Gifts that Keep on Giving at Your Favorite Farmers' Markets

No, we’re not making fun of Aunt Betty again, we’re talking about all the wonderful, locally grown nuts you’ll find at the North Park, Little Italy and Adams Avenue Farmers’ Markets. If you’re making a fruitcake, Smit Orchards has fresh pecans and incredible dried fruits including apricots, apples and pluots at all three markets. Hopkins Ag brings raw almonds as well as roasted almonds in delectable holiday flavors like honey-vanilla and Mexican chocolate. Terra Bella has red walnuts right now at Little Italy and R&L Farms is bringing their fresh macadamia nuts to North Park. Go a little nuts at your favorite market this week!

Wouldn’t someone you love be delighted to get a box of locally grown fruits and vegetables, fresh cut flowers or naturally raised meat and poultry each week? Community Supported Agriculture is a pre-paid subscription to great products grown by your local farmers. It’s good for growers, good for eaters, good for the earth, and makes a great gift. Suzie’s Farm, JR Organics, Sage Mountain Farm via Inland Empire CSA, and DaLe Ranch all offer weekly or monthly boxes filled with great foods; choose your pickup location from the Adams Avenue, North Park or Little Italy markets.

Choose a beautiful straw basket from Paradise Valley Ranch at any of our markets. Fill it with infused balsamic vinegar from Bistro Blends, dried herb blends from Thyme of Essence or Just Spice, chocolate truffles from Eclipse, locally roasted Café Virtuoso coffee beans, local honey from Java Jive or Heritage Farms, and a few market gift certificates. Delivering it right away? Add your favorite cheese, pomegranates from Lone Oak Ranch and fresh pasta from Lisko Imports. They’ll be impressed.

Learn how to apply for permits, how to apply for space, and how to successfully market your crop or product at San Diego farmers' markets. Tuesday, January 11, 6 pm to 8:30 pm Limited class size. Register now!

Make beautiful music at one of our weekly farmers' markets? Jazz, Funk, Latin, Fusion, or your specialty, we'd like our shoppers to hear from you. Contact us here with a link to your music site and let San Diego hear your tunes!

Like Santa’s belly, the jelly melon has a bit of a wiggle. Also known as an African horned cucumber, kiwano, hedged gourd or blowfish fruit, the little melons came to California from Africa and found a home at Suzie’s Farm. The fruit has a subtle taste that reminds some of citrus and cucumber, while others find hints of melon and banana. Try one and decide for yourself! Look for sweet, soft zapote and irresistibly aromatic white, green and pineapple guavas at the market this month too.

Belen Bread returns to the North Park Farmers’ Market this week with their fresh baked whole grain and crusty breads, tender scones and specialty loaves. Try their flax sunflower loaf toasted alongside scrambled eggs from R&L Farms or Rose Cottage. A piece of their tangy rye will go perfectly with a slice of rare Alpkase Spicherhalde cheese from Taste Cheese, slices of salami from Da Le Ranch and local pickles from Impeccable Taste or Ritual Tavern.