Amy’s Friday Favorites 💜 Up next in my Friday Favorites series is my local Farmers’ Market in downtown Hayward, CA.
Farmers’ Market Challenge
Back when I was in my 20s I realized that I didn’t have a lot of variety with the vegetables I ate – frozen broccoli was pretty much it. At that time I lived within walking distance of a fantastic farmers’ market in Oakland, CA (the Grand Lake Market by Lake Merritt). I gave myself the challenge of heading to the market every weekend and finding one item of produce I hadn’t had before and giving it a try.
I ended up loving the challenge. It helped me explore the wonderful world of seasonal produce and cultivated a deep love of farmers’ markets.
Unfortunately, I no longer live close enough to walk to a farmers’ market, I do still build it into my weekend routine. During strawberry season I try not to miss a week (we’ve got some big strawberry fans in my house).
I have much more variety with my vegetables now than I did back when I first gave myself a farmers’ market challenge, I do still like to challenge myself sometimes to get something new and figure out what to do with it.
Find a Bay Area Farmers’ Market
- https://www.pcfma.org/visit
- https://www.cafarmersmkts.com/find-your-farmers-market/
- https://www.agriculturalinstitute.org/farmers-markets
Not in the Bay Area?
Check out https://www.usdalocalfoodportal.com/ to find a Farmers’ Market near you, or to find a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) opportunity near you.
Want help knowing what to do with the produce you find at the Farmers’ Market?
Check out the Seasonal Food Guide https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/ Find a food, click “Seasonality” and then click “Learn & Cook”
Amy Slabaugh, RDN is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Intuitive Eating Counseling serving Oakland, the Bay Area and all of California. She offers online nutrition counseling as well as in-person workplace wellness services. She specializes in gut health, Intuitive Eating and weight neutral nutrition care.
