I have to admit that my favorite activity at the Marin Farmers Market is tasting strawberries. There are no two alike. I go from stand to stand trying them all and there is always one that no doubt stands out in flavor for that week. The following week its another. My mind goes crazy thinking about the abundant selection of quality farm fresh fruits and vegetables but my taste buds always remember strawberries when going to the farmers market. Funny thing is the best one I ever tasted is at the Noe Valley Farmers Market, not in Marin. I asked the lady at the stand in Noe one week why theirs was so perfect and she responded that they pick the berries only when they are ripe the day before the market. Looking at their perfect shape, I couldn't tell how ripe they were but the red morsel melted in my mouth instantly with unparalleled balanced sweetness.
As often as I visit farmers markets it wasn't until last month that I stopped to ask "what kind of strawberry is this? do you have any Chandlers?" A friend had mentioned the Chandler varietal as the best at the Marin market so I kept on searching for them. And one by one the farmers would either tell me that they don't grow it or they are out. I'd take a sample and move on to the next stand. I put Chandlers out of mind with a sigh thinking I'll be on the lookout for them early next summer. For now, Seascapes would come home with me.
At the Noe market this Saturday, I went to the only strawberry stand and stood in line. Why was I standing in line for berries when I have so many choices at the Marin market? Because I didn't need to taste this strawberry again to remember it had been love at first bite the last time I bought a basket. Not to mention it was the only stand at the market with strawberries. Takes the fun out of the game for me if I don't have to try all the choices. But oh well, we were here and so was my basket of berries from Swanton Berry Farm. Instead of paying $3.50 for one pint, I opted to take one strawberry and two beautifully ripe blackberry pints for $8.
As an afterthought while I was walking away, I turned around and asked, "Oh, by the way, what kind of strawberry is this?" to hear with a smile "We only grow Chandlers". Wow, so these were the darling beauties for which I would trek to Marin every Sunday and miss. It was right here in my neighborhood in front of me and I never stopped to ask its name. You can't expect a strawberry to stop you and say, "hello, my name is Chandler" but from now on, I will stop to ask the farmer stands their name.
suggestions:
Serve sliced berries on toast with goat cheese.
where to find:
The Noe Valley Farmers Market takes place in the parking lot on 24th Street between Sanchez & Vicksburg Streets every Saturday morning 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. For details go to: Noe Valley Farmers Market. Swanton Berry Farm also has a regular stand at the Marin Farmers Market on Sundays.
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