Category Archives: Market Report
Market Report: Bleinheim apricots
By Romney Steele
Near come and gone by now, I have to give a shout-out to my favorite apricot, the Blenheim (sometimes referred to as Royal Blenheim, or simply Royal), before it’s too late. This petite but sublime variety with its speckled, blush appearance has a short season, usually peaking by end of June but, due to delayed harvest, they can still be found now.
Prized for their flavor and intense honeysuckle aroma, they have … Continue reading »
Berkeley Bites: Ben Feldman, Farmers’ Market man
This weekend, Berkeley’s Saturday farmers’ market reaches its 20th anniversary milestone. Ben Feldman is program manager for the Berkeley Farmers’ Market, a project of the Ecology Center. Previously, Feldman worked as a market manager for the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association.
The 30-year-old lives in Albany with his wife and two young children.
The Tuesday farmers’ market began in 1987 in South Berkeley. Three years later, Saturday’s downtown market started, followed in 2004 by the Thursday market in … Continue reading »
Market Report: Making seasonal adjustments
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 … Continue reading »
Market Report: Rhubarb
Rhubarb, often referred to as a pie plant — and really a vegetable — is just beginning to appear around town and in the farmers’ market. Long cultivated as a medicinal plant in Asia (thought to cure fevers and other ailments), the garden or culinary variety is probably best known for its use as a pie filling, sweet and savory, and as a classic pairing with strawberries. High in acid with a tart, bright flavor profile, think … Continue reading »
Market Report: Strawberries
A strawberry day: California is the leading grower of strawberries nationwide and, according to the California Strawberry Commission, they grow year round in our sunny state. Certainly they do, but if you’re looking for locally grown, organic or unsprayed strawberries (which I recommend), the season is right about now. In fact, a news report points to the fact they are a little late in their arrival, due to the recent spate of storms. … Continue reading »
Market Report: A prelude to spring
Today, we are delighted to welcome Romney Steele into the Berkeleyside fold. Romney will be writing a regular report for us all on what’s fresh, in season, and available at our local farmers’ markets and grocers — she will also throw in some suggestions on what we might want to do with it.
Early March teases with the heralds of spring — artichokes, mâche, and rhubarb, some of my favorites — and yet remains a notoriously in-between … Continue reading »
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