PCFMA's Educational Efforts:

The Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association collaborates with other community organizations and partners to offer educational programs throughout the Bay Area on issues of nutrition and sustainable agriculture. Through these programs, PCFMA reaches out to youth and adults, consumers and producers, to promote healthy eating and to build awareness of the importance of supporting California's small family farms.

Market Thymes Newsletter:

Taste of Summer

THE GRILL is ready to be fired up, the kids are out of school, the smell of freshly-cut grass floats in the air, and the splash of the sprinklers can be heard. The weather is perfect for fresh summer vegetables like big, juicy tomatoes, crisp yellow and white corn on the cob, succulent yellow and green squash ready to slice, and sweet and hot peppers tossed in salad and made into salsa.

SUMMER vegetables are available from June through September. And the freshest vegetables are here at your farmers’ market. Just-picked vegetables have the most nutrient-power available, loaded with antioxidants, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals, stuffed in tasty little packages.

TOSS some sliced zucchini and thick slabs of eggplant on the grill; or drizzle with olive oil, wrap in foil and grill. Mix chopped tomatoes, peppers, and onion with cilantro and lime juice and you have a great fresh salsa; or cut veggies in chunks, skewer and you have veggie kabobs.

TURN the page and learn more about some of summer’s best vegetables, pick up some tips on how to select, store, and cook these fantastic edibles, and enjoy the best that summer has to offer. And, of course, these are just a few of the great vegetables (and fruits) available this summer at your local farmers’ market.

HERE’S to good summer eatin’ fresh from your farmers’ market. Remember to buy fresh and buy local!

Summer Vegetables: Tomatoes

So many varieties... so little time. From heirlooms to cherries, tomatoes are great summer eating.

Summer Vegetables: Squash

 Throughout the summer the farmers' market is full of squash with a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes to inspire great seasonal dishes.

Summer Vegetables: Peppers

Hot or mild, bell or banana, peppers are great addition to your summer recipes.

Summer Vegetables: Corn

 Naturally sweet and delicious, corn is a summer staple. And with fresh corn in the farmers' market from nearby farms, there's no better source for fresh-from-the-field sweet corn!

Staff Spotlight: King Ly, Market Manager

King joined the PCFMA staff in 2008. He manages two markets for PCFMA—Tracy and the Irvington district of Fremont. He really enjoys helping farmers, meeting customers, and explaining to them his job, his goals, and the philosophy of PCFMA.

Download a PDF version of this issue.

Recent Market Thymes Newsletters

Preserve the Harvest
Home cooks are discovering the satisfaction of creating tasty edibles that will be available to their family all year long. So when they get a winter craving for succulent peaches, a crunchy pickle, or even a dollop of strawberry jam, they only have to reach in the cupboard for homemade summer goodness.
Posted: June 1, 2008

Celebrate California Agriculture!
March 20th marks the first day of spring, 2008, and is also National Ag Day. Falling during National Ag Week, March 16th through the 22nd, it is a time when farmers, ranchers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, government agencies and countless others across America gather to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by agriculture.
Posted: March 20, 2008

Perfect Pears
Perfect Pears fresh from the farmers’ market– a sure sign that Fall is here. Along with apples, winter squash, grapes, persimmons, pumpkins, and more, the humble, yet elegantly simple pear appears each season.
Posted: October 1, 2007

Asparagus!
The appearance of asparagus at your local farmers’ market is a sure sign that Spring has arrived. Nature has been kind to the asparagus crop this year and growers have an abundant supply for your eating enjoyment. Fresh California asparagus is available at your farmers’ market from mid-February through May, delivering that sweet, earthy, herbaceous taste that is associated with the arrival of spring. Enjoy some today!
Posted: April 1, 2007

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Educational Resources:

Eating Fresh, Local, Healthy and Well

PCFMA believes that shopping at your local farmers' market can be a great way to eat healthy and eat well. The fresh fruits and vegetables available at farmers' markets - brought to you by the very farmers that planted, nurtured and harvested the crops - can be the foundation of a healthy diet for people of all ages. Check out our nutrition pages for more information on healthy eating.

Protecting the Future of Farming

Farming is the one of the oldest industries in California, and one of those that is most at risk. Multiple factors including suburban sprawl, changing laws and shifting consumer demands threaten to make it more difficult for farms and farmers to continue to provide us with a safe, reliable and high quality food source. PCFMA is devoted to sustaining farming in California and to promoting sustainable agriculture - a system of farming that is good for the farm, good for the environment, and good for the farm community. Check out our sustainable agriculture pages for more information on sustainable agriculture and local farming.

Supporting Young Consumers

PCFMA is committed to helping to educate young children about healthy eating and sustainable agriculture so that they can be prepared to make healthy decisions about what they choose to eat. Through partnerships with local community organizations, PCFMA sponsors children's activities in its farmers' markets, at community events and offers educational tools through this website. Check out our kid's pages for more information.