We take full advantage of the earths bounty here in Southern California. With at least 11 months out of the year filled with sunshine, the diversity and availability of year round fresh fruits and vegetables are at our disposal. A weekly ritual is going to a our local farmers markets at the many locations available to us. If it’s within 1.5 hours drive, we’re there, hunting, smelling, touching, and tasting the day’s harvest and munching on all the locally produced goods.
The awareness of the local food movement has grown tremendously and been embraced by communities everywhere. Supporting local farmers by purchasing their fresh, seasonal, sustainable and locally farmed produce is a great start , which we’re sure, most of you reading here are already doing. Aside from your local farmers markets, farmers also reach out to their community through various other outlets such as CSA (Community Sponsored Agriculture Programs), Farm stands, U-Pick Farms and/or Food Coop’s. When you’ve participated in one or all of these, know that you’ve helped not just farmers, but your community, the economy and the earth’s bounty as well.
Support Our Local Farmers:
-
Farmers Market Directory – Nationwide directory of farmers markets in your area
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Eat Well Food Guide -Find wholesome, fresh and sustainable food in US & Canada.
- Local Harvest – CSA (Community Sponsored Agriculture ) -Programs that allow communities to directly support their small, local farms by purchasing weekly or monthly deliveries of produce.
- Slow Food USA -Support good, clean and fair food food system.
- Sustainable Table – Get involved with the sustainable food movement.
- Pick Your Own – A great directory of your local farms where you can pick your own produce.
Today we’re celebrating our local markets with a video because we want to share with all of you some of our favorite and familiar farmers. This is our contribution to Jen’s second edition of her Fresh From The Farmers Market Blog Carnival, where bloggers submit recipes, stories and photographs from the market. At Modern Beet, Jen’s focus on eating seasonally, locally and thoughtfully are highlighted via her amazing dishes. She not only does wonders with a vegetable, but she’s equally fanatical about sourcing it and growing it. Her “amateur gardening ” skills have blossomed into a garden full of unique veggies that we have yet to discover. Not fair! 
Todd & Diane’s Farmers Market Video
Stuffed Zucchini & Farmers Market – White On Rice Couple from White On Rice Couple on Vimeo.
At this market, we found some interesting things such as red russian kale , some beautiful zucchini blossoms with baby zucchini’s still attached to the base and some new purple kohlrabi, an above ground bulb that has flavors of both radish and cabbage.
Zucchini Blossoms Stuffed with Pork or Potato
Stuffed zucchini blossoms are one of our favorites and when they’re available at the market, we go to town!! With some freshly ground pork in the fridge, we decided to stuff the blossoms with the pork, marinated Asian style. Along with some baby red potatoes, we made a vegetarian stuffing for the blossoms. They were both so tasty!
Zucchini Blossoms
Crisp Kohlrabi Chips
Finding the purple kohlrabi was really exciting! Kohlrabi “cabbage turnip”, an above ground bulb that has flavors of both radish and cabbage, is commonly found in Asian cuisines, but this was the first time we saw a purple variety. So to not fuss with the bulb too much and to still keep to the kohlrabi’s color and flavor integrity , we made crispy kohlrabi chips , topped with a little soy and balsamic vinegar. Cooking them simply like this is a great side dish or even as a fun amuse bouche.
Crisp Kohlrabi Chips
Have you visited your local Farmers Market recently?
Share it with Jen’s Farmers Market Blog Carnival!
View all our VIDEOS Here 
Cooking & Exploring !
More appetizers that you might enjoy:
- Thomas Kellers Cornets
- Crispy, curry crusted tofu and basil fresh springrolls
- Salmon and sweet corn cakes
- Roasted klondike rose potatoes with herb goat cheese, thyme
- Vietnamese stuffed squid
- Asian nachos with pork and/or wonton chips/prawn crackers
- Parmesan poppy seed crackers
- Baked walla walla sweet onion dip
- Panko crusted shrimp lollipops
- Zucchini blossoms stuffed with pork
- Purple kohrabi chips
- Tofu frites, fries and mojo’s
- Vietnamese Spring Rolls – Pineapple and pork fresh springrolls
- Roasted nuts with parmesan, black pepper, sea salt
- Vietnamese beef wrapped in wild betal leaves – Bo La Lot
- Turkey and bacon fried springroll
- Vietnamese green mangoes and chili salt dip
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{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }
Lucky you! In these colder climes, the farmers markets don’t get rolling until Memorial Day weekend, alas. But there’s one just a couple of blocks from my house that I visit faithfully every Sunday. Can’t wait!
