The Farm Stand is Now Open

Today and every Saturday until the end of the growing season, the Veggielution Farm Stand will be open from 2:30 to 5:30.  Right now they are selling  green garlic, beets, cilantro, rosemary, green onions, lettuce, choi sum, collards, kale, broccoli, arugula, chard, and pak choi. They sell on a sliding scale with 3 levels: 1. I can't afford to pay anything right now. 2. I can pay about what I'd pay in a supermarket and 3. I can afford to pay a little extra to support Veggielution.  I bought some fine looking arugula which I plan to use in a grilled Swiss and arugula panini. The stand is set up right in front of the Emma Prusch farm house.  

Here is some calendula growing right in front of the farm stand.  Calendula's greatest virtue is that it blooms in every month of the year. 

My Very Favorite Farmer's Market

With the music guy playing soft rock and folk songs on his amplified guitar and kids dancing in the street and everyone eating and smiling, the Friday Farmer's Market on San Pedro Square feels more like a festival than a market. I love the way people look holding bouquets of flowers - just so pleased. The popularity of this farmer's market has grown steadily over the years and by noon every Friday the street is packed with people, many on their lunch hours, strolling along enjoying all the fresh summer produce. I always feel like I'm a tourist on vacation visiting a special, exotic place when I'm here. My all-time favorite food to eat here is the deep fried vegetable samosas from Indian Gourmet. I buy a few of these spicy, crisp, delicious fried pastries and head off to the beautiful, quiet Spaghetti Factory alley and settle in for a delicious $2 lunch that can't be beat.

Let's Welcome the Newest Farmers' Market in San Jose

Many years ago I had the extreme pleasure of vacationing in Paris for 2 weeks and while it is difficult to say what I loved most about Paris (everything!), open air markets were definitely one of the things I loved. In Paris one goes to sleep at night to ordinary streets and wakes up to a sea of colorful vending stands selling a vast array of cheese, bread, produce and flowers. While San Jose's farmers markets have not quite achieved Parisian market status, they are none the less part of what makes the quality of life here in San Jose all the better. San Jose City Hall Farmers' Market is the latest and they offer a different emphasis. They are a zero waste market. They encourage people to bring their own bags and walk, bike or take public transportation to get there. They also use only biodegradable packaging. Some of the vendors seem to be there as much to educate as to make a sale. I really like the concept of a farmers' market that one can go to after work. How wonderful it was to pick up some ripe, organic raspberries on my way home from work on Tuesday. And it was a pleasure to see people leaving their offices at City Hall to go do a little shopping at their very own market. A little country in the city is a good thing. The City Hall Farmers' Market is open every Tuesday from 3-7.

Fresh and Friendly Farmer's Market all Year Round

The farmer's market in Japantown on Jackson between 6th and 7th provides a relaxed, cozy kind of open air shopping. If you enter from the 7th Street end you will be greeted by some friendly people who are selling newspapers, fresh hot coffee and offering people a bit of pastry and a chance to win a $15 gift certificate. This one may not be as big as some of the other Sunday farmer's markets but they are serious about vegetables. There are a few non-produce stands like one that sells attractive silver jewelry, a tea stand and a bread stand that sells all varieties of Whole Grain Bread (in my opinion the best bread available in the bay area) but the emphasis here is on seasonal vegetables not the frou frou stuff. This farmers market is open year-round every Sunday rain or shine from 8:30-12.