Organic Pastures Dairy is – Family Owned, Operated, and Inspired

This week July 18th, our Certified Farmers Market will host Organic Pastures Dairy.  At 11am there will be a presentation on the secret of raw milk.  We will find out about becoming part of the dairy co-op and hear all about the nutritional benefits.  Please join us at the market to listen to this important information.  Here is a brief excerpt from their site:

OPDC is rooted in the innovative farming and dairy endeavors of the McAfee grandparents. Since the 1950s, McAfee Farms have been leading advocates of nature-friendly farm practices. In 1988, the family established an organic farm and by 2000, Organic Pastures Dairy Company became California’s first raw milk dairy with certified organic pasture land. The dairy is located near Fresno, California, in the heart of the fertile San Joaquin Valley, and is one of the few remaining family-owned and operated dairies in California.

The Best Milk You Can Buy

Organic Pastures produces Grade A, 100% pasture grazed raw milk of super premium quality. The Company has been recognized repeatedly in independent NFO (National Farmers Organization) tests as having the best milk taste of the dairies surveyed.

Nature’s Health is Your Health

At OPDC the vigor of each cow is a high priority. Our individually named cows are never given antibiotics, hormones, or GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). Only organic green pasture and approved naturopathic methods are used to feed and care for the cows. Preventative, nature-based healthcare keeps the herd healthy all year.

© Long Beach Sunday Market, 2010.

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This just in!!  Bolivia’s Fruit a family owned cacao farm in….Bolivia…will join us weekly and tomorrow for the first time!!  They have raw organic coffee and chocolate.  I can’t wait to see the goods and talk about preparations!  Welcome them to the market with a hearty hello!

© Long Beach Sunday Market, 2010.

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I have been singing the praises of green garlic for a few weeks now.  Today the LA Times food section has a nice story on spring ingredients from the Farmers Markets, featuring green garlic and favas.

Beyond Bok Choy brings green garlic to our market on Sundays!  Please check out his stand for the green garlic, lemon grass, choys, herbs, sugar cane, leeks and spring onions just to name a few of the treasures growing on his farm.  It is a real treat to have this category of farmer at our market so check out their offerings and make a purchase so they will know we want them to stick around!  It’s a little early in the season for many of their vegetables, but just you wait until summer!

© Long Beach Sunday Market, 2010.

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In the news for the Farmers-

Asian Produce from Beyond Bok Choy will be back with their fantastic selection of greens and herbs.  Picked up a sugar cane last time from them and am now convinced we need a juicer/juice making vendor on site…a new research project.  How awesome would that be?  Pick up veggies and have them juiced right on site!

Last week from Frutos, one stalk of fresh brussel sprouts for $5 yielded well over 2 quarts.  Great tasting and great value.

Visit the Park Fruit stand and pick up some cherimoya.  Really rich and creamy, I was blown away by the flavor.  Exotic and sweet.  Nice for dessert with nothing but a spoon.

I can’t say enough about the flowers…still look fresh 6 days later.  Fresh Fruit Juices will be back this week, they were just otherwise engaged last Sunday, but they are back!

We have a new avocado farmer…this week or maybe next.  He is waiting for them to ripen!  But promises to have a great crop!

In the news for food-

Back…after two weeks out of town,  Culinary Coach will be serving up those delicious breakfast and lunch sandwiches!  Recently featured on Everything Long Beach Chef Gregg Denter talks about cooking at home and the health benefits of knowing exactly what you are eating…check out the article and stop by the market to say hi to the chef, grab lunch, and pick up the veggies for the next week…

If you are entertaining this week, or just like to plan ahead….a couple quarts of pozole is a good call!  Visit the Salsa Anytime folks and try the soup!!  They have been doing pozole with pork, but thought they would try chicken this week.  Check in for a sample!

Another thing to look forward to is the fresh pastries and granola from Shortnin’ Bread!  Chef Justina Fenton has got the crust figured out, the best I have ever tasted!!

Stop by the Bixby Books tent and sign up for the All Day Read!  I picked up a great book on backyard wildlife last Sunday.  It’s amazing how many animals live right here in our neighborhood and how beneficial they are.  Sean has got some gems, a very well curated book stand!!

Also, there are assorted bags and back packs from Peru.  Handmade in Peru by Erucilia’s sister, traditional designs, soft alpaca and sturdy!  Visit her booth and pick up a cozy hat or wrap, and say hello, they are wonderful people!!

I am so grateful all these farmers, chefs and vendors are willing to come and hang out with us, share their wares with us and allow us to shop and support our schools while visiting with our friends and neighbors.  Aren’t you?  Support the market and bring some friends!

See you out there-

© Long Beach Sunday Market, 2010.

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I swear the choi is coming tomorrow!  40′ of Asian Greens will be at the market. The Wednesday Chef has a great looking recipe from Mark Bitman for Bok Choy with Shitake Mushrooms and Oyster Sauce.  That will be in frequent meal rotation  beginning this Monday night!!

Speaking of shitake…we need a mushroom producer at the market!  I will again take up the search for the perfect fungi friend to attend our market, starting now.  Next weekend the 26th annual wild mushroom fair is taking place at the Los Angeles Arboretum.  Road Trip!  Their website screams, thank you el nino!  Lots of mushrooms at the fair this year, can’t wait!!

© Long Beach Sunday Market, 2010.

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Soup Swap

It’s time people, National Soup Swap Day has arrived! We have several teams swapping and you can to.  If you would like to participate, please drop me an email ( LBSM@mac.com ) and I will partner you up with some eager swappers.

The idea of bringing 4 frozen quarts of soup was two fold-they could sit out for awhile during market…and you could make them way ahead of time.  So, you can chop, puree and simmer today then freeze for Sunday!

Wandering up and down the aisles for ingredients made it hard to choose a direction.  The list of soups so far is impressive!  A great variety of clear, cream, puree and even fruity dessert soup!  I am looking forward to reading through all the recipes for inspiration and then testing for the cook book!

New Farmers

This past Sunday we welcomed Fresh Flowers from Vista!  They have a great selection including Tulips, Alstromeria, Lilies, Tuberose, Asst Greens and much more…

Fresh Pressed Juices, assorted farm grown fresh fruit juices.  They grow all their own fruit. Can’t wait for spring when they’ll be bringing the source material too.

New Food Vendors

Stuff-It Olives joins us from Northern California.  They will be a regular vendor in So Cal and we are happy to have them join us in Cal Heights.  Their olives are crisp and tasty!

One of the flavors the market needs is that cilantro, pickled carrot, fresh baguette combination found in the  Banh Mi sandwich.  There have been many tastings carried out at storefronts along Anaheim.  Alas, none can come to market…they are too busy!  But—hearing the plaintive cry—Chef Gregg from Culinary Coach stepped up and has added the fresh, crisp  and slightly hot jalapeno topped Vietnamese sandwich specialty to his menu for us.  I saw lots of thumbs up at the benches last Sunday too.

Every week is a new adventure at the market.  See you there!

© Long Beach Sunday Market, 2010.

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