Edible Paradise celebrates the year-round abundance of the highest quality, freshest food grown on the Central Coast by our family farmers at the Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets. If you enjoy preparing and eating locally grown food, this blog is for you!
Not your ordinary potatoes! We discovered two unusual potato varieties at Borba Family Farms today—and they’re almost too pretty to peel.
Masquerade potatoes certainly live up to their name. Their thin golden skin is splashed and mottled with purple and violet, making every potato look a little different. Inside, the flesh is pale gold with a creamy, buttery flavor. Try them roasted, boiled, or simply prepared so you can appreciate their flavor.
Then there are the gorgeous Purple Viking potatoes—dramatic deep purple skin on the outside with surprisingly bright, creamy-white flesh inside. They’re wonderfully versatile, with a tender texture and slightly sweet, earthy flavor. Roast them, mash them, bake them, or turn them into some very impressive-looking breakfast potatoes.
One of the best things about shopping at the farmers market is finding varieties you may never encounter anywhere else—true farmers market finds!
#BorbaFamilyFarms #MontereyFarmersMarket #MasqueradePotatoes #PurpleVikingPotatoes
Have you ever seen safflowers up close? These colorful beauties are available today at Gatanaga Nursery’s booth at the farmers market. With their vivid orange petals tipped in golden yellow, safflowers bring an instant burst of sunshine to any room.
They’re also wonderfully long-lasting as cut flowers, making them perfect for a simple summer bouquet.
Think of them as summer in a vase! 🌞
Stop by Gatanaga Nursery today and take a bunch home!
#montereyfarmersmarket #GatanagaNursery #Safflower
Botanical hydrosols are available today from Blossoms Farm—including Strawberry Hydrosol and a soothing After Sun Spray.
Hydrosols are aromatic botanical waters created during the steam distillation of plants. Much gentler than essential oils, they contain water-soluble plant compounds along with tiny amounts of aromatic oils.
They make a wonderfully refreshing facial and body mist, especially on hot summer days. Simply spritz onto the skin for a cool, light botanical refresher. Depending on the formulation, hydrosol-based sprays may also help soothe skin that feels dry, warm, or irritated after time outdoors.
Keep one chilled in the refrigerator for an especially refreshing summer mist!
Find Blossoms Farm at the Monterey Farmers Market today! The market is open until noon.
#BlossomsFarm #BotanicalSkincare #Hydrosol #PlantBasedSkincare
Good morning from the Monterey Farmers Market!
Our first stop today? Minazzoli Farms for these gorgeous Black Mission figs.
Few fruits say late summer quite like fresh figs. Luscious, delicate, and perfectly ripe, they’re delicious enjoyed fresh, tucked into salads with goat cheese and walnuts, or transformed into rich preserves and savory chutneys.
Need inspiration? Check out our companion website for delicious ways to use figs!
If you’ve never tasted a tree-ripened fig, this is your sign. Their sweet, jammy flavor is something you simply can’t find at the grocery store.
Stop by the market this morning and enjoy one of the season’s sweetest treasures!
#montereyfarmersmarket #californiagrown #missionfigs #edibleparadise #minazzolifarms
The Monterey Bay Iris Society is returning to the Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College for its Annual Iris Rhizome Sale!
Shop a beautiful selection of healthy iris rhizomes from the private collections of local iris growers, including many stunning tall bearded varieties.
📅 Saturday, August 8
⏰ Beginning at 8 a.m.
📍 Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College
Experienced members of the Monterey Bay Iris Society will be available to help you choose the right varieties and answer questions about planting and care.
Irises are an excellent choice for Central Coast gardens—they thrive in our climate, produce spectacular spring blooms, and require relatively little summer water once established.
Arrive early for the best selection!
#AptosFarmersMarket #MontereyBayIrisSociety #IrisRhizomeSale #MasterGardeners #CentralCoastGardening
🌟 Meet the newest member of the Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets family! 🌟
Please join us in welcoming Mari, the beautiful new daughter of Joslyn and Joseph Bonanno of MIF Seafood! 💖
Her name is Mari — pronounced Mar-ee — and means “star of the sea.”
Little Mari is already showing her market spirit, proudly wearing her farmers market swag with the special 50th Anniversary market logo. We think she’s our cutest ambassador yet!
Congratulations to the Bonanno family on your precious new arrival. We can’t wait to watch Mari grow up at the market!
#mifseafood #aptosfarmersmarket
✨ Sisters in Harmony at the Aptos Farmers Market ✨
We were honored to welcome the talented young dancers of Viv Ncaus Koom Siab — Sisters in Harmony to the Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College last weekend.
Their beautiful performance brought music, movement, color, and joy to the market while celebrating the richness of Hmong culture. The visit was especially meaningful because one of the dancers is the daughter of Tra Her of KT Farms, a longtime farmer at our markets.
Viv Ncaus Koom Siab helps young women preserve and share Hmong traditions through dance, leadership, and community service. The group is currently raising funds for traditional dance attire, travel, and lodging expenses for upcoming performances and competitions.
