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!

{ Continue Reading }

Golden brown crusty sourdough bread loaf
Sourdough may be in the spotlight these days, but don’t be fooled — it’s no passing trend. This rustic, tangy loaf is one of the oldest bread traditions in the world. Long before store-bought yeast existed, bakers relied on “starters” made with wild yeast and friendly bacteria in the air and grain to leaven their...
{ Continue Reading }
It’s officially fig season — and we couldn’t be happier. This salad combines the sweetness of fresh figs, the creamy richness of Gorgonzola, and the peppery kick of arugula, resulting in a stunning dish that will elevate any light lunch or summer gathering. With its easy preparation and make-ahead potential, it’s an ideal choice for...
{ Continue Reading }
Gazpacho is the perfect way to celebrate late summer’s bounty of ripe, dry-farmed tomatoes, colorful peppers, cucumbers, and fresh herbs found in abundance at farmers’ markets. Originally from Spain’s Andalusia region, gazpacho was once a humble field soup, made by farm workers using what was on hand, a little olive oil, and no cooking at...
{ Continue Reading }
The farmers market stalls are brimming with peppers, and each week the variety expands. Shoppers are greeted with baskets overflowing in shades of green, red, yellow, orange, and even deep purple. From sweet bell peppers to spicy chilies, this is peak pepper season—and the perfect time to bring home something new to try. Peppers are...
{ Continue Reading }
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...
{ Continue Reading }
Salt is the most essential seasoning in the kitchen — the quiet workhorse that makes flavors come alive. Without it, food tastes flat and uninspired; with it, flavors are heightened and balanced. Yet not all salts are the same. Walk down a grocery aisle today and you’ll find a dazzling variety: the trusty blue canister...
{ Continue Reading }
1 3 4 5 6 7 12

Search Recipes

 

Market Highlights

Cookbook Exchange

Edible Paradise :: MBCFM Instagram Feed

We're On Instagram
🍓 Strawberry season… in December? Yes, please! 🍓

Can you believe these gorgeous, greenhouse-grown strawberries—in December? That’s right! Ichigo Farms is back at the Monterey Farmers Market at the Del Monte Shopping Center, bringing beautifully ripe, flavorful strawberries that feel like a little holiday miracle.

Enjoy them by the handful, spooned over morning granola, or dipped in chocolate for an extra-special treat. Fresh, vibrant, and so very welcome this time of year.

Welcome back, Ichigo Farms!

The Monterey Farmers Market is open today until noon. Bundle up and come see us!

And good news for our Aptos Farmers Market customers—Ichigo Farms will be at the Saturday market next week! 

#ichigofarms #delmonteshoppingcenter #strawberries #californiagrown #montereyfarmersmarket

...

22 0
✨ 🎄✨ Meet the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree — proudly scraggly, perfectly imperfect, and full of heart.

Coastal Paradise Nursery has this iconic little tree available at the Aptos Farmers Market, reminding us that the holidays don’t have to be big, shiny, or cookie-cutter to be full of joy. 

A symbol of celebrating what’s different, going back to basics, and appreciating the little things that matter most. Sometimes the most lovable tree is the one that stands out — not the one that blends in.

Find yours at the market this morning and give this humble holiday classic a good home! 

The Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College is open until noon. 

#aptosfarmersmarket #charliebrownchristmastree #coastalparadise

...

8 0
🎺 Sound the fanfare—Olio Nuovo has arrived at Belle Farms!

Just in time for the season, Belle Farms’ new-harvest, first-press Olio Nuovo is here—and it’s something truly special. Made from freshly harvested olives and pressed immediately, Olio Nuovo is vibrant, grassy, and boldly aromatic, with a peppery finish that olive oil lovers wait all year for. It’s the freshest expression of olive oil you can taste—available only for a short window each year.

If you’re looking for a perfect gift for someone who loves to cook, this is it. Belle Farms produces gold-medal, award-winning extra virgin olive oil that consistently sets the standard, and this new harvest is exceptional.

Also just in: their fresh-pressed lemon-infused extra virgin olive oil—bright, fragrant, and made with whole lemons pressed together with the olives.

Limited quantities available.

The Monterey Farmers Market at the Del Monte Shopping Center is open until 12.

#BelleFarms #montereyfarmersmarket #olionuovo #olionuovo2025 #oliveoil

...

8 0
Good morning from the Monterey Farmers Market at Del Monte Shopping Center! 🌞

Today, CE Farms is here with their California-grown organic pecans—a true rarity, as pecans are rarely grown in California. Just in time for the holidays, these fresh, flavorful nuts are perfect for roasting, snacking, and adding a delicious crunch to salads and seasonal dishes.

