Laura Avery on What's Fresh at the Farmers Market - 7/15/09

“Like a cippolini” says farmer Barbara Spencer from Windrose Farm.   Translation: sweet, small, caramelizing onion for grilling or roasting.  Wednesday Santa Monica.

The sweet corn is back at Tamai Farm among others.  White corn is the standard now – although the bi-color corn may be coming soon.  At many stands in the LA area.

Kitchen Kid, a cooking school run by Samantha Barnes (back row, left center) takes place on Wednesdays in July at First Presbyterian Church’s basement kitchen.  Students shop at the market then return for an “iron chef” challenge using the secret ingredient of the day – in this case, zucchini.

Peter Schaner selects heirloom tomatoes for customers and delivers to restaurants after the Wednesday Market.  Wednesday Santa Monica

Burkart Farm carries sweet Wickson plums – a rare green variety with honey flesh in addition to several varieties of organic peaches, plums, nectarines and pluots – next week – gogi berries.  Wednesday Santa Monica; Tuesday Culver City; Saturday Torrance; Sunday Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Palos Verdes.

Adams Olives is a 5th generation ranch that features select harvested olive varieties.  The early Manzanillas make the “Sicilian Style” oil that has a peppery flavor, and the later more mature olives are buttery smooth.  At many LA markets