Market Scene: Early Summer, San Francisco and Portland
Sometimes, it takes being away from my hometown farmers market for a week or two to really appreciate the turn in season.
I spent last week in Portland and visited the PSU Farmers Market, one of my favorite markets in the country. The PSU market was full of piles of porcini mushrooms, rhubarb and berries. The market vibe in Portland is like no other—a combination of completely relaxed mixed with a serious foodie vibe. I browsed through the market eating a Sol Pops paleta: cucumber, chile and lime-flavored.
Returning to San Francisco this week, I noticed that our market had switched from spring into early summer. Gone are most signs of spring, replaced with an abundance of early summer fruit.
I was most excited to find figs at the market. The figs were available from Knoll Farms, a farm in Brentwood that is about 60 miles from the market.
Figs have two seasons. The first season is around now, and produces large fruit from the older branches on a tree. Then the figs take a couple month break and return in September and October with small fruit that is bursting with flavor. This first, or breba crop, has always acted as a teaser for me—getting my taste buds ready for the premium figs in early fall.
I tend to eat figs straight from the bowl, but others choose to eat them grilled, with a cured meat like prosciutto, or paired with a cheese (blue or goat cheeses go well).
It's a good time to attend a farmers market. Even if you don't purchase all your produce there, the markets will provide tons of treats for you and your family.
Seasonal Produce Guide
In season right this minute
Figs
Sierra Blueberries
Rhubarb
Apricots
Basil
Cherries
Summer squash
Coming Soon
Donut peaches
Cherry tomatoes
Corn
Okra
It's Time To Put Up
Cherries (brandied or in syrup)
Basil as pesto which can be frozen without the cheese.
About the author: Jennifer Maiser writes about locally and sustainably grown food. She is the founder and editor of the Eat Local Challenge website and writes at Life Begins at 30, her personal weblog.
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2 Comments:
How cool that you mentioned Brentwood. I recently moved near there, and my husband and I discovered the farms. We were able to pick cherries, peaches and apricots. It was fun. There was a u-pick strawberry farm as well, but that wasn't good because most of the strawberries left at the time were rotten! We plan to go back soon. You can even get a farm trail map that shows you where all the farms are and what they offer -- as well as when the fruit/veggies will be in season. I am a country girl, so I know that local fruit/veggies are only available in season; my city boy husband did not and was disappointed when he found out it would be a couple more weeks until corn was ready and that watermelon won't be ready until the 4th of July!
misseditor at 6:46PM on 06/23/08
I love the farmer's market at PSU! Too bad it's only on Saturdays - I always work on the weekends. Boo!
mikaque at 8:15PM on 06/23/08