Farmers' Market Report – Week of April 1st
Happy Monday!
How did everyone like their Fava’s? Amanda (our microgreen queen and your FM packer) made the mistake of eating one without removing the 2nd shell!! Ha ha, priceless! But yes, under that waxy shell, they are super sweet and fresh; not ONE BIT mealy. McGrath Farms and Coastal has more this week, supplies are goin’ good!
Another great new spring item is Polito Family Farm’s “Tom’s Terrific” Tangerines!! Trust me, you’re going to want this. I am not bringing in anymore Paige tangerines and bringing in these instead, that’s how TERRIFIC they are. We tried a sample last week and were in heaven. They are technically the Tahoe variety, originally developed via UC Riverside’s famous citrus breeding program. Easy to peel, 99% seedless, and JUUIIICCCYYY. Eat it over the sink and don’t say I didn’t warn you. $2.70 per LB, a little cheaper than the Paige. 🙂
Also, Weiser’s Bloomsdale Spinach was too small to cut, so this week will be Rutiz Farm! SNOW Peas available this week from Tutti Frutti Farm – SUPER SWEET!
The not-so-good news: Purplette Scallions from Rutiz Farm is gapping for the next 2 weeks. Harry’s Berries Baby Roma and Yellow Cherry Tomatoes will be gapping for about 3 months. Romanesco from 2 Peas in a Pod now will not be available for several weeks. The weather destroyed his new planting, and we must wait for the other field to come in. 🙁Baby Pink Turnips from Coastal Farm are still not available for 2 more weeks (I know I keep saying 2 weeks, sorry!), and Baby Broccoli is N/A for 2 weeks as they await their new planting. BUT, I am bring in the Weiser Farm Baby Green AND Purple Broccoli, which is a little larger than Coastal’s but equally delicious.
Until next week,
Laura
Note: All pre-orders must be placed by Tuesday at noon to [email protected]. Emergency orders or add-ons will be accepted, but we can longer guarantee availability. If there are any special requests please feel free to ask!
WHAT’S NEW:
Fava Beans from Coastal & McGrath Farms
Beylik Family Farms – Fillmore, CA
Persian Cucumbers
Japanese Tomatoes – a deep red tomato with a unique earthy tone
Yellow Tomatoes
Coastal Organics – Oxnard, CA
Black Kale – also known as tuscan kale, black cabbage, or cavalo nero!
Gold bunch Turnips – beautiful colors all the way through!
Fava Beans – New!
Coleman Family Farm – Carpinteria, CA
Broccoli Spigarello – great winter braising green!
Red Butter (Piret) Lettuce
Freckles Lettuce
Lollo Rossa Lettuce
Treviso – so young, you’ll barely recognize it. Deep green with a deep red blush
Radicchio – note: small heads! Perfect for plate garnishes.
Sugar Snap Peas
Garcia Organic Farm – Fallbrook, CA
Cara Cara Oranges– a mix between a grapefruit and a navel orange gives it its signature salmon colored flesh!
Meiwa Kumquats – a Japanese variety that has a sweeter pulp
Harry’s Berries – Oxnard, CA
Note: Tomatoes gapping for 3 months! Oh, the horror!
Strawberries
Jaime Farm – Ontario, CA
Mixed Baby Bunch Carrots – beautiful baby yellow, orange, red, and purple haze carrots with tops
Rainbow Chard
White Spring Onion – large sized and absolutely beautiful! Attached to hearty, fresh green tops
Red Spring Onion – still not confirmed
Life’s A Choke – Lompoc, CA
Baby Anzio Artichokes – a cross between green and purple artichokes, and very meaty!
Baby Purple (Fiesole) Artichokes– not as meaty, but beautiful color and a nutty flavor
Lyon Artichoke with stem– large and in charge! This is a very jumbo, round, meaty variety from Southern France that has very little bitterness, if any, compared to other varieties
McGrath Family Farm – Camarillo, CA
Wild Arugula
Baby Bunch Candy Beets, Red Beets, Gold Beets, and White Beets
Baby Watermelon Radish
Pea Tendrils
Red Okami Spinach – a uniquiely shaped leaf with a deep red stem and veins – great for sauteing!
Baby White Japanese Turnips
Firecracker Lettuce – deep red and a bit frilly!
Fava Beans – just in!
Mike and Son Egg Ranch – Ontario, CA
Brown Eggs (15 doz case only)
Polito Family Farm – Valley Center, CA
Oro Blanco Grapefuit – golden-flesh, sweet and juicy – still going strong!
Tom’s Terrific Tangerines – very juicy, easy to peel, and almost seedless – yum!
Rutiz Farm – Arroyo Grande, CA
Green Garlic
Sugar Snap Peas
English Peas
Persian Watercress– a different variety, this one has a wonderfully spicy-sweet kick
Jerry’s Berries Strawberries – pre-order only due to its short shelf life
Savoy Spinach – cut in small clusters of 3-4 leaves – beautiful
Weiser Family Farm – Bakersfield, CA
Red Thumb Potatoes – red skinned on the outside, and pretty in pink on the inside
Russian Banana Fingerlings – baker size, but oh so creamy..
French Heirloom Fingerlings – red-skinned and white-fleshed, has a very silky texture (baker size)
Mix Baby Carrots – all heirloom varieties!
Baby Purple Broccoli – aka Red Arrow Broccoli, which is the specific variety. It’s not purple all the way through, but the green stem and leaves contrast it very nicely. It has a mild flavor and the farmer recommends slicing thinly and serving raw, or do a very quick saute if desired to keep the color!!
Baby Broccoli – it’s green counterpart
White Beets – the big ol’ ones, great for roasting and pairing with other beets for a milder, sweeter flavor
Yasutomi Farm – Pico Rivera, CA
Baby Bok Choy – amazingly tender, and small enough to braise whole