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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When it comes to apricots, no variety is more beloved — or more elusive — than Blenheim apricots. This heirloom gem, often called a true California treasure, has a long and flavorful history. First introduced to California’s Santa Clara Valley in the 1880s, Blenheims found their perfect home in the region’s warm days, cool nights,...
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The Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College has always been a hub for community, fresh food, and inspiration. Now, it’s also a place to share the joy of cooking and gardening through our Cookbook and Gardening Book Exchange! The idea is simple: bring a gently used cookbook or gardening book to donate, and pick up...
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Cherry clafoutis is a simple yet elegant way to celebrate the fleeting cherry season, whether served as a brunch centerpiece or a light summer dessert. This streamlined take on the classic French recipe uses pitted cherries for easier eating, while preserving all the rustic charm. Serve it warm from the oven, with a spoonful of...
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Growing popular herbs in containers
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...
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Few fruits capture the essence of summer quite like cherries. Their arrival each year is fleeting — a sign that sunny days and farmers’ market abundance have truly begun. In California, the cherry season begins in mid-May, peaks by the end of the month, and quickly tapers off by mid-June. Blink, and you might miss...
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To understand and combine the flavors of herbs, start by getting to know them individually. Use your nose—smell each herb on its own, then try blending it with another. Add a third, and eventually work up to five different herbs to see how their aromas and flavors interact. Taste as you go, and jot down...
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🍓 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

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✨ 🎄✨ 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

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🎺 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

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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!

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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

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🍁 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! 🧡

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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

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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

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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

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✨ 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

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