Please help these remarkable young women continue sharing their culture with communities near and far.
💛 Read their story and make a donation through our market website:
https://montereybayfarmers.org/market-news/sisters-in-harmony-young-hmong-dancers-bring-culture-and-joy-to-the-aptos-farmers-market
Every contribution helps support the dancers and preserve an important cultural tradition for future generations.
#AptosFarmersMarket #SistersInHarmony #VivNcausKoomSiab #HmongCulture #HmongDance CulturalPreservation
Fresh-picked okra has arrived at KT Farms booth!
If you’ve never cooked with fresh okra, now’s the perfect time to give it a try. When harvested young and tender, it’s wonderfully mild and delicious grilled, roasted, sautéed, or added to soups and stews.
Did you know? Okra is packed with fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, and antioxidants that support digestive, immune, and heart health. It’s one of those vegetables that’s as nutritious as it is versatile.
Here’s an easy way to enjoy it:
Toss whole okra pods with olive oil, salt, pepper, and a little garlic powder. Roast at 425°F for about 15–20 minutes until lightly browned, then finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Simple, fresh, and absolutely delicious!
Looking for more inspiration? Visit EdibleParadise.com for seasonal recipes, cooking tips, and ideas to help you make the most of your farmers market finds.
Stop by KT Farms today and pick up okra while they’re at their peak!
#MontereyFarmersMarket #FarmersMarketFresh #Okra #CaliforniaGrown
Good morning from the Monterey Farmers Market! 🧑🏽🌾
Summer’s best is waiting for you at the Northridge Farms booth, where you’ll find tender, farm-fresh artichokes and beautiful snowy-white heads of cauliflower picked at their peak.
Whether you’re steaming artichokes for a simple meal with melted butter and lemon, roasting cauliflower until it’s sweet and caramelized, pickling it, or turning it into a creamy soup, these seasonal favorites are as delicious as they are versatile.
Come stroll the market, meet the farmers who grew your food, and bring home the freshest flavors of the season.
#MontereyFarmersMarket #MontereyBay #EatLocal #SupportLocalFarmers #CaliforniaGrown
✨ A little sparkle for every age! ✨
Stop by Trellis & Vine at the Aptos Farmers Market and discover beautiful new handmade jewelry for little girls, including adorable necklaces and colorful beaded hair bands that are perfect for summer adventures, birthdays, or just because.
And don’t worry—there’s plenty to tempt the grown-ups, too! From elegant everyday pieces to one-of-a-kind statement jewelry, each handcrafted design is made with care and creativity.
Come find the perfect piece for yourself or someone special. 💛
📍 Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College
🕗 Open until noon
#AptosFarmersMarket #ShopLocal #HandmadeJewelry #SupportLocalArtists #TrellisAndVine
A little apple history at the farmers market!
These Royal Gala heirloom apples are a New Zealand cultivar descended from the celebrated Cox’s Orange Pippin, an old-fashioned apple prized for its distinctive flavor and wonderful balance of sweetness and acidity.
Crisp, juicy, and sweet, they’re delicious eaten out of hand, sliced into seasonal salads, or added to crunchy slaws. They would also be lovely paired with sharp cheddar, toasted walnuts, or a tangy vinaigrette.
Find them today at the Prevedelli Farms booth at the Aptos Farmers Market.
The market is open until noon—hope to see you soon.
#AptosFarmersMarket #PrevedelliFarms #HeirloomApples #FarmersMarketFinds
@mbfarmersmarkets Ever wondered what a SCOBY actually looks like? 🤔
Join us on Saturday, July 18, 9:30 at the Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College for a fascinating look inside the world of kombucha with Living Swell Kombucha!
Founders Summer and Sophie—two Santa Cruz moms who turned a passion for wellness and community into a thriving local business—will share their inspiring story, demonstrate how kombucha is traditionally brewed, and introduce you to the mysterious (and amazing!) SCOBY, the living culture that transforms sweet tea into one of the world’s oldest fermented beverages.
During this special presentation, you’ll discover:
✨ How kombucha is made—from tea to tangy, bubbly goodness
✨ The role of the SCOBY and why it’s called a “living” culture
✨ Fun facts about kombucha and traditional fermentation
✨ A tasting of Living Swell’s handcrafted kombucha, brewed in small batches with organic fruits, herbs, and seasonal produce from local Santa Cruz farms
Living Swell Kombucha is proudly women-owned, brewed right here in Santa Cruz, and committed to sustainability with its refillable bottle program and partnerships with local farmers to reduce food waste.
Whether you’re already a kombucha enthusiast or simply curious about what all the buzz is about, this is a wonderful opportunity to meet the makers, ask questions, and taste the difference that locally crafted kombucha makes.
📍 Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College
🗓️ Saturday, July 18
⏰ 9:30 AM FOR Presentation, Q&A & Tasting
Come thirsty—and bring your curiosity!
#aptosfarmersmarket #livingswellkombucha #kombucha #fermentedfoods #santacruzmaderia
