I love my farmers' market!

Almost every Saturday morning that I am in town, I head to the farmers' market at Cabrillo College in Aptos, Ca. It is open year round and host to dozens of local vendors of organic produce and locally produced items, from ceramics to baked goods, as well as fish and sustainably raised meat and eggs. There is usually someone somewhere with a petition to sign. The local cat rescue people are there most weekends with crates of adorable kitties needing homes. There is a band, with great little vegetable shakers for the kids to play along.
I am not sure whether it is because of the economy or the prevalence of media touting the importance of local food but the market has been very busy and crowded this summer. Whatever the reason, I think this is wonderful. 

This weekend , the market had so much to offer! I usually have to restrain myself. I want it all. So, what did I end up with ?? Everywhere was the wonderful aroma of basil, so I bought a beautiful bunch of that, with some parsley and rosemary. This went into Saturday night's dinner, shared with friends, of a brown rice/ Caprese inspired salad, along with several heirloom tomatoes. I found some rainbow carrots ( red and yellow besides the usual orange) which will be roasted with a new spice, Za'atar, introduced to me by some of my personal chef colleagues. I bought some peaches, pluots, and grapes which have been made into a fruit salad. I also scored some figs which went into amazing fig gelato, beautifully blogged here by my personal chef friend, Tami. I also got some eggs to be eaten for breakfasts and perhaps a vegetable tart or quiche this week. 
I usually buy myself a bunch of flowers but there were so many and so many different kinds, I was overwhelmed and unable to choose. Perhaps next week. And perhaps next week, there will be corn! That was the one purchase I was hoping for.

I am blessed to live where so much organic and local food is available year round. I am so used to eating this way that I forget there are still many people who don't. My carrots were picked on Friday, I bought them on Saturday, and actually talked to the people who picked them, and will cook and eat them on Sunday! This is freshness at its best. Those carrots were at the peak of their ripeness, they were at the peak of their nutrition, and full of the love that the farmer had for them  and his farm. And now all that goodness, health, and joy is part of me.