In Season Now

Hamada Farms
Kingsburg, CA

Meet the Hamada family: Yukio Hamada and his three adult children, Preston, Clifford and Donna. Farming has been in the Hamada family for three generations – ever since Yukio’s father, Shotaro, established the farm in 1921. Shotaro immigrated to San Francisco in 1901, and after helping construct the transcontinental railroad over Donner Summit, he began working at a farm in Lindsay, where he developed expertise in growing oranges and strawberries. Yukio and his wife Yonki joined the family business after Yukio earned his degree in business accounting from UCLA. They managed the farm together for 47 years. Yukio has since transferred ownership to his children, but still retains his role as farm manager.

We are very excited to welcome Hamada Farms back to the Saturday market! Check out their excellent offerings, which include: Apricots, avocados, cherries, cucumbers, eggplant, lemons, nectarines, peaches, plums, and pluots

To Every Season (Turn, Turn, Turn) …

This season is dedicated to the memory of our dear friend and brother Camillus Apakama, who passed away earlier this month. Camillus has been the market manager for the past year. In that brief time, he made many, many friends – with vendors and customers alike. He brought joy to every market day, with his ready smile and infectious laughter. His absence is palpable. He will be dearly missed.

Smit Orchards

Roy’s father, John Smit of (Smit Orchards) was at the market today.  John emigrated from the Netherlands in the 1950s after World War II.  The Smits begin each season picking stone fruit in early May and continue throughout summer, ending their harvest in the fall with late-variety peaches and nectarines and apples. They grow a multitude of certified organic peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, Apriums, Pluots, cherries, table grapes, and apples to keep the fruit coming all season. Their farm is in Linden just east of Stockton.

Eating Seasonally is Eating Locally

If you shop at most grocery stores, you would expect to find a full range of fruits and vegetables at any given time throughout the year.

But did you know that each food item in a typical U.S. meal has traveled an average of 1,500 miles?

In this country, we’ve grown used to having any fruit or vegetable we want, any time of the year. But this extravagance comes at great cost, with transportation and pollution and the amount of oil used. And though it may seem like we’re getting more choices that way, eating local foods when they are in season actually leads to more variety in our diet — not less, as we would think.

“When offered the same global fruits and vegetables all year long, many people get stuck in food ruts,” writes Nina Planck in her excellent book, Real Food: What to Eat and Why. “They buy the same fruits and vegetables — bananas and broccoli, or whatever their favorites happen to be — year round. If you buy local food in season, meals will vary without planning or effort.”

Of course, when a particular crop comes into season varies according to soil and climate conditions. For example, since we received most of our rainfall late this year, this has delayed cherry harvests, because cherries are vulnerable to too much rainfall – especially during the spring months when they are ripening on the trees – and are easily bruised. On the other hand, blueberries – which usually start their season in June – are early this year. Expect to see both cherries and blueberries at the market in the next couple of weeks.

Calvillo Brother’s Organics

New grower Calvillo Brother’s Organics

Jesus Calvillo, who came to the San Ramon Farmers Markets about a year ago, really knows his stuff: He has been farming for about 50 years. He’s the guy with the famous mustache and an amazing selection of organic produce at the Saturday market (his son Jorge mans the booth on Thursdays). Right now, Calvillo Brothers is offering broccoli, spinach, cilantro, kale, chard, cauliflower, lettuce, cabbage, carrots, beets, potatoes – and recently: strawberries. Jorge says that soon they will also have tomatoes, artichokes, and a wider selection of berries. In a couple of weeks, look for fava beans, string beans and sweet peas.

New Gourmet Burgers from Green Lantern!

Gourmet Burgers from Green Lantern

NEW GOURMET BURGERS!

Proteins to include: Northern California “American Wagu” fresh ground beef, local fresh ground buffalo, vegetarian option, etc…

Cheeses to include: Aged smoked cheddar, Point Reyes Aged Blue Cheese, NY Cheddar, etc…

All burgers will be served with a brioche bun or gluten-free lettuce wrap, dressed with various aioli sauces and served with our house-brined, local ingredient-sourced pickle spears.

 

 

Also new to the market this year Oven-Roasted Beet Salad with spinach, walnuts, orange segments and goat cheese tossed with a lemon-shallot vinaigrette

Classic Favorites include Tri-Tip Sandwich grilled to perfection, smothered in our house-made BBQ sauce and topped with grilled onions and yellow peppers

Maryland Crab Cake Sandwich topped with cabbage slaw mixture and drizzled with a roasted red pepper remoulade over a toasted sweet French roll

Our Famous Grilled Artichokes marinated in fresh rosemary and garlic vinaigrette, served with a fresh tarragon aioli dipping sauce

Pan-Seared Maryland-Style Crab Cake drizzled with a roasted red pepper remoulade

Fresh-Squeezed Strawberry Lemonade

 

 

Happy Holidays!

Enjoy the Holidays!  Market is closed until the New Year!  See you in 2012!

Thursday Market re-opens Jan 5th
Saturday Market re-opens Jan 7th

happy holidays!