What a wonderful Market, my favourite Market is in London, over an hour away, shall blog about it soonish. Hopefully, next time we’re in London, we can pick up some of that lovely zuchhini blossoms! Lovely dishes!
No fair … our markets up here in Michigan and Ohio don’t open for at least another couple months! So when are you inviting your readers for a cookout?
BTW, I like the kohlrabi chips best, they look delightful.
Awww, the doggies looked so down that they couldn’t tag along!
The stuffed zucchini with pork looks fav when cut in half!
Next time you go to the market, please make a list for yourselves because you obviously forgot to buy more honey and afetr your last entry…I’m sure you’re all out!
Love farmers’ markets! We have a terrific one here in Kansas City called City Market, but there’s a ton of others in the metro area as well, all of them fantastic.
Also, great introduction to the ideas and organizations behind sustainable agriculture and CSA. I’ve got many of those links on my own site and they are a wealth of positive ideas and information. Glad to see you putting them to good use here!
WORC- your videos are so fun and informative. I loved the mention of Slow Food and CSA’s. I’ve never tried purple kohlrabi but it looks beautiful. Squash blossoms in March – wow.
You do know I love you guys when I say “I hate you!” Our farmers market opens in a couple days and I can’t wait. Also love me some Jack Johnson, he’s dreamy!!! Okay does your car have at 500,000 miles? And if it does… does Toyota know about it? They should have you and your car in a commercial.
Once again, great video. And it loaded much faster this time!;)
Which farmers market was that in the clip?
I will now keep my eyes peeled for purple kohlrabi . The chips are looking very, very tasty!
Your videos are getting better and better!! The two dishes you made look delicious, too. Usually when I find squash blossoms here at the farm stands, they don’t have the squash attached. I love the way you’ve cooked them.
I don’t think I could resist leaving my dogs behind (not that I have any) if they gave me a look like that. I’m very easily manipulated. Sigh, I really should go to our farmer’s market more often. It’s only on Sunday. Actually, there’s plenty of local produce at the supermarket but the selection is considerably smaller than at the farmer’s market. Also, nobody picks the zucchini young here… I think I may need to start planting my own if I want flowers to stuff! By the way, I’ve never heard of the zucchini flowers stuffed with anything but ricotta, so nice work bringing in the Asian flavah!
those zuchini blossoms look so pretty! i got lots of zuchini blossoms last year, but for some reason not even a single zuchini
hopefully it will be better this year!
kohlrabi chip looks yum
Great looking video! I also enjoy a trip to the farmers market. My favorite is probably one on the Big Island, Hilo Farmers market. I always try to schedule my visits so that I’m free on one of the days they are open.
I love your videos — keep them coming! My partner (the rice half of our relationship) has now become addicted to your site as well
Our farmers markets in northern california do not have the same variety that you seem to have. Ours have the basic fruits and veggies and not much else (no purple kohlrabi).
I love the vid! So informative and well-paced. How long does it take to put it all together? I’ve worked with videos before and it took HOURS and HOURS and HOURS to edit so I really, REALLY appreciate the effort in doing this for us! Keep ‘em coming!
I love these videos guys – I always learn something new. (For example, I had never heard of kohlrabi until I watched this.) I have always wanted to make stuffed zucchini flowers – and yours look so good, I want to try it all the more.
What a wonderful market and produce! Those stuffed zuchhini blossoms look delicious guys! Another great vid to watch too – keep the good work up!!
Rosie x
Was that Irvine? I was there last week and saw the zucchini blossoms, but I had no idea what they were so I didn’t buy any. Thanks for the video… next time I see them, I’ll know!
you guys are so fortunate. we have one farmer’s market in our city, and it’s open only four months a year. lovely post and zucchini blossoms.
Oh my god, that was bleeping gorgeous! I want one of those stuffed squash blossoms, did you save one for me?!?
Thanks for including the pups, they totally make the video – tee hee. I miss the So Cal markets – they have everything and it’s all so good. mmm mmm mmm. Keep us posted on your garden too, I’ll have to garden vicariously through you (we just got more snow!).
I can’t wait for the spring produce to start showing up at the local farmers market. Those zucchini blossoms look really good. I hope I can find some this year.
