Good Food’s Weekly Farmers’ Market Digest

Santa Monica Farmers’ Market and brings the latest news from farmers and chefs.

This weekSanta Monica Farmers’ Market manager Laura Avery talks with chef David Lefevre of MB Post, Fishing with Dynamite and the recently opened The Arthur J in Manhattan Beach. He’s excited to see the market brimming with delicious figs. He likes to sear his figs cut side down over hot coals for a quick thirty seconds. (For a refreshing summer salad, try Lefevre’s Quinoa Salad with Figs, Asparagus and Sumac Aioli.)

Plus, Laura chats with Steve Murray Junior of Murray Family Farms before his upcoming trip to the International Fig Symposium in Naples, Italy. He explains that each Italian city has their own distinct variety of figs and he will be looking for interesting new varieties that can flourish in California.

What You Should Buy This Weekend At the Farmers’ Market:

– Black Mission figs and Kadota figs from Murray Family Farms. Listen to Steven Murray discuss his figs and his upcoming trip to the International FIg Symposium on this week’s market report.

– If you enjoy ultra sweet peaches, grab some Sept Snow White peaches from Regier Family Farms. If you prefer peaches with more of an acidic zing, try their Cal Red Yellow peaches.

– Kosui and Hosui Asian pears from Penryn Orchard located in the foothills of the Sierras. Many orchards in the area were established by Asian immigrants who planted fruit that reminded them of home. Farmer Jeff bought the farm in 2002 from a Japanese farmer who had planted nine different varieties of Asian pears.

– The crisp and refreshing Fuji apples from Fair Hills Farms are their first apples as they transition from peach to apple season. Years ago Huell Howser visited Fair Hills Farms to meet a goat named Clementine. Watch him ascend to cloud nine as Clementine decides to munch on apples right out of the tree. A little bit of Huell Howser always cracks me up.

– Order the fresh squeezed orange juice from Bernard Ranch and ask them to add the seedy interior from one of their ripe passion fruits. The OJ takes on such a delectable, tropical flavor that it will make passion fruit season your favorite time of the year. Please thank market manager Laura Avery for this market hack.

Recipes for your Market Haul:

Caramelized Figs with Goat-Cheese/Mascarpone Crema and Sweet Basil Sauce

Simple Roasted Figs

Evan’s Basic Apple Pie – aka Birthday Pie

Spiced Peaches on the Side

Summer Farmer’s Peach Pie

Pear Tart with Olive Oil-Cornmeal-Pine Nut Crust