Your local farmers market is just that: local. Not just the location, but also the agricultural products, products, and ingredients.
The recent vernal equinox has brought certain produce to harvest time, while others have become soft and ripe. So if your go-to produce is suspended at the High Desert Farmers Market in the coming weeks, it's not something you said or did, but rather a natural result of the Earth's tilt. .
Spring has arrived in the high desert
The High Desert Farmers Market was so crowded with area residents on Thursday that parking was reserved for only the lucky few. Farmhouses and other ancillary stalls were open in his four rows, many of which were lined with holiday shoppers.
The Easter Bunny, along with his miniature horse companions (whose owners insisted they not be confused with ponies), made an early appearance to the Victorville youth, spray-painting them in pastel and hoping for an Easter Bunny appearance. and posed for photos. Spring break is coming soon.
Here are some highlights of the High Desert Farmers Market that locals can look forward to in the coming weeks.
“Most citrus fruits are seasonal, but some varieties are grown year-round,” said Marley, a familiar face at JM Citrus.
Marley and her mother, Jamie, were generous in spreading the word about their seasonal products, even as customers came in with reusable bags to browse and conquer the citrus selection.
Farmers market shoppers can expect Oro Blanco grapefruit and Cara Cara red navel to go out of season over the next two weeks at the Moreno family-owned JM Citrus booth.
“HAAS avocados will be in circulation until early summer, after which they will be replaced by reed avocados. If customers are looking for reliable avocados that won't oxidize or turn brown, reed is the way to go,” pitched. Marley.
Tangerines and blood oranges are also spring foods, but they're only in fashion until the end of May, depending on the weather.
Apple's booth was the star of the market's fourth row. Busier than a bear in a beehive, Kuyama Orchard had a line of shoppers lined up at the booth next door to get their hands on fresh apples, honey and vinegar while they still could.
“We only have one month left to harvest apples before we prepare for the stone fruit season,” said William from Kuyama Orchard. Farmers If he's looking forward to eating apples at the market, be sure to buy him mouth-watering mature apples like Fuji, Pink Lady, Arkansas Black, and Granny Smith by the end of April.
Farmers were not the only market participants who had seasonal information.
What can High Desert Farmers Market shoppers expect in the coming weeks?
The timing of the farm's transition from winter to spring to summer depends solely on the weather.
“We've had a longer winter this year,” explained Kelly Santoro, market manager for the High Desert Farmers Market. “Cucumbers, snap peas, and leafy greens like collards and Swiss chard are truly spring produce. Farmers will likely only have these items available for a few more weeks, and cherries, peaches, nectarines, and apricots will be available at farm stands. will be given priority.”
The High Desert Farmers Market boasts a wide variety of vendors.
From farms to bakeries, jewelry, fashion, wooden toys, concrete products, and more, most vendors are happy to bring their trademark crafts to market year-round.
Whether a vendor does not go to the market has less to do with the season and more to do with specific weather conditions. Manager's helper Michelle Cleggatt explained that the only time vendors might not go to the market is if the weather is very bad. Some products are fickle and don't handle the elements well. No-shows can occur in the market, especially on windy, rainy, and very hot days.
The Hillside Flower Growers booth also has seasonal flowers.
Spring-specific bouquets include calla lilies, ranunculus, freesias, daisies, and more.
“It usually blooms from the end of March until May, depending on the weather,” said Robert Vargas, owner of Hillside.
In preparation for Easter this weekend, the double-canopied booth was stocked with a stunning collection of calla lilies from early morning. By mid-morning, only a few buckets of the popular white cone-shaped flowers remained.
In addition to baked goods, High Desert residents can find nuts year-round at the Thursday Market.
Products high in seasonal carbohydrates include sweets and breads made with seasonal fruits. Dinner rolls and burger buns are also temporary items at Old Town Baking Company, baked only in preparation for celebrations and events such as Memorial Day and Thanksgiving.
The High Desert Farmers Market is held every Thursday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 18422 Bear Valley Rd. For any additional questions, please contact the High Desert Farmers Market.
