GALA EVENTS AT YOUR FARMERS' MARKETS

GALA EVENTS
The seasons are changing, and new crops are starting to pop up at the Adams Avenue, North Park and Little Italy farmers' markets. Smit Orchards has the first of the year's Gala apples; don't miss these sweet, crisp, red and gold beauties.  Grab a few apples and a bunch of red flame grapes, a hunk of Winchester Gouda from Taste Cheese, a fresh baked loaf from one of our bakers, and stack it in a beautiful straw picnic basket from Paradise Valley Ranch. Voila – you're ready for your own gala event!

APPLE-FENNEL SLAW
You'll need four apples and half a cup of roasted almonds from Smit or Hopkins AG, a couple bulbs of fennel from your favorite farmer, some organic California olive oil from Good Faith Farms, and a lemon from one of our local citrus farms.  Sounds simple because it is; slice the apple and the fennel very thin, toss with a tablespoon of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon, salt and pepper, and top with chopped almonds. That will kick up your picnic!

FLOWER POWER
Some of San Diego County's most beautiful crops will never end up on a plate, but they can brighten up your dinner table. Gerber daisies, dahlias, sunflowers, lilies and irises are a few of the flowers spotted this week, and Maldonado, Hidalgo, Dram and Echter, J.R. Organics and Sage Mountain are a few of the folks offering fresh cut flowers at one or more of our weekly markets. Brighten someone's day today with a bouquet! Oh, and please do eat (not the daisies, but) the nasturtiums. Pick up beautiful edible flowers at Suzie's Farm or Schaner Farms to brighten a salad or dessert.

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OVEN BOASTED
Locally owned, family run and independent are good things to find in a bakery; out of this world croissants, ciabatta and challah are great things to find in a bakery! Cardamom Bakery hits all the right notes with their European style breads and pastries that travel, oh, about a mile and a half to reach Adams Avenue. Try one of their freshly baked breads with Springhill Farms' organic butter, a drizzle of local honey from Heritage Farms, or dunked in fresh pesto from Lisko Imports.

NOT JUST STRAWBERRIES
The Carlsbad Strawberry Company is the newest addition to the Adams Avenue farmers market, bringing beautiful berries in season, but also cucumbers, corn, squash and so much more from their North County farm. Start there, then stroll the rest of the market, filling your basket with the freshest fruits and vegetables from Lone Oak Ranch, Suncoast Farms, Kawano Farms and other certified producers, plus locally and naturally raised meat, California cheese and olives, and decadent desserts while listening to musical guest Eric Polyn this Wednesday.

SHOP WITH THE CHEFS
Chefs are swarming the North Park farmers' market lately, meaning those of you who don't cook can still eat delicious farm fresh meals in the neighborhood – we've seen the pros from Spread, the Linkery, El Take It Easy, Alchemy, Urban Solace, Ritual Tavern and Sea Rocket Bistro recently, to name a few.  Of course, you can also avoiding cooking by grabbing a bite right at the market, since Umoja Vegan Galore, SoNo Trading Company and Loic Patisserie Crepes get their ingredients fresh from the farmers too. Russell Thompson will provide the tunes this week.

ON A MISSION
Franciscan missionaries first brought the silky sweet, purple-black Mission fig to California almost 400 years ago, but the ones at the North Park farmers' market are brought by Rose Cottage Fruits and R&L Farms at about 2 o'clock every Thursday afternoon.  Make a fantastic fig flatbread by topping a Conchetta pizza crust with quartered figs, gorgonzola from Taste Cheese, and a drizzle of olive oil. After baking until the crust is golden and the cheese is oozing, garnish with chopped arugula and enjoy.

FILL A PACK, FEED A KID
Once again, local food bloggers have organized the Food4Kids Backpack Program and the Little Italy farmers' market is the place to bring backpacks and non-perishable food to help feed hungry kids. We'll have shopping lists to help you buy cereal, jam and other goodies at the market to fill your backpack, but many of our foods are perishable so you may want to stock up on staples like tuna and applesauce before you arrive. We know you'd do it just because it's the right thing, but check out San Diego Foodstuff for cool prizes you can win for donating.

RUSSIANS IN LITTLE ITALY
Maggie's Farm and Weiser Farm's stand is your source for the very best California spuds at the market, including the gorgeous white and purple globes called Russian bakers. Sprinkle with alderwood smoked salts from She Sells Sea Salts and drizzle with olive oil before baking, then top with chopped chives and basil microgreens for a lighter but still delicious baked potato. Or load it up with butter, cheese and farm-raised bacon; you'll find them all at the Mercato.