The farmers market will be open until noon today. Come by and stock up for the wet weekend. Don’t forget—the Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College is open tomorrow from 8 am until noon, rain or shine.
Good morning from the Monterey Farmers Market at the Del Monte Shopping Center! We love the charming displays by Donna Dirt Farm—this week she is featuring fresh culinary herbs, perfect for adding to salads, salad dressings, or soup. Yep…it’s still soup weather! Mother Nature tried to fool us a little with a few sunny days this past week 😵💫. But this rainy weekend will be perfect for a hearty pot of soup — and using fresh spring herbs will make it all the better.
Need a new soup recipe? Visit our companion website at www.edibleparadise.com for delicious recipes. (See clickable link in bio.)
Good morning from the Monterey Farmers Market at the Del Monte Shopping Center! We love the charming displays by Donna Dirt Farm—this week she is featuring fresh culinary herbs, perfect for adding to salads, salad dressings, or soup. Yep…it’s still soup weather! Mother Nature tried to fool us a little with a few sunny days this past week 😵💫. But this rainy weekend will be perfect for a hearty pot of soup — and using fresh spring herbs will make it all the better.
Need a new soup recipe? Visit our companion website at www.edibleparadise.com for delicious recipes. (See clickable link in bio.)
New product spotted at Lavender Creek Company—Lavender Matcha Bath Salts Soak! If you haven’t discovered these folks yet, stop by and check out their line of self-care products made with locally grown lavender.
The Aptos Farmers Market is open until noon today—it’s sunny and beautiful!
New product spotted at Lavender Creek Company—Lavender Matcha Bath Salts Soak! If you haven’t discovered these folks yet, stop by and check out their line of self-care products made with locally grown lavender.
The Aptos Farmers Market is open until noon today—it’s sunny and beautiful!
Welcome back Sandra! Sacred Tree Nursery is back at the Aptos Farmers Markets with olive trees, just in time for spring planting. Feel free to ask questions about best place to plant in your garden, soil requirements, and fertilizing. Olive trees love our Mediterranean climate!
Welcome back Sandra! Sacred Tree Nursery is back at the Aptos Farmers Markets with olive trees, just in time for spring planting. Feel free to ask questions about best place to plant in your garden, soil requirements, and fertilizing. Olive trees love our Mediterranean climate!
Coastal Paradise Nursery has a nice selection or orchids this morning! Despite their exotic look, orchids are surprisingly easy to care for and make long lasting centerpieces.
It’s a sunny morning at the Aptos Farmers Market—we are here until noon!
Coastal Paradise Nursery has a nice selection or orchids this morning! Despite their exotic look, orchids are surprisingly easy to care for and make long lasting centerpieces.
It’s a sunny morning at the Aptos Farmers Market—we are here until noon!
When you buy citrus from Schletewitz Family Farms, you KNOW it’s fresh picked! California citrus is still going strong. And what better way to start the day? We keep bowls of mandarins and clementines on the counter for quick snacks.
The Monterey Farmers Market at the Del Monte Shopping Center is open until noon. We are located in the back parking lot and there is lots of free parking!
When you buy citrus from Schletewitz Family Farms, you KNOW it’s fresh picked! California citrus is still going strong. And what better way to start the day? We keep bowls of mandarins and clementines on the counter for quick snacks.
The Monterey Farmers Market at the Del Monte Shopping Center is open until noon. We are located in the back parking lot and there is lots of free parking!
Protea flowers are strikingly unique, known for their large, showy blooms with intricate, colorful bracts. Protea flowers come in a diverse range of shapes, sizes, colors, and long lasting blooms make them popular choices in floral arrangements.
The two protea in the photos are King protea and Telopia protea. Visit Astone’s Protea booth today at the Monterey Farmers Market to see all of the flowers he brought to market today!
Protea flowers are strikingly unique, known for their large, showy blooms with intricate, colorful bracts. Protea flowers come in a diverse range of shapes, sizes, colors, and long lasting blooms make them popular choices in floral arrangements.
The two protea in the photos are King protea and Telopia protea. Visit Astone’s Protea booth today at the Monterey Farmers Market to see all of the flowers he brought to market today!
Don’t miss the salmon this morning at La Marea of the Sea! One of the things we love most about salmon (besides the amazing health benefits) is how easy it is to prepare. We have many amazing salmon recipes available on our companion website www.edibleparadise.com. Just type in ‘salmon’ in the search box and you’ll instantly have lots of recipes to choose from!
The Monterey Farmers Market is open until 12pm today. We hope to see you soon!
Don’t miss the salmon this morning at La Marea of the Sea! One of the things we love most about salmon (besides the amazing health benefits) is how easy it is to prepare. We have many amazing salmon recipes available on our companion website www.edibleparadise.com. Just type in ‘salmon’ in the search box and you’ll instantly have lots of recipes to choose from!
The Monterey Farmers Market is open until 12pm today. We hope to see you soon!...
Good morning from the Monterey Farmers Market at the Del Monte Shopping Center! What’s better than starting your shopping with one of Sweet Elena’s Bakery almond croissants? 😋 There are numerous breakfast pastries to choose from. The quiches are great for weekend brunch! Just place on a baking tray, cover with foil, and reheat at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
Good morning from the Monterey Farmers Market at the Del Monte Shopping Center! What’s better than starting your shopping with one of Sweet Elena’s Bakery almond croissants? 😋 There are numerous breakfast pastries to choose from. The quiches are great for weekend brunch! Just place on a baking tray, cover with foil, and reheat at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.