Another great video! I am soooo jealous. My local farmer’s market sucks, sorry but it is true. The market I went to in California was fabulous. We went every Sunday. It was the highlight of my week. When I come to the dinner you are going to invite me to (w/ Tony!) can we go to the farmer’s market too?
Love how you’ve stuffed those blossoms. Very jealous that they are available already over there. I’ve got months to go!
Time! Wouldn’t I love some time to explore the farmers’ markets and CSA opportunities and… and… and… There used to be a market in Fullerton on Wednesday mornings. I loved to go at lunch hour when I worked in the area.
i hang out in markets hehehe lemme see if i could survive taking pics of those angry vendors (*making the cross hand sign* in the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit….)
I really hope that the whole local foods movement really starts stretching to other parts of the country – especially the places where farming once was the biggest industry and now Walmart and Big, Cheap Grocers are king.
All I can say about those stuffed zucchini is “wowzahs”.
Amy @ http://www.weareneverfull.com
man, as if i weren’t already jealous enough of your californians and your amazing produce and local foods. the oodles and oodles of beautiful asparagus are KILLING me.
The local movement made a late start on our side of the street but it is definitely picking up. I love kohlrabi and never thought of doing it in chips…duh! Looks wonderful! And the succhini blossoms…swoon….I am having a really hard time finding them around here. Great video!
really look so amazing! so fresh and so organic!
Wow..thanks for the farmers market directory.I love going to farmers market too.We think the fruits we get there are the sweetest! Yup…you are right,the main advantage of California is getting fresh produce all year round.
You are as inspiring as ever with those gorgeous stuffed blossoms! I’ll definitely try those, although in my neck of the world, the daffodils are barely peeking their shivering heads out of the ground. It’s very frustrating as we have 300+ heirloom seed varieties to plant from Baker Creek, the best seed company in the country IMPO. We bought their homestead bucket in a moment of madness. I might have a farmstand of my own if everything grows, a first in my county on the high plains which has NO farmer’s market or CSAs! Who knew that rural living could be so darned unwholesome?
Amen to supporting local farmers. Farmers markets really are the best place (and generally cheapest) to buy your groceries. If we all visited them, then I am certain food in this country wouldn’t be half as bad as it is. No more pesticides!!
I am jealous!
My farmers market is Whole Foods! Hopefully the weekend markets will begin here shortly.
I love those purple kohlrabi, haven’t seen any in my local market! I am making (green) kohlslaw this weekend and came here looking for a Vietnamese dish I can pair it with.
I can’t wait for our local farm markets to open which is a month from now.
I heard about kholrabi a few weeks ago here at the annual Agricultural fair. When it comes on the open market I am definitely going to try making those chips.
Have you read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver?
Go Farmers! Love the link to modernbeet.com. I am glad you are using this chance to raise more awareness to support and eat local.
Your purple kohlrabi is so gorgeous!!! Yes, food nerd here.
I must keep my eye out for that.
Oh no, looks like my comment from yesterday never posted. I said something like…. I can’t believe in my 19 years as a Californian I’ve never taken in the wild flowers. Must change that soon!
I’ve come back down to Earth just long enough to check out your newest video – I’m so jealous that your farmers markets are open! I’ve got at least another month before anything around me gets going! Loved the video – and I just might try the stuffed zucchini things when I get home – they really do look yummy! I’ll be on my way back to heaven soon….I mean, back to see my new grandson Max – which is the closest thing to heaven on Earth.
and yet another GREAT video from WORC…You two are amazing. You should do a whole feature on how you go to the farmer’s market, load up on so much stuff and fit it on the back of your bike!
We truly are lucky to live in southern California. I live for the farmer’s market.
xox,
Brooke
I love the idea of kohlrabi chips — how creative and fun. And the blossoms look amazing. It’s hard to fathom eleven months of sunshine. It’s nice to see you two taking full advantage!
Purple kohlrabi is wonderful! I love it.
Hello,
i just got some beautiful zucchini flowers like this (with zucchini attached) and want to cook them but don’t know how! I’m vegan, and do not want to fry them… any thoughts?
Come up with whatever stuffing you like. For a vegan stuffing you could do a tangy one with breadcrumbs soaking in a vinegar of your choice and add some chopped nuts and seasonings. If you don’t want to fry, one of your better alternatives would be to steam the blossoms. Better cook ‘em quick, the blossoms have no shelf life.