More than any other month of the year December speaks loudly of good eats, special treats and gift giving. Our Sunday Walnut Creek market invites you to enjoy part of your holiday shopping with some of our local farmers and vendors.

Sweet potatoes are a staple in my kitchen while they are in-season, and Hamlow Ranches guarantees the best. The sandy, loam soil on their Turlock farm produces the top quality and most uniform sweet potatoes for the table. Following their fall harvest, sweet potatoes rest or "cure" in a controlled, high heat, high humidity environment to allow the skins to toughen for increased storage time and for the conversion of starch to sugar  to begin – hence the name sweet potato.

Vivid orange moist fleshed Garnets are excellent "bakers". Scrub the sweet potato gently, rub with a little olive oil, season and bake at 400 degrees for 45 to 55 minutes. Hamlow's red skinned Japanese variety with dry,white flesh are a great substitute for standard white potatoes – mash, fry or bake.

It's undoubtedly citrus season and from the smallest kumquat to the "big as a cantaloupe" pummelo, they are rich in Vitamin C and low in calories. Tangerines, tangelos (a cross between a tangerine and a grapefruit) and tangors (a cross between a tangerine and a sweet orange) are all mandarins identified by the easy-to-peel skin and loose segments.

Seedless satsumas are at the top of the tangerine popularity list this time of year, minneloas are most prevalent amongst the tangelos and rich flavored seedy tangors (Temple oranges) are also available. Outstanding Cara Cara (a type of navel with a sweet, rosy flesh) and blood oranges are also on the way at the Hamlow stand.

Choose persimmons for eating fresh or making puddings and baked goodies. Hachiyas are acorn shaped and must be pudding-soft before eating or you'll be in for a very tart, astringent surprise. Fuyus are tomato shaped, ripe when still firm, and reveal a star shape when cut crosswise – these are delicious added to salads or alongside a main dish.

I never pass up a bag of Hamlow's plump raisins made from their Red Flame seedless grapes, or new crop almonds from their Newman Ranch. The hills around Newman look like a roller coaster and it's the location of the almond orchards next to these hills that produce the sweet almonds.

More at the Market:

New German Sausage
Meet local German Sausage maker Achim Schmalhorst and his wife Rita from Clayton, Ca. They've joined the CCCFM family in Walnut Creek, just in time for the holidays with their delicious Bratwurst and sauerkraut!

New California Grown dry roasted, flavored Almonds grown and packaged by Ed Chavez, owner of EGB Farms, Ripon, CA.
Try the delicious orange honey and tequila flavors!

What's in Season!

Artichokes, avocados, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, citron, rutabagas, hard winter squash, persimmons, carrots, Meyer lemons, nettles, oranges, radishes, collard greens, kohlrabi, cabbage, broccoli, rapini, baby lettuces, radicchio, Satsuma mandarins, sweet potatoes, leeks, fennel, mushrooms, walnuts, citrus, potatoes, pastured chicken, braising greens, parsley, pomegranates, apples, pears, onions, potted Xmas trees.

Meet your friends at the Farmers' Market!

Holiday Shopping Ideas to complete your gift lists…

Special ingredients sourced from the farmers market are available to make special gifts from scratch or from local artisans helps the local economy.

Gift certificates - How about a knife sharpening gift certificate? Purchase market bucks to encourage market shopping  and market fundraiser items such as reusable baskets, veggie, and strawberry bags are available at the information booth. New crop nuts, dried fruits, honey, artisan preserves, baked goods fresh fish, eggs, range fed beef, wonderful hand made candles, soaps and beautiful jewelry await you. Community nonprofits offer green choices such as poinsettias and wreaths.

Brought back by popular demand!

Free Wrapping for Farmers Market Purchases!
Look for the yellow top wrapping booth and take advantage of our free gift wrapping on Dec. 5th, 12th & 19th. From 10am -12pm

Buy California Grown

New Conservation Ideas from California – American Farmland Trust

Read on for an in-depth view of innovative conservation ideas in California.

CAFF Policy Update -- Food Safety Bill.

Be careful of the PR and soothing names that appear in grocery stores like "Nature's Partner".

The UFW is concerned about potential harm to the health of the Chilean workers and concerned about the health threat to the consumer. Learn more go to: http://ufw.org

Slow Food vs Fast Food
Congress signed into law the first significant improvements to child nutrition and school lunches.

Open Rain or shine

Winter Market hours coincide with the time change 9am-1pm
Your as cool as your coat ….don't let the rain stop you!

The Walnut Creek Market will be closed December 26 for one week only. The Market reopens on January 2, 2010.

The holiday season is a time to share and to help build a better world by shopping locally for loved ones, think of the environment this holiday season…support the farmers who are stewards of the land growing our food and travel to our communities to bring you their best selections at our farmers' market.

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We are very interested in your opinion! Thank you for shopping at our markets!