SD Weekly Market Blogs

What’s the best way to enjoy artisan cheese from Nicolau Goat Farm at the Little Italy Mercato Farmers’ Market? Maybe it’s classic chevre layered with beets from Sage Mountain Farms in a beautiful terrine. Could it be the goat feta combined with citrus-y sorrel from J.R. Organics and extra-virgin oil from the California Olive in sorrel pesto?

We love to spread red pepper chevre on country French bread from Bread & Cie and top it with caramelized fennel from Maciel Farm. Slice up aged Stanislaus Supreme and serve on a cheese plate with Fuji apple wedges from Lone Oak Ranch, roasted almonds from Hopkins AG and a drizzle of Heratige Farm honey, or try the Stagionato Misto, a semi-firm cheese of sheep and goat milk, garnished with peach-blackberry preserve from Terra Verde Foods.

Try these variations of Goat Cheese Salads, using Kawano Farms' strawberries and Smit Orchard cherries. You can't go wrong with a Strawberry, Basil and Goat Cheese Panini; grab whole wheat levain from Belen Bakery and basil from Suzie's Farm.

What’s your goat-to recipe?

Check out the newest crop to hit the North Park Thursday Farmers' Market, cherries from Smit Orchards, like sweet red drops of summer on the tongue.

They’re perfect for a healthy snack anytime, stir them into a bowl of Ancient Secrets’ Greek style yogurt, or slice them in half and use them to top a bowl of Bare Roots’ vegan ice cream (and add some crushed Honey-Vanilla Almonds from Hopkins AG for a perfect Sundae!).

Pick up fresh citrus from R&L Farms, herbs from Suzie’s Farm and Meljess Bees’ Honey for this sweet and savory Rosemary Lemonade with Cherries. Use them to garnish a cheesecake made with Spring Hill Cheese Company Lemon Quark, or serve them over French toast made with Belen Bakery’s country bread and Paradise Valley Ranch pastured eggs.

Grab farm-fresh chicken from DaLe Ranch to make this Butter Lettuce, Chicken and Cherry Salad; it's hearty enough to be your main dish.  Feeling the knead to bake? Sweet Cherry Pie will satisfy your craving and makes enough to share with hungry friends and neighbors. 

Cherry on!

Spring brings bunches of herbs including mint, basil, parsley, lemongrass and more to the Pacific Beach Tuesday Farmers’ Market. Suzie’s Farm strawberries and fresh basil meet Nicolau Goat Farm’s fresh chevre and whole wheat levain from Belen Bakery in this tasty panini, and spring mint freshens up Maciel Farm’s English peas.

Go to Gilbert Quintos Farm to make lavender lemonade sweetened with Mikolich Honey, or combine J.R. Organics’ cilantro and radishes with avocado and lime from Paradise Valley Ranch in this crunchy salad that’s great on its own or topped with a grilled grouper filet from the Salmon Slinger.

Dill adds fresh flavor to this zucchini soup that’s garnished with Ancient Secrets’ yogurt and pistachios from Hopkins AG. Take home spring herbs this Tuesday!

When we see crunchy vegetables like celery, carrots, broccoli, baby squash, Japanese turnips and radishes at the North Park Thursday Farmers’ Market, we get the urge to dunk!

Dip them in raw, vegan, flavor packed spreads from Majestic Garlic (cilantro-jalapeno is our favorite), in spicy habanero hummus from Baba Foods, or is smoky Chipotle Bitchin’ Sauce. Try making this almond hummus dip, using nuts from Hopkins AG or use their almond butter as a smear. Plunge veggies into Mediterranean garlic-herb salsa from Hani’s Olives, or make a fondue for dipping with Spring Hill Cheese Company’s organic cheddar!

Pick up Ancient Secrets yogurt and your favorite fresh herbs for this healthy dip. Load up on crisp spring vegetables from your favorite farmers and get dippin’. It’s crunch time!