Market Report

Market Report: Making seasonal adjustments

May 27, 2010 11:53 am by Guest contributor

Usually by this time of year my kitchen counter is laden with sweet raspberries for making jam, strawberries for sprinkling on cereal, snap-peas and fresh beans for eating and cooking — all from the farmers’ market. By June I’m devouring breathy salads (not warming soups) made with first-growth greens, and planning summer canning sessions using local fruit.

And yet, today it’s raining again, and soup is on the stove. Farmers market offerings seem to be hit or miss, with more reports of growing delays related to the weather.

Even so, I found small peaches at a recent Tuesday farmers’ market, a surprise early showing, as well as plump Bing cherries at peak flavor. There were fava beans, gorgeous green garlic and young arugula, to round out the mix, as well as an abundance of herbs and leafy chard.

Amazingly you can still buy blood-oranges, Meyer lemons, and kumquats, mostly arriving from the south.

Stone fruit is beginning to make an appearance. California apriums — a cross between apricot and plum – are at Berkeley Bowl and their berry selection is off the hook.

………………..

Berkeley Farmers Markets take place on Tuesdays, 2-6pm, at Derby Street @ MLK Jr. Way; Thursdays, 2-6pm, at Shattuck @ Rose Street; and on Saturdays, 10am-3pm, at Center Street @ MLK Jr. Way.

Love the Berkeley Farmers Market?  Cast your vote for the Best Farmers’ Market, 2010 Best of the BayList.

Romney Steele is a freelance writer, cook and artist, and the author of My Nepenthe. Read her previous Market Reports here.

3 Comments

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  • Vanessa

    Which came first, the aprium or the pluot? : )

    Coming from the orchards (that are mostly gone, dang it) of San Jose, I vote for pluot.

  • http://www.order-salmon.com/ Wild Salmon

    Good news to hear about the Meyer lemons. I must get down there right away and pick up a bushel. Meyer Lemons are like love, you know. Sometimes hard to find, but well worth the wait. I’m ready though. When they’re out of season and I can’t get them locally what I do is just go online (http://www.buy-meyer-lemon.com/ ) and order from growers that pick them right off the trees and ship them direct — a trick I learned from my cousin in Canada. This way I get fresh Meyer lemons picked from the tree without all the time sitting in cartons, trucks and warehouses.
    Bill Salmon

  • http://www.oxnardchildrensdentalgroup.com/index.html Oxnard Dentist

    I vote for the pluot too.
    Nina
    PS. Why are Meyer lemons so darned popular. Seems like everyone is talking about them. Where can I find that Meyer lemon ice cream recipe that everyone raves about?