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Plump, juicy, and somehow managing to strike the perfect balance between sweet and tart, blueberries are truly a wonderful treat. Their gloriously deep shade of indigo-blue is also stunning, not to mention rare in the food world. With sky-high levels of antioxidants - the most out of any common fruit or vegetable - blueberries can help us fend off major health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and even some forms of cancer. They are truly superfood queens! Hence their tiny crowns.
One of the only commercially available fruits native to North America, First Nations peoples of Canada were the first to recognize this fruit's flavor, color, and medicinal properties. Wild harvests were a community effort, and were incorporated into baked goods, served alongside meat, dried for future use, or boiled down to a thick syrup to treat coughs and colds. Some tribes, though unfortunately not many, still carry out these traditions today.
Though cultivated rather than wild, the blueberries you will find at the Berkeley Farmers' Market are still a hand-picked and sustainably-grown labor of love. The California season lasts only between May and July, making now prime blueberry time! Triple Delight Blueberries, a family farm with six generations of harvests under their belt, currently attend all three of our farmers' markets. Smit Farms offers their beautiful bounty on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and stay tuned for the arrival of Sierra Cascade Blueberry Farm!
Easy Eating: Fresh Blueberry Muffins make for a hearty snack or addition to any brunch table. If you're feeling adventurous, give a Balsamic Blueberry Grilled Cheese a try. Toss a few leaves of fresh basil for an even bolder flavor. For dessert, take some time to make Triple Delight's tasty Blueberry Galette, with a generous scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, of course. This recipe (and more!) can be found on Triple Delight's webpage.
Storage Tips:
- Check for mold! Weed out any that appear fuzzy or shriveled, because mold can spread fast.
- Keep them in the fridge. Crisper drawers lack circulation, but a jar in the door works great. No lid needed.
- Perhaps most importantly, keep your blubes dry! You may have noticed the chalky shin on blueberries' skin. This coat is known as "bloom", and acts as a natural preservative as well as prevents sun damage. To keep your blueberries as fresh as possible, resist rinsing them until just before you enjoy them.
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Recipe: Blueberry Barbecue Sauce
From Kim Sorensen of Triple Delight Blueberries
Ingredients
2 tsp olive oil
1/4 cup chopped onions
1/2 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
2 cups blueberries
2 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tbsp dark brown sugar
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1/4 cup water
Instructions
Saute the onions and jalapeno in olive oil until limp. Add the remaining ingredients and cook at a low boil for 15 minutes, stirring often. Puree the sauce in a blender or food processor until smooth.
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Our partner Seasonal Bay Area tracks down each vendor every week to get an up-to-date list of what will be for sale at our Tuesday South Berkeley and Saturday Downtown Berkeley markets.
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Saturday Downtown Berkeley
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Tuesday South Berkeley
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Thursday North Berkeley
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Brokaw Ranch
Avalos Farm
Kaki Farm
Good Faith Farm
Guru Ram Das Orchards
Golden Rule Organics
Lifefood Gardens
Flying Disc Ranch
Achadinha Cheese Co.
Hudson Fish
Stepladder Creamery
Happy Boy Farms
True Grass Farm
Vang Family Farm
Solano Mushroom
Riverdog Farm
Smit Farms
Gattonelli
Frog Hollow Farm
Bariani Olive Oil
Blue Heron
Triple Delight Blueberries
Steadfast Herbs
Pomo Tierra Orchard
Swanton Berry Farm
Higher Land Coffee
Tony's Kettle Corn + Crepes
Andy's Thai
Tamales La Oaxaqueña
Cafe Zambala
All Things Sharp
Picnic
Beber Almond Milk
Big Little Bowl
Your Granola Garden
Laguna Garden Bakery
Cultured Pickle Shop
Morell's Bread
Obour Hummus
Phoenix Pastificio
Bolani
Coracao
Primavera Tamales
Bun Bao
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Kaki Farms
Massa Organics
Oya Organics
Brokaw Ranch
Lou Vue
Avalos Farm
Full Belly Farm
Flying Disc Ranch
Good Faith Farm
Blue Heron
Blossom Bluff Orchards
Solano Mushroom
Dirty Girl Produce
Lucero Organic Farms
Kashiwase Farm
Stepladder Creamery
Riverdog Farm
Blossom Bluff
Smit Farms
Frog Hollow Farm
Little Fish Co.
Queen of Sheeba Honey
Phoenix Pastificio
Three Stone Hearth
Base Camp Bakery
Bolani
Fruit Tree Smoothies
Tamales La Oaxaquena
Andy's Thai
Donna's Tamales
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Hudson Fish
Happy Boy Farms
Green Thumb Organics
Massa Organics
Triple Delight Blueberries
Chinchiolo Farm
Golden Rule Organics
E&H Mushroom Farm
Riverdog Farm
Frog Hollow Farm
Phoenix Pastificio
Big Little Bowl
Donna's Tamales
All Things Sharp
Morell's Bread
Upland Apiary
Blossom Bluff
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New Update on Masks at Market
The Berkeley Farmers' Markets will continue to adhere to the City of Berkeley Public Health, CDPH, and the CDC's recommendations, for our mask requirements and policies. Given the current recommendations, as of June 15th 2021, masks are not required for attendees to enter the Berkeley farmers' market.
