As much as I dislike Bakersfield I do love our farmer’s market. We live in a valley has moderate temperatures and a large agricultural industry. Here we have farms that produce fruits and vegetables 360 days per year, from an hour north of us to the south end of the valley ½ hour away.
Because our local farms produce vegetables all year long our farmer’s market also runs all year long. Having just returned from a month in Seattle I was so glad to go to our farmer’s market today. It seems that everywhere I work in the country I hear people say that their farmer’s market only runs during the summer months.
Our market is held each Saturday morning from 8am to 12noon in the parking lot of the old Montgomery Ward’s parking lot, now a Hispanic store.
On the south end of the farmer’s market we have a large stall run by the person who oversees the market. I don’t shop at that stall because he sells produce that is sold in any grocery store. Now this guy makes the rules and every other seller must produce all that they sell and be certified by the county that they actually produce the goods.
Today I bought navel oranges from the producer, Flossie Faye Farms (flo@flossiefaye.com) just an hour north of us. The man and his wife also grow olives from which they make their own olive oil some infused with the oranges that they grow. We buy their olive oil for our salads.
I then went by the Hong farm booth and purchased Chinese vegetables and lots of yams to bake for Christabel and Elias. Then across the walk to an older couple who grow all types of cauliflowers; I bought the star cauliflower from them. Later in the year I’ll buy their squash. They also sell eggs from their hens. Today I bought the brown eggs but they sell multi-colors from their various hens.
I also bought apples from the apple farmer from Tehachapi. We’ve had an agreement with him for several years, he sells us apples for $1.00/lb and we buy 10# or more. I make pots and pots of fresh applesauce. It is a great snack and kids and grandkids love it too.
My last stop is at the north end, visible in the photo, Tesch Farms. They are growing various types of lettuce, oranges, grapefruit, incredibly sweet tangerines, huge broccoli and cauliflowers right now. I rounded out my produce purchases here.
Our philosophy is we mostly only eat what is fresh from the farmer’s market. So I was glad to stock up on food and fill our poor empty fridge. We can eat.
Because our local farms produce vegetables all year long our farmer’s market also runs all year long. Having just returned from a month in Seattle I was so glad to go to our farmer’s market today. It seems that everywhere I work in the country I hear people say that their farmer’s market only runs during the summer months.
Our market is held each Saturday morning from 8am to 12noon in the parking lot of the old Montgomery Ward’s parking lot, now a Hispanic store.
On the south end of the farmer’s market we have a large stall run by the person who oversees the market. I don’t shop at that stall because he sells produce that is sold in any grocery store. Now this guy makes the rules and every other seller must produce all that they sell and be certified by the county that they actually produce the goods.
Today I bought navel oranges from the producer, Flossie Faye Farms (flo@flossiefaye.com) just an hour north of us. The man and his wife also grow olives from which they make their own olive oil some infused with the oranges that they grow. We buy their olive oil for our salads.
I then went by the Hong farm booth and purchased Chinese vegetables and lots of yams to bake for Christabel and Elias. Then across the walk to an older couple who grow all types of cauliflowers; I bought the star cauliflower from them. Later in the year I’ll buy their squash. They also sell eggs from their hens. Today I bought the brown eggs but they sell multi-colors from their various hens.
I also bought apples from the apple farmer from Tehachapi. We’ve had an agreement with him for several years, he sells us apples for $1.00/lb and we buy 10# or more. I make pots and pots of fresh applesauce. It is a great snack and kids and grandkids love it too.
My last stop is at the north end, visible in the photo, Tesch Farms. They are growing various types of lettuce, oranges, grapefruit, incredibly sweet tangerines, huge broccoli and cauliflowers right now. I rounded out my produce purchases here.
Our philosophy is we mostly only eat what is fresh from the farmer’s market. So I was glad to stock up on food and fill our poor empty fridge. We can eat.
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