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FeedFarm Fresh
It’s the height of harvest season, and East Bay farmers markets are at their best. We guide you to what we love most at each of our favorites.
Photography by Sara Remington
(page 4 of 5)
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Berkeley
Berkeley’s chef-friendly markets are clearly dedicated to the farmers—you won’t find a lot of extra fanfare that’s not about the food. But, you will find beautiful organic produce and local purveyors, including Oakland’s out-of-this-world Blue Bottle Coffee. Check the website for upcoming events such as produce tastings. Thursday’s all-organic market boasts Berkeley-made Ici ice cream and Tomales Bay’s Hog Island Oysters as new stars.
Tuesdays 2 to 7 p.m.; Derby Street at MLK Jr. Way. Thursdays 3 to 7 p.m.; Shattuck Avenue at Rose Street. Saturdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Center Street at MLK Jr. Way, www.ecologycenter.org/bfm.
Don’t miss:
-Whole-grain brown rice from Massa Organics, locally grown on a small family farm along the Sacramento River.
-The August 12 tomato tasting at the Tuesday market, which gives shoppers a chance to sample 30-plus heirloom varieties.
-Corn, tomatoes, summer squash, and sweet and hot peppers from Capay Valley’s Full Belly Farm.
Oakland:Downtown
This market is the place to come for Asian greens and vegetables that aren’t widely available elsewhere. The Victorian-era buildings in this historic Old Oakland setting are an added bonus. Just a few blocks away, the Jack London Market, a food-centric development that backers hope will rival San Francisco’s Ferry Plaza, is slated to debut next year.
Fridays 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., year-round; 9th Street at Broadway, www.urbanvillageonline.com.
Don’t miss:
-Eggplants in a striking variety of colors and shapes, from the slender and dark purple to the round and creamy white.
-Blooming orchids and cut fresh flowers at surprisingly good prices.
-The chance to stock up on Chinese pantry ingredients or have a dim sum lunch—one of the country’s most vibrant Chinatowns is just a few blocks away.
Oakland: Grand Lake
Marin Farmers Markets runs this market, which has grown enormously in recent years. It is a favorite among parents of small children because of the inflated bouncy houses, kid-friendly music, and street-fair vibe. The festive atmosphere carries over to the bustling commercial shopping districts of nearby Lakeshore and Grand avenues.
Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., year-round; Splash Pad Park, corner of Grand and Lake Park avenues, www.marincountyfarmersmarkets.org.
Don’t miss:
-The food court, which boasts vegan soul food, organic Thai, barbecue, raw food from Café Gratitude, and French charcuterie, to name several, plus tables for sitting down to eat.
-The elusive and hip Oaklandish T-shirts, with proceeds supporting a variety of community projects and events.
-Barlovento Chocolates’ truffles, caramels, and chocolate-covered cherries made in small batches in Oakland from single-source Venezuelan chocolate.
Oakland:Temescal
Located in the tree-shaded DMV parking lot, this market is a great place to people-watch. The hippest toddlers in town come early with their bleary-eyed parents; the hipsters without kids arrive later in the morning. A cappuccino from Blue Bottle Coffee (be prepared to wait) and a Breton-style crepe make a nice breakfast. If you’ve got little ones, wander over to nearby Frog Park after you do your shopping.
Sundays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., year-round; 5300 Claremont Ave. at Telegraph Avenue, www.urbanvillageonline.com.
Don’t miss:
-Andy and Cindy’s Thai food (try the steamed snapper with red curry) and India Clay Oven, with fresh naan baked right on-site.
-Fresh handmade tofu and ready-to-cook bean curd items, including silken tofu custard and braised tofu, from Oakland’s Hodo Soy Beanery.
-Breakfast pastries from Alameda’s Feel Good Bakery. You won’t go wrong with tender bread pudding, brioche studded with chocolate and pistachios, and yummy cheddar cheese–pumpkin seed bread sticks.
