North Park Farmers' Market Blog

LABOR OF LOVE

Labor Day weekend is here and whether you're barbecuing, picnicking or just partying the North Park Farmers market has all the traditional and some of the not-so-traditional holiday food faves. Why not give your favorite summertime lemonade made with lemons from John Gilruth or Paradise Valley Ranch a new twist by adding Hillside Family farms' passion fruit. Try adding a sharp Firehouse Jack from Springhill to your Da-Le Ranch ground beef burger or top your veggie burger with some cool tzatziki from Baba Foods. Kick your "tried and true" salsa to the curb and make some peach salsa with the sweetest  peaches of the season from Smit Orchards or R& L Farms.Tired of your old sides? Dip grilled okra from Suzie's in your favorite Bitchin' Sauce. Layer JR Organics strawberries with fresh goat cheese from Nicolau Farms and Safari Crunch granola. 

Of course there's always room for some traditions and Labor Day would not be the same without corn from Kawano farms and watermelon from the Produce Stand, JR Organics or Valdivia farms.  Whatever you do with your day, the North Park Farmer's market wishes you a happy and delicious holiday!

Despite no rain for many weeks, rainbows can be spotted all throughout the North Park Farmers market!  Stop by JR Organics, The Produce Stand, Valdivia  or Kawano Farms and your eyes will be treated to multi-colored melons and tomatoes.  Suzie's farm has peppers of every color;  R&L Farms has vibrant yellow & orange stone fruit;   John Gilruth's avocados are emeralds in the rough;  Smit Orchards' deep purple blueberries shimmer in the sunlight and Hillside has exotically colored passionfruit. 
Those colors mesmerize the eyes, but we suggest that you do more than gaze at the colors! Take a bunch of big bites because those colors, scientists and clinical nutritionists agree,contain essential health components that can help you stay healthy.   We found these recipes that  serve up a big slice of the rainbow and are delicious:   A Tomato, Watermelon and Nicolau Farms Feta Salad  or a  watermelon, peach, tomato and avocado salad .  After trying them you'll be clicking your heels and repeating that familiar phrase "there's no place like the North Park Farmers market!"

Romance is always in the air at North Park Farmers market!  So gather up your partner and dosey doe through the aisles because they're chocked full of aphrodisiacs sure to make your date night a success! Sure, there's the familiar foods that chemically make us more amorous, like oysters and chocolate.  But did you know that your gardens are also filled with these beacons of love?.  Your first stop should be at Valdivia to pick up some tomatoes. Tomatoes, also known as "love apples", were were banned by the Catholic Church in the 19th century due to concerns about the fruit’s “morality.”  We dare you to try to control yourself after biting into the red,  juicy, fleshy forbidden fruit!

Next stop on your love journey should be Suzie's farms to pick up some Armenian cucumbers.  Researchers have found a link between the smell of cucumbers and sexual arousal. Don't let yourself get too carried away...and be sure to stop by John Gilruth's and pick up an avocado or two. Just by looking at the shape of avocado, you will see the reason why it was associated with sensual creativity.  What's that delightful aroma wafting JR Organics? Their fresh bunches of basil are sure to arouse you, and while you're moseying through the stalls, take a taste of Hopkins Ag almonds. These nuts are known throughout the ages to be a symbol of fertility. Finish up your shopping with some delicious cheese from Taste that you can spread softly over a warm baguette from Belen. And don't forget to tempt your beloved with a chocolatey Almond Joy cookie from the Chewy Cookie. Last but not least, get some flowers from Maldonado and you're almost guaranteed to get some tonight!

LET'S GET SAUCED

Tomatoes of all shapes, sizes and varieties are in abundance at local farmers' markets now, but this luscious season won't last forver. While those heirlooms are ripe and ready, you need to stop by  Suzie's Farm, JR Organics, the Produce Stand, Kawano Farm or Valdivia farms and pick up all the ripe and ready tomatoes you can find. Then, proceed to get sauced! 

We've picked a few great recipes from clever bloggers; use these or your own family favorites. Start with the basic marinara sauce, perfect for topping fresh pasta from Lisko Artisan Deli. Proceed to homemade ketchup  and pizza sauce (just add veggies to make a perfect pie). Don't stop there, there's tomato soup and salsas! Think of the endless possibilites you'll have spicing those sauces up with sausages from Da-Le Ranch, and infused salts from Salt Farm. Most of these sauces freeze well so you can stay sauced for the rest of the year!