After a long day of travel, we awoke early to thick fog and the promise of adventure. With plans to see more of the sites over the next few days, we wanted to see what the local organic farming culture is all about and pick up some fresh fruit for inexpensive, healthy breakfasts for our time here. I absolutely love a local, open-air market. The beautiful sights, smells and the warm community feel are all filled with inspiration and the sense of possibility.

A little research led us to an early morning excursion to The Heart of The City Farmers’ Market at the United Nations Plaza just east of the architecturally impressive City Hall. Started 30 years ago, the spirit of this farmer’s market is amazing. Their purpose is to bring healthy, local produce and nutritional education to one of the poorest neighbourhoods in the city while sustaining small, family-operated farms. Over 75% of the food stamps used at farmer’s markets in the city are used here.

The produce is beautiful, the vendors warm and friendly, and the possibilities for the meals I could and would make every week if this market was in my neighbourhood? Endless. Here are just a few shots of the local, organic produce grown in Northern California’s good earth and on display at this Sunday morning market.

Some things were completely new to me, like these Bitter Melons above. The not so bumpy is the Chinese variety and the spiky-bumpy one is the Indian variety. Apparently it offers medicinal qualities {I think she said “good for your liver”?} and can be sauteed up with less bitter vegetables or added to soups. Their colour and texture certainly had me intrigued!

I cannot describe my excitement when we came upon this local honey farm’s offerings. Totally raw {unpasteurized}, their honey is available in a variety of different flavours based on where the bees collect their pollen. I simply had to bring some home and promise to bring you a follow-up post about the 3 flavours we decided to compare.

My guys fell head-over-heels for the cheese from this local, artisinal dairy.

These Dapple Dandy Pluots {a grafted marriage of plums and apricots} were this morning’s breakfast. Their red, juicy flesh is like candy. Incredible! Also like candy to me? The Asian Pears below. Yum. The browner ones tend to be sweeter, so look for more of a caramel-tanned colour when selecting yours.

Tomorrow morning we’ll be having these organic Queen Flavour Pluots for breakfast. I hope they live up to their name!

I wish you could smell the aromatic goodness of all of the herbs piled high on the tables in stall after stall. They had me swooning and wishing desperately I had a kitchen at my disposal while here in San Francisco! So many flavours, so little time.

The view to City Hall from the market in United Nations Plaza.

The splendor and variety of this vendor’s orchids were spectacular.

And the fresh dates…OH the fresh dates. I’m hoping to pop back on Wednesday before we leave the city for a bigger stash to bring home. Glorious sweet goodness. Perfect finish to a nice savoury meal.

 

The colours, shapes and textures of nature really are art in real life.

I hope this leaves you inspired to explore the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of your own local market! The experience is well worth the effort of searching one out, and the fresh flavours that will no doubt come from your kitchen as a result will be more than pleasing to the palate.

xo
s.