Looking for inspiration? We’ve just added new pecan recipes to our companion site, Edible Paradise. (See link in bio ⬆️ )

#Californiagrown #californiapecans #organic #montereyfarmersmarket #cefarms #delmonteshoppingcenter #pecans #edibleparadise

The market is open until noon—we hope to see you soon!

...

15 2
Good morning from the Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College!

Our first stop today is always a favorite—Schoch Family Farmstead. 

Made from raw milk from their own dairy herd in Salinas, Schoch’s cheeses are crafted in the European tradition by cheesemaker Beau Schoch. The result is a beautiful lineup of flavorful, thoughtfully made cheeses that truly reflect their land, animals, and care behind every step.

You’ll also find their creamy yogurt and fresh raw milk—simple, nourishing staples made with the same dedication to quality and tradition.

Stop by, say hello, and bring home something delicious!

The Aptos Farmers Market is open until noon today! 

#schochfamilyfarmstead #cheese #montereycheese #artisancheese #schochdairycheese

...

4 0
🍁 Special Thanksgiving Market Hours 🍁

For your last minute Thanksgiving shopping, the Monterey Farmers Market at Del Monte Shopping Center will be open Wednesday, November 26, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. — the perfect time to pick up the freshest local produce, flowers, baked goods, and specialty foods for your Thanksgiving table.

➡️ Please note: the market will be closed on Friday, November 28 to allow our hardworking farmers and food artisans to enjoy the holiday with their families.

The Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College will be open as usual on Saturday, November 29, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at the Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets! 🧡

...

10 0
Rocky Oaks Goat Creamery is here at the Aptos Farmers Market today!

If you love real goat cheese—the kind that’s hand-crafted, gently aged, and full of bright, clean flavor—you’re in for a treat.

Rocky Oaks is the Central Valley’s original maker of unique, artisanal goat cheeses. Every batch is crafted with care, from pasture to creamery, and you can taste that passion in every bite.

Stop by their booth this morning at the Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College and discover your new goat favorite cheese—smooth chèvre or one of their limited-batch specialties.

Bring home something truly special for your holiday table (or, you know… for nibbling in the car on the way home 😅).

#aptosfarmersmarket #rockyoaksgoatcreamery #chevre #artisancheese #farmsteadcheese #Thanksgiving #cheese

...

12 1
If you’re stocking up for the holiday, swing by Prevedelli Farm at the Monterey Farmers Market today — their apple selection is incredible right now. Juicy, crisp, full of flavor… truly some of the best you’ll find.

Apples always find their way onto our Thanksgiving menu — tucked into stuffing, served as apple butter alongside warm dinner rolls, and of course baked into those cozy apple pies.

And here’s a little tip from Geri herself: Use a mix of different apple varieties in your pie filling for the best texture and the most balanced flavor. It makes all the difference.

Our companion website, Edible Paradise, has many incredible apple recipes—link is in the bio. (Shhhh….🤫….the winning recipes for the top blue ribbon apple pies are there too!)

#prevedellifarms #apples #appleseason #heirloomapples #applepie #ultimateapplepie #edibleparadise #montereyfarmersmarket #delmonteshoppingcenter #farmersmarket #californiagrown #calfreshmontereycounty #cagrownofficial

...

16 0
With the holidays around the corner and friends and family popping in, it’s always a lifesaver to have a few artisan cheeses on hand. If you’re at the Monterey Farmers Market today, make sure to stop by Rocky Oaks Goat Creamery — their selection is so good right now.

One standout: Heritage Gouda.

This gorgeous cheese is hand-dipped and wax-aged, made from their own farmstead goat milk and aged six months for that mild, creamy flavor we all love. It slices beautifully, shreds like a dream, and melts into perfection — truly one of the most versatile cheeses you can put on a board.

Pick some up for easy entertaining, holiday snacking, or gifting to the cheese lovers in your life. 

#delmonteshoppingcenter #rockyoaksgoatcreamery #goatcheese #gouda #cheeseboards #cheeselovers #montereybay #farmersmarket

...

4 0
✨ Golden Raisins at the Market Today! ✨

Swing by Schletewitz Family Farm at the Monterey Farmers Market — they’ve brought bags of their plump, juicy golden raisins, and they are a total treat. 

These aren’t your average store-bought raisins. These are vine ripened, sun-dried, full-flavored berries with a soft jammy bite and natural sweetness that makes everything taste better. They’re incredible in baked goods (think cinnamon-raisin bread or oatmeal cookies), delicious tossed into a green salad, and honestly… they’re perfect eaten by the handful.

The Monterey Farmers Market is open until noon—hope to see you soon!

#schletewitzfamilyfarms #montereyfarmersmarket #delmonteshoppingcenter #goldenraisins #baking #holidaybaking #californiagrown #calfreshmontereycounty

...

5 0