While it is not required, we respectfully ask that those who are unvaccinated, or partially vaccinated, continue to wear a mask for the ongoing safety of our community. And we also support and encourage all community members in taking the precautions they need for the best interest of their individual health needs.
Ecology Center Berkeley Farmers' Market employees will continue to be required to wear masks while at work, regardless of vaccination status.
We deeply appreciate your support and community spirit during this exciting and tentative transitional time.
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It's clear that the future is all about collaboration: we each have a role to play. With your support, Ecology Center is working toward a vision of zero waste, equitable access to healthy food, sustainable resource use, and a safe and stable climate.
This year, we are stepping up in so many ways. Our Food and Farming team is working to address the significant increase in food insecurity caused by the pandemic. We are supporting a host of local, state, and federal legislation that target plastic waste and the root causes of climate change. Our Youth Development and Curbside Recycling programs are adapting to new challenges by innovating and applying our expertise in the field. You can read about our progress and our forward-looking plans in our 2021 Spring Appeal Letter.
Now is the time to chart a new vision for how we can emerge stronger from this global crisis than ever before, and take a path forward that focuses on solutions. We invite you to join us in creating this future. Please consider making a donation and/or becoming a member today.
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SUSTAINABLE HOME GARDENING & BUILDING HEALTHY SOIL
Saturday | June 12, 2021 | 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Online Event
Have you spent time planning and planting your edible garden and ended up with yellow or brown burnt areas on lower leaves and stunted plants with limited or no production of fruit? After all your hard work the harvest you've been dreaming of is small or non-existent? Did you know that the reason for your disappointing results might be your soil!
In this workshop, Lori "Compost Gal" Caldwell will explain to you how soil supports plant growth as an ecosystem filled with living organisms, and take you through the simple steps needed to create a healthy soil system. With proper soil management, your plants will have easy access to air, water and nutrients resulting in a lush and productive edible garden.
Whether you are brand new to gardening or have been growing edibles for years, this class will provide a depth of information to everyone attending.
We look forward to seeing you at class!
Become an Ecology Center member and receive a discount on your class registration, store discounts and invitations to members only events.
For more information and to register, click here!
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FANTASTIC FERMENTATION: HANDS ON COOKING CLASS
Saturday | June 26, 2021 | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Online Event
We know that the average family of 4 is throwing out upwards of $2,000 worth of food annually. Much of this wasted food can be used in recipes that lend themselves preserving food scraps.
Fermentation is one of these methods and one of the oldest methods for preserving foods. It provides vitamins and probiotics, and strengthens our immune and digestive systems. In addition, pickled and fermented products can be expensive. You can recreate them at home at a fraction of the cost of the store-bought product.
Chef Alison Mountford invites you into her kitchen to learn the fermentation tools and techniques to make your own sauerkraut and kimchi from food scraps. As she guides you in the process, step-by-step, she will discuss the environmental catastrophe that is food waste and ways you can contribute to the solution in your own kitchen.
Everyone will leave the class with a basic understanding of safe fermentation practices, a bottle or two of sauerkraut and kimchee that you have made yourself and an action plan to create a zero-waste kitchen.
Chef Alison Mountford is the founder of Ends + Stems, a meal planning service with the goal of creating meals that have a meaningful impact on your life and your planet. A graduate of the San Francisco Culinary Institute, Chef Alison is passionate about helping others reduce their food waste by sharing meal planning, shopping, cooking and storing techniques.
Become an Ecology Center member and you will receive a discount on registration and enjoy continued membership benefits including store and event discounts!
Click here to learn more and register!
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Looking for a way to give back to your community? Become a volunteer at the Berkeley Farmers' Markets!
Volunteer tasks include:
- Supporting the development and execution of a curbside pickup or box-style produce pick-up program (in development)
- Greeting customers at market entrance
- Hanging signage in the market
- Monitoring vendor lines and helping customers know where to wait
A short, virtual volunteer training will be scheduled prior to working at the market. Shifts start 30 minutes prior to market opening time, and length can be flexible depending on availability. Our three markets operate year-round, rain or shine:
- Downtown Berkeley | Center Street @ M. L. King, Jr. Way, Saturdays 10 am - 3 pm
- North Berkeley | Shattuck Avenue @ Vine Street, Thursdays 3 pm - 7 pm
- South Berkeley | Adeline Street and 63rd Street, Tuesdays 2 pm - 6:30 pm
In addition to supporting the community in accessing healthy, farm-fresh food, the benefits of volunteering 5+ hours include an Ecology Center Membership. Contact mariana@ecologycenter.org to sign up!
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Farmers' Market Hours & Locations
EBT and WIC Fruit & Vegetable checks gladly accepted and Market Match incentives distributed at all markets.
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South Berkeley
Tuesdays, 2 - 6:30 pm
Adeline St. at 63rd St.,
Berkeley
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Thursdays, 3 - 7 pm
Shattuck Ave. at Rose St., Berkeley
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Downtown Berkeley
Saturdays, 10 am - 3 pm
Center St. at MLK Jr. Way, Berkeley
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[Photo credit: Berkeley Farmers' Market Staff, Delice Recipes]
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