Ripe Now! Asparagus I Why celebrate Pi Day when you can celebrate Pi(e) Week?

The days are getting longer, and so are the spears of asparagus popping up around California!

Boy, are we lucky to live in a region where we can find locally grown asparagus. Growing this spring treat is no easy feat. Asparagus spears need to be hand-harvested one by one, and it takes two or more years for the first asparagus to appear after its seeds are sown. However, unlike most vegetables, asparagus is a perennial plant, which means the same plant will grow year after year, sometimes up to 20 years. Green or purple, fat or pencil-thin, you're sure to find your ideal bunch at any of the three Berkeley Farmers' Markets.

Grilled Asparagus Pizza

In the spirit of Pi(e) Week, courtesy of Full Belly Farm

Ingredients

1 package of Full Belly pizza dough
2 c grated cheese
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, sliced
3 sprigs oregano, finely shopped
1/2 bunch of asparagus
1 handful of Full Belly Farm sun-dried tomatoes, chopped

Instructions

Grill or steam the asparagus to just barely cook it. Slice the asparagus into 2-inch pieces.
In a large skillet, sauté the onions in olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Keep cooking and stirring until the onions are browned – this may take up to 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 425°.
Soak the sun-dried tomatoes in steaming water for 10 minutes.
Sprinkle the pizza round with cheese, onions, sun-dried tomatoes, asparagus, and oregano. Bake the pizza for 15-20 minutes.

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Current Vendors

Saturday Downtown Berkeley

Achadinha Cheese Co.

All Things Sharp

Andy's Thai

Avalos Farm

~~Bariani Olive Oil~~

Beber Almond Milk

Bolani

Big Little Bowl

Bun Bao

Crane Creek Growers

Coracao

Dirty Girl Produce

Flying Disc Ranch

Four Sisters Farm

Frog Hollow Farm

Gattonelli

Good Faith Farm

Golden Rule Organics

Happy Boy Farms

Higher Land Coffee

Joodooboo Tofu

Kaki Farm

Kashiwase Farm

Laguna Garden Bakery

Lifefood Gardens

Little Fish

Massage

Morell's Bread

Obour Hummus

Pomo Tierra Orchard

Phoenix Pastificio

Primavera Tamales

Miss Bee Haven Honey

Riverdog Farm

Rolli Roti

Smit Farms

Solano Mushroom

Stepladder Creamery

Tamales La Oaxaqueña

Three Stone Hearth

Tony's Kettle Corn + Crepes (out every 1st Sat)

True Grass Farms

~~Vang Family Farm~~

VIO Pastry

Your Granola Garden

Tuesday South Berkeley

Andy's Thai

Alexandre Family Farm

Avalos Farm

Basecamp Bakery

Billy Bob Orchards

Brokaw Ranch

Bolani

Blossom Bluff Orchard

Donna's Tamales

Dirty Girl Produce

Farm Chocolate

Frog Hollow Farm

Full Belly Farm

Kaki Farms

Kashiwase Farm

Lifefood Gardens

Little Fish Co.

Massa Organics

Muzhik

Oya Organics

Phoenix Pastificio

Queen of Sheeba Honey

Riverdog Farm

Roadside Rotisserie

Sea to Sky Farm

Silver Sky Ranch

Solano Mushroom

Smit Farms

Stepladder Creamery

The Fruit Tree

Three Stone Hearth

~~Yume Boshi~~

(every other week)

Thursday North Berkeley

ALD & Y Organics

All Things Sharp

Big Little Bowl

Blossom Bluff Orchards

Crane Creek Growers

Donna's Tamales

E&H Mushroom Farm

Farm Chocolate

Frog Hollow Farm

Golden Rule Organics

Little Fish

Massa Organics

Massage

Morell's Bread

Muzhik

Phoenix Pastificio

Pomo Tierra Orchard

Riverdog Farm

Roadside Rotisserie

Saltie Co. Granola

The Fruit Tree

~~Uplands Apiary~~

Wise Jun Kombucha

*Lists subject to change. Refer to our website for the most updated vendor list.

Learn More About the Berkeley Farmers' Markets

Celebrate Pi(e) Day all week long at the farmers' market

Unable to contain our excitement for spring, we decided to turn this iconic math holiday into a full week of pie-themed programming to feature the flavors at our markets right now. We are a food-centered establishment, after all! Join us at all three Berkeley Farmers' Markets between March 12 and 16 for the following events:

South Berkeley

Tuesday, March 12

Learn to decorate a pie with the owner of Sweet Adeline Bakeshop from 4 to 4:30pm, and bring little ones for a pie-themed read along with the Berkeley Public Library from 4:30 to 5pm.

North Berkeley

Thursday, March 14

Stop by the North Berkeley Farmers' Market anytime to enjoy eco-food demos from pie-baking champion Lisa Pinckney featuring an electric range from the Channing Street Copper Company.

Downtown Berkeley

Saturday, March 16

Welcome our newest vendor, Edith's Pie by picking up a slice. The best dishes are made from the best ingredients, and Edith's sources directly from our markets.

23rd Annual Bay Area Seed Swap

March 22, 2024; 6–8pm

Ecology Center Store & Resource Center

Join us on Friday, March 22, for one of our most popular events of the year. Share precious seeds and connect with fellow gardeners at this free event. We welcome all seed and gardening enthusiasts – whether you are a new or experienced grower!

More Info & to RSVP

Bioneers Conference Returns to Berkeley with a Truly Amazing Program

March 28–30

Bioneers returns to Berkeley for its 35th anniversary conference—providing a unique nexus to connect, align, and set a path forward to scale brilliant social movements to enact the kinds of breakthrough solutions that this earth needs now.

The conference invites you to immerse yourself in three captivating evenings of thought-provoking films, indulge in an unforgettable double-bill concert, and engage in numerous enriching conversations that promise to be unlike any other.

Plus, Ecology Center will host a panel discussion on Seed to System: Food Equity Leaders Creating Systemic Change. Ecology Center members receive a 20% discount.