Pinch My Salt

Food, Recipes, and Photography

Another Coast, Another Farmer’s Market

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Farmer’s Market Arbor

I’m on the west coast now and I thought I would tempt you with some new farmer’s market photos! The Vineyard Farmer’s Market in Fresno, CA, gathers each Wednesday and Saturday under the cover of this beautiful greenery-draped arbor. My aunt and I woke up early and made it down to the market by around 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Farmer’s Market Carrots

Although I have yet to cook with them myself, I’m always drawn to these bunches of colorful carrots.

Fresno Farmer’s Market

Lots of beautiful grapes, peaches, and nectarines to be found here!

Chocolate Mint

I first discovered chocolate mint at the Union Square Greenmarket in New York City. It amazingly smells exactly like chocolate mint candy. I haven’t cooked with it yet but I’m doing some research on different ways to use this stuff and plan on writing about it soon!

Aunt Kathy at Farmer’s Market

My aunt Kathy grabbed some green beans while I questioned these girls about some of the stranger-looking vegetables they had on display. I now know what bitter melon looks like (the prickly cucumber-like things in between the two types of purple eggplant) but I don’t really have any desire to taste it! Aren’t those eggplant beautiful?

Farmer’s Market Okra

Mmmmm…fresh okra! According to the nice woman who was selling these, the dark-colored ones are a different variety but taste the same as the green. Those little plastic bags sitting on top of the peppers are filled with pieces of cactus.

Update: Not so sure about okra? Check out the post over at Tastes Like Home and maybe you’ll change your mind!

Farmer’s Market Currants

In case you’ve never seen them fresh, these are what currants look like before they are dried and baked inside your favorite scones!

If you still haven’t checked out your own local farmer’s market yet, what are you waiting for? Remember, there are at least 10 reasons to buy local food!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lia Huber says

    What a great tour of farmers markets! I loved reading about the Union Square FM . . . that was the one that got me hooked when I lived there and I still make a point of visiting whenever I return. If you're planning to visit wine country, plan a visit to the Healdsburg Farmers Market on Saturday morning. It's quite the bucolic, small-town scene. A few are even just backyard gardeners. In fact, I need to head to the Tuesday night market on the Plaza tonight to pay an IOU to my fish guy! ;-) Enjoy the rest of your travels and thanks for sharing! Cheers, Lia Huber www.swirlingnotions.com
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  2. Emon says

    Hola! So how does the East coast farmer's market culture differ from the West coast one in your opinion? Does the question make sense?
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  3. Nicole says

    Lia: Farmer's markets are so much fun! My favorite thing about Sicily is all the outdoor produce market and it's nice to know that they are really gaining in popularity here in the states. I'd love to visit the wine country but I don't think it's in the cards for this trip. I am planning on checking out at least one local winery here though :-) Emon: What surprised me most about visiting the Union Square Greenmarket is that there was no difference in the 'market culture.' It seems that people who care about growing/selling/buying/eating good, wholesome food are universally friendly and down-to-earth people :-)
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  4. Ruby Berry says

    Beautiful pictures Nicole, the sky looks so blue through the arbor. I have never seen chocolate mint before, I'm going to have to smell that. And you took pictures of nopales! (spanish for cactus) My mother cooks quit a bit with nopales, she makes salsa with it that is quite fresh and yummy. She also scrambles eggs with it and puts in in warm corn tortillas for breakfast. She also makes meat dishes with it. I'll have her share some of those recipes if you like :)
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  5. Nicole says

    Ruby: I've eaten nopales here several times but never cooked with it. I know my Dad uses it sometimes. Anyway, I'd love to try making salsa with it...actually there are several salsa recipes that I would love to learn from your mom! I'm thinking about buying some chocolate mint tomorrow and doing something with it. I'll let you know.
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  7. Nicole says

    Cynthia: Just noticed your great post and article about okra at Tastes Like Home. I updated my post with a link to yours (under the okra photo!). Thanks for stopping by!
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  8. elisa says

    I have never seen carots with different colors! have they used colorant? or they grow naturally like that?Amazing
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  9. Joe says

    I swear, you find the most interestingly-colored foods around. I would expect those to be watered with food coloring to get that way. Looks like fun. Cheers.
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  10. Nicole says

    Elisa: I bet they have some great farmer's markets up there in Washington. Maybe if I come to visit sometime we can go out and look for one! Joe: I'm attracted to shiny objects and brightly colored vegetables. I just can't help it ;-)
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  11. Katiez says

    Such fun and interesting things at your marktets! The local ones I go to have pretty standard fare. The French "paysan" are not adventuresome eaters - they may eat weird stuff but it's the same weird stuff they've been eating for hundreds of years! One would think with the Vietnamese influence we would see more Asian things... but not here!
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  12. Curt says

    I know there are some farmers markets around, but I usually go right to the farmers, as I drive by the stands every day. One of the pleasures of living in the country... Soon, I'll have some of the best blackberries I've ever had, right from the yard where they're grown!
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  13. Carolyn Nolan says

    Welcome home, Nicole. I love your website and especially the photos. I see so much of your mom's creativity in you. Did you go to the Fig Fest? I stood right next to Alice Waters at the Farmers Market, but didn't talk with her. Cool! Love, Carolyn
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  14. Terry B says

    It's ironic that here in the middle of the country, surrounded by farmland, Chicago's farmers markets are pathetic compared to the coasts. Of course, the focus of farming in America's heartland is industrial production of tons and tons of food to feed the nation. My older daughter has a friend who moved here from Omaha. When anyone asks her what's in Omaha, she answers, "Your dinner, [insert bad word here]."
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  15. Lia Huber says

    I have to add to Elisa's comment about colored carrots above . . . aren't they cool? They're actually just special strains of carrots that have slightly different pigment to make them purple or yellow or such. Purple carrots (and potatoes!) have been some of my daughter's favorites this summer (she's 9 months now, we adopted her from Guatemala and brought her home 2 months ago), which has been fun. Nicole, thanks for stopping by . . . I'll hope to run into you at the Healdsburg Farmers Market on one of your next trips!
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  16. Amy says

    Hi cousin, those are great photos. you need to check out the clovis farmer's market too, its great! close to my house! :) has my cousin Andie contacted you yet?
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  17. Nicole says

    Katiez: I love seeing new and unusual things out at the markets and asking questions about them but the truth is that I tend to buy pretty normal things :-) Curt: That's great! Carolyn: Unfortunately I missed out on Fig Fest because I headed to the bay area for the weekend. They were just setting up the giant fig when we arrived! Terry B: Hahaha! I love that question/answer about Omaha! Hopefully you'll start seeing more and better local markets as people (hopefully) start becoming more interested in where their food is coming from. Lia: Thanks for answering Elisa's questions because I really don't know much about colored carrots and I was about to do some internet research on it :-) Amy: When is the Clovis market? Is it open any weeknight? Maybe you and Corinne and I should go and then cook something :-) I'll e-mail Andie right now!
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  19. Nirmala says

    I love farmer's markets. It sounds like you had the same crazy travel schedule I did except in reverse. I flew from the W. Coast to the E. Coast two times in two weeks at the end of July!
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  20. Nicole says

    David: Thanks! Nirmala: Wow, two trips across the country in two weeks! At least I only made it halfway across the country before heading back to the east coast ;-)
    Reply

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