Saturday, January 29, 2011

Farmers Markets - Harvesting Wild Mushrooms in Southern California

Photo of Yellow Foot Chanterelles - Craterellus Tubaeformis Karonen. Live oak and yellow-foot chanterelles are available this season in Southern California's farmers markets.


Farmers market vendors are showcasing a ground swell of wild mushrooms during the first quarter of 2011. Baskets of stiitakes and maitakes are now available at the Sunday Hollywood market and the Wednesday and Saturday markets in Santa Monica from Clearwater Farms.

"Those gigantic live oak chanterelles are great," says Carl Oldnettle, a Clearwater Farms vendor at the Hollywood Market, reports L.A. Weekly. "Totally different from the yellow-foots, though. I think the yellow-foots have more earthiness. And they're very delicate. Not meaty textured like some of the other mushrooms growing this season."

Mendocine, Napa, Shasta and Sonoma are harvesting black trumpets and black and white truffles. The wild mushroom truffles should be available through March, depending on the weather.

A Guide to L.A.'s Farmers Markets


L.A. COUNTY FARMERS MARKETS LISTING
Los Angeles County area's diverse farmers markets provide an assortment of fruits and vegetables for Californians

This partial directory of L.A. County area farmers markets was compiled by a mother and wife recently relocated to L.A., California. As the most active food buyer and cook in our family's home, I was very excited to learn and begin visiting local farmers markets in Southern California. I have listed some resource information here to share with others also seeking the freshest fruits and vegetable, locally grown, for themselves and their family in California. As times and locations may change, contact the farmers market organizers to check if information provided here has changed. Where available to me I have provided web-site addresses.

Enjoy and healthy eating!

Vanessa
LOS ANGELES COUNTY FARMERS MARKETS

California farmers provide an assortment of fresh peppers to urban grocery shoppers.


BELLFLOWER FARMERS MARKET
16614 Clark Avenue
Bellflower, CA
* Simms Park. Hours of Operation: Monday 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

BEVERLY HILLS FARMERS MARKET
9300 Block of Civic Center Drive
Beverly Hills, CA
* Hours of Operation: Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., open all year.
beverlyhills.org

BRENTWOOD VILLAGE FARMERS MARKET
747 Gretna Green Way
Brentwood, CA
* San Vicente and Montana Avenue. Hours of Operation: Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., open all year long.

CENTURY CITY FARMERS MARKET
1800 Avenue of the Starts
Century City, CA
* Hours of Operation: Thursday 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., open all year long.

FAIRFAX FARMERS MARKET
6333 W. 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA
* Third Street and Fairfax. Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
farmersmarketla.com

GRAND TERRACE FARMERS MARKET
22633 Barton Road
Grand Terrace, CA
* Azure Hills Church. Hours of Operation: Monday from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., not open from January - March.

MELROSE PLACE FARMERS MARKET
8400 Melrose Place
Los Angeles, CA
Between La Cienega Boulevard and Orlando Avenue. Hours of Operation: Sunday from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

SANTA MONICA MAIN STREET FARMERS MARKET
2640 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA
* At Ocean Park Blvd. Hours of Operation: Sunday 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

SANTA MONICA ORGANIC FARMERS MARKET
2200 Virginia Avenue
Santa Monica, CA
* Hours of Operation: Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., open all year long.
www01.smgov.net/farmers_market

SANTA MONICA VIRGINIA PARK FARMERS MARKET
Between 2nd and 3rd Streets at Arizona Avenue
Santa Monica, CA
* Hours of Operation: Saturday from 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

SOUTH GATE FARMERS MARKET
9615 Pinehurst Avenue
South Gate, CA
* Parking Lot No. 3. Hours of Operation: Monday 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., open all year long.
farmernet.com

WEST HOLLYWOOD FARMERS MARKET
1200 N. Vista St.
West Hollywood, CA
* Plummer Park at Fountain Avenue. Hours of Operation: Monday 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., open
all year.
sfma.net

WEST LOS ANGELES FARMERS MARKET
11338 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
* Court House/Civic Center Plaza behind library at Corinth Avenue. Hours of Operation: Sunday
from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., open all year.
westlafarmersmarket.com

WESTWOOD FARMERS MARKET (2 Locations)
1050 Broxton Avenue
Los Angeles, CA
* Between Kinross and Weyburn. Hours of Operation: Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., open all year. There is an additional location at Sunset in Winter Veterans' Garden. Davis Avenue, North of Constitution Avenue and West Sepulveda Boulevard. Thursday from Noon to 6:00 p.m.