Miscellaneous: Farmer's market season--and intense heat

It's that farmer's market time of year--although I'm glad I'm not out at a farmer's market today. The official high hit 113º in Santa Rosa, and it was probably even hotter in some nearby areas.

Places I'm Visiting: Santa Rosa Farmers' Market (November 28, 2015)

I visited the farmers' market at the Veteran's Building in Santa Rosa today, today being Saturday. I had thought it might be very busy with people in the area from out of town for the Thanksgiving Holiday, but it turned out to be fairly quiet. There was a lot of beautiful fruit on display and for sale. If the day after Thanksgiving is called "Black Friday," I wonder what the following Saturday should be called? "Black Saturday"? I imagine the stores were still busy with shoppers, but the market was the extent of my shopping for the holiday.

Places I'm Visiting: Santa Rosa Farmers' Market (August 2011)

I went to the Santa Rosa Farmer's Market again this past weekend, hoping to find good tomatoes--but still nothing. I continue to rely on the heirloom tomatoes at Whole Foods, which are finally down to a more reasonable $3.99 a pound, but haven't had a truly great tomato yet this year. At the Farmer's Market, I did, however, come across some rather photogenic fruits and vegetables.

Places I'm Visiting: Farmers' Market, Santa Rosa

I went to the Santa Rosa Farmers' Market this weekend in search of good tomatoes, but I was mostly disappointed. There weren't a lot, and it was mostly hothouse tomatoes on offer. It's still a little too early in the season, I guess. There was much else to see. I picked up some fresh garlic from a stand that was offering five or six different kinds. I chatted with the beekeepers. I nodded hello to the man that sells oysters, although I didn't order any today--not sure exactly why. I listened to the traditional jazz band that was playing. I admired a woman's lilies and noticed that the older woman who sells jams and jellies from Southern recipes was looking a little frail. I hope she is well. I love her pepper jelly and her tomato jelly--although they last me so long that I don't buy either as often as I wish I could. I hadn't been to the market in a long time, but it was a pleasant way to start the day. As tomato season approaches, I'll be going more often in the coming weeks.

Found Art: Tomatoes and Autumn Peppers (September 11, 2010)

I went down to the farmers' market at the Veteran's Building in Santa Rosa on Saturday, my first visit to the market since getting back from France. As always, my first priority was finding good tomatoes. There were many available, generally at about $2.50-$3.00 a pound, which is better than the stores at the moment--and the tomatoes are fresher and taste better. My favorites are the greenish-purplish, deeply lobed ones (lower right corner of the photo).

I love to see the many varieties of heirloom tomatoes, but I was particularly impressed at one stand by the piles of peppers in virtually every color a pepper comes in. Beautiful. Found art.