Wind was blowing the good ole pollens around as I coughed my way amongst the colorful Farmers Market at Capitol Mall along 15th between L and N Streets. One woman told me she feels that the Market is a great perk for working nearby. Another perk is the Capitol Rose Garden near the Market. Produce and flowers were spectacular.  Business was brisk. A perfect day to photo the Farmer's Market:     OPEN EVERY THURSDAY 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM East End State Capitol Park 15th and L Streets (Between L & N Streets) Open May - September

Despite uncooperative weather that pushed the growing season to a late start, local farmers markets are getting ready to open throughout the city once again. “We’re starting the (growing) season a little late this year, but the weather is warming up, and we’re going to have a lot of wonderful produce to offer,” said Renae Best, assistant market coordinator for Sacramento Certified Farmers Markets. Of the 12 farmers markets in Sacramento, three are open year-round. Six are slated to open the first week in May and the others will open in June, Best said Thursday. Joany Titherington, operator of the Oak Park Farmers’ Market in McClatchy Park, said there are a lot of “new and exciting thing

As the leaves change color and the weather changes, the yield in the local farmers markets gracefully transforms from the delicious grab-and-eat summer fruits to a generous variety of squash, root vegetables and leafy greens that require a little bit of heat before eating. With the smaller variety of produce in the local markets during fall and winter, it’s easy to fall back on the same recipes when cooking every night. The Sacramento Press asked local farmers at the markets for some of their favorite cooking ideas for the fall and winter harvest, and they had a medley of suggestions. Carolyn McCormack of McCormack Farms in Walnut Grove is finishing her end-of-summer pear harvest and sa

Summer is just about history but two Farmers Markets aren't.  Two new locations that were added to this year's weekly circuit - East End Capitol Park at 15th & L streets and 6th & Capitol Mall - remain open on Thursdays 10am -1:30pm through September 29! I just happened to take a photographic journey through them last Thursday: Along Capitol Mall East end Capitol Park CHECK 'EM OUT THIS THURSDAY!!!

Join us for an afternoon with Placer County Real Food Cookbook authors Joanne Neft and Laura Kenny August 13, 2001 from 10:00 am – 12 Noon at Bushnell Gardens Nursery in Granite Bay. Come fall madly in love with the exquisite richness of eating fresh local in-season food and the rich local farms producing in Placer County.   Learn from Laura and Joanne how to shop local farmers markets and purchase all the meat, fruit, vegetables and nuts necessary to prepare meals from scratch. A number of their dishes from the cookbook will be offered for tasting Saturday, Aug 13, 2011. Cookbooks will also be available to purchase so you can have Joanne & Laura sign them.   We’re paring Hawks Restauran

Foodies were out in full force Wednesday when executive chef Michael Tuohy of Grange Restaurant & Bar kicked off his personalized farmers market tours for the season. Follow The Chef tours are led each week at the farmers market in downtown’s Cesar Chavez Plaza, across from the restaurant at 926 J St. The markets – and the tours – run from May through October. A wet winter has delayed some crops, including certain stone fruits. But Tuohy and Grange Executive Sous Chef Brad Cecchi found strawberries, asparagus, snap peas and more when they took 11 people there in the morning. Tuohy started the tours two years ago to inspire Sacramentans to buy locally at farmers markets and to help bring

This Saturday, March 5th was Davis Farmers Market's 20th annual Pig Day, celebrating pigs, food and local agriculture, in Davis. As this was my first pig day I hardly knew what to expect, but pig, pig paraphernalia, and pulled pork sandwiches. At Pig Day one finds baby pigs, people in pig costumes, farm animals from California Education Through Animals, and pig crafts for kids. There was a petting zoo of piglets and craft booths where children can make pig tails, pig noses as well as piggie masks; booths were sponsored by the Davis Parent Nursery School, Davis Community Church Nursery School and UC Davis Rotaract Club. Pony Ranch Parties provided the pony rides. For the 20th annual Pig

The word may have already gotten out, that Sacramento, California -- halfway between places some would rather be -- has been visited by perfect California Mediterranean weather. Minus a mid-summer furnace blast of heat (so far), we've had near continuous Delta Breezes and mild temperatures, clean air and as one local weathercaster puts it, "good sleepin' weather." The cool weather means that backyard and balcony gardeners may have harvested merely a handful of homegrown tomatoes. Now, residents can pick up good, fresh, cheap tomatoes from local farmers almost any day of the week; as well as nectarines, peaches, flowers, avocados, carrots, potatoes, strawberries, lavender and lavender hone

Opening day at the Fremont Farmers Market was full of great looking tomatoes, asparagus, onions, potatoes, carrots and other vegies, strawberries, oranges, cherries, blueberries, breads, huge cookies and lots of great lunchtime eats such as crepes, mexican food, gyros. And the olfactory sensation of great lavender from El Dorado Lavendar Farm. Please see www.sacramentopress.com/headline/26191/More_farmers_markets_begin_opening_today for more details. SacPress Photos | Kati Garner  

Fresh produce from Farmer's markets are a sweet taste of the Sacramento community, especially in the hot summer months. Farmer's markets are about to kick off the summer season with a colorful array of favorite fruits and vegetables, flowers and produce. Though flocks of people may arrive in shorts and skirts, by bicycle or walking under the city's famous trees, Sacramento farmer's markets supply local produce year-round. Dan Best, coordinator of Certified Farmers' Markets of Sacramento, said there is a significant jump in attendance during the summer. "It's because people are starting to buy more hand and mouth kind of fruit, like peaches," he said. "I think people who shop in the wint

Living in one of the world's most productive agricultural regions has its perks. Sacramento residents can stroll through a farmers market and buy fresh fruits and vegetables—and meet the farmer who grew them—year-round. By all accounts, the popularity of farmers markets is on the rise, not just in Sacramento, but nationwide. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates there are 4,800 farmers markets in operation, an increase of almost 400 markets since 2006. California is home to about 520 certified farmers markets, featuring the produce of nearly 3,000 farmers. Sales are up, too. California’s farmers markets took in $163 million in 2007 (the latest figure available), up from $114 milli

In 2001, two-and-a-half-year-old Kevin Kowalcyk became a victim of food. His death was induced by hamburger meat contaminated with the E. coli bacteria. Kevin’s story is one of many issues discussed in Food, Inc., the recently released documentary directed by Robert Kenner. A special screening of the film was hosted by the Pesticide Watch Education Fund on Friday evening at the Crest Theatre. Food Inc. begins with an aerial shot of farmlands that transform into the packaging of a Farm Fresh product. The film discusses the modern food production industry’s tendency toward using an agrarian visage for goods manufactured in factories. Much of the data and research in the film is provided b