I like to say that here in SoCal, we’re a season behind the rest of the country.  June is down right chilly here and October can be in the 100′s.

It makes shopping for seasonal clothes somewhat bothersome.  But it means that come fall, we get AMAZING fruits and vegetables that start to show up at the local Farmer’s Markets.

I’ve been a little light on my Farmer Market visits this summer … it’s just been too hot.  But I’m hoping now that the heat wave has broken, and the farms are starting to harvest their late summer / early fall produce, I’ll be back.

Here’s what you should find around town:

• apples
• crabapples
• pears
• plums
• peaches
• nectarines
• blueberries
• grapes
• cantaloupe
• melons
• bokchoy
• tomatoes 
• sweet corn
• cucumbers
• snow peas
• green/yellow beans
• cabbage
• cauliflower
• broccoli
• brussel sprouts
• carrots
• parsnips
• turnips
• beets
• radishes
• onions – Green / Spanish / Red
• celery
• lettuce
• rapini
• kale
• spinach
• peppers – including chilis
• squash/pumpkin
• potatoes
• leeks
• zucchini
• eggplant
• swiss chard
• basil
• garlic
• mushrooms

Oh, the recipes that are floating in my head after reading this extensive list!

And, you’ll all be happy to know that I am NOT participating in a CSA this season.   It was just too cumbersome for me and didn’t fit with my need for flexibility in my meals.  But I do plan on hitting my local farmer’s market on Sundays (between soccer games – ugg) or finding another farmer’s market during the week to load up on fresh produce.

In the meantime, try out some of the great recipes I hot-linked above and some of these from my blog friends, all feature some of those fresh fall vegetables:

• Grilled Zucchini Rolls with Ricotta – In Erika’s Kitchen
• Hatch Chilies – Shockingly Delicious
• Sweet Summer Corn Salsa – Geez Louis!
• Grilled Mushroom Sliders – Cookin Canuck
• Five Spice Stir Fry with Snow Peas – Evil Shenanigans

And don’t forget to get those kids out the farmer’s markets and into the kitchen!

{deena}