You’ve seen these stunning blooms at the flower exhibit at the Sonoma County Fair, and now is the time to plant dahlias in your yard. Skyview Nursery is selling pots of them for $10 and you’ll find them in all sorts of colors and sizes. Dahlias are perennials, which means you can enjoy their color and beauty every year. And if you’ve never grown them before, Skyview’s owner, Glenn, can tell you everything you need to know about caring for them. Don’t delay: dahlias will only be available for a few more weeks!
Dahlias
August 3, 2012
Cook’s Spices
July 31, 2012
If you just bought some meat or a veggie from a vendor at the market and you’re not sure what you want to do with it, go straight to Kim at Cook’s Spices. Not only does she have all kinds of organic, salt-free, preservative-free, gluten-free spices that you can use to enhance your meal, Kim is a seasoned (pun intended) professional when it comes to cooking and will have all kinds of suggestions for dishes you could make. Kim sells individual spices and creates some wonderful spice blends including her signature Herbs De Sonoma. She’s always coming up with something new and will be debuting a new rub for carne asada at the market on August 4th, so before you fire up the grill, pay Cook’s Spices a visit. And if you need a recommendation for a wine, Kim can help you with that, too! 
Cosmetically challenged fruit
July 27, 2012
Cosmetically challenged may be the politically correct term for not-so-pretty fruit, but if you’re a canner, jammer or preserver, looks don’t matter. It’s only the taste that counts. Neufeld Farms fruit is juicy, sweet and full of flavor, and at $1 a pound you can afford to preserve till your heart’s content.
Tomatillos
July 26, 2012
They look suspiciously like green tomatoes in a papery husk, but make no mistake, tomatillos have a distinct, tart flavor and function all their own. They are a staple in the Mexican kitchen and are the base for salsa verde and other green sauces. Tomatillos have just started popping up at the market– these were at The French Garden– and their season will run for another couple of months. 
Green String Farm
July 20, 2012
One of the newest additions to the Saturday market is Green String Farm from Petaluma. This 140 acre farm has deep roots with farmers’ markets in Santa Rosa. Owner and farmer Bob Cannard has been farming sustainably for more than 30 years. He’s grown produce for Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse and is one of the Godfathers of the farmers’ market movement in Santa Rosa. Right now Green String Farm has lots of nice greens, herbs and summer squash to name but a few things. Stop by and check them out.
Gluten-free baked goods
July 20, 2012
We’ve had many requests for gluten-free baked goods, and now they’re here. Both Flour Chylde and The Criminal Confectionery have several gluten free goodies available in a wide variety of flavors and indulge your sweet tooth until your heart’s content! You can find both bakeries at the Saturday market. 
Local Organic Blueberries
July 16, 2012
Ready for some of the sweetest, juiciest blueberries you’ve ever had? Sonoma Swamp Blues is a 20+ acre certified organic blueberry farm in Sebastopol. They pick the berries in the morning, just before they come to the market and they are packed full of great flavor. The berries are on sale for $8/lb– even less per pound if you buy five or more pounds. You can read more about Sonoma Swamp Blues in this article and you can find them every Saturday at the Vets’ building during the all-too-short blueberry season which lasts about another month or so.
Padron Peppers
July 13, 2012
Padron peppers are now in season and you can find them at Triple T Ranch at both the Saturday and Wednesday market. Padron peppers are a Spanish pepper and are typically served as tapas, or a light snack. The best way to prepare these is to cook them in a hot skillet until they blister, turning them until all sides are blistered. Sprinkle them with some coarse salt and serve hot. Most of the peppers will be mild but every so often you’ll get a spicy one, so make sure you have a cold beverage in hand to help wash it down!
$4 Knife Sharpening
June 29, 2012
O’Malley’s Mobile Knife Sharpening is running a $4 on the 4th of July special. All knives and scissors will be sharpened for only $4 each– a discount of up to 50%. Come early to make sure you have a spot in line to take advantage of this fantastic deal.
Achadinha Cheese Co.
June 15, 2012
These newcomers to the market specialize in goat cheese which they make with milk from their 290 acre goat dairy in Petaluma. One of their top sellers is the Capricious, an award-winning aged goat cheese. Stop by and try some of their cheeses.
