Ripe Now! Green Strawberries I Earth Day events round-up, pasta pop-up, and more

Perhaps you’ve noticed chefs wheeling flats of green strawberries around the South Berkeley Farmers’ Market. Why intercept these fruits before they’re fully ripe? Because they feel like a different fruit entirely. They feel more melon than berry, and their seeds are more prominent, offering a toasted-sesame type crunch. They’re worth savoring, especially given how many strawberry crops have been lost to flooding this year. You can find baskets at Dirty Girl Produce on Tuesdays.

Easy Eating: The most common way to prepare green strawberries is to pickle them. See the recipe below, and snack on them alongside a Stepladder chevre, Good Faith olives, and Flying Disc dates. Most folks folks won't snack on them as they would a ripe strawberry, but they do work nicely in salads when sliced thinly — especially one dressed with a sweet, Bariani balsamic.

Pickled Green Strawberries

Ingredients

2 cups green (unripe) strawberries, washed
1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
2 bay leaves
1/4 cup Bernie's apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons honey
1 ½ teaspoons coarse salt

Instructions

Clean and dry a jar big enough to hold strawberries (at least 2 1/2 cups in capacity). Fill jar with strawberries, peppercorns, and bay leaves.
Simmer vinegar, water, honey, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat until honey and salt are dissolved, about 8 minutes. Let cool completely.
Pour mixture over strawberries to cover completely. Seal jar and give it a few gentle shakes.
Refrigerate at least 12 hours, and serve within 2 days.

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Current Vendors

Saturday Downtown Berkeley

Achadinha Cheese Co.

All Things Sharp

Andy's Thai

Avalos Farm

~~Bariani~~

Beber Almond Milk

Bolani

Big Little Bowl

Brokaw Ranch

Bun Bao

Cafe Zambala

Coracao

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

Mill Valley Pasta

Obour Hummus

Phoenix Pastificio

Pomo Tierra Orchard

Primavera Tamales

Queen of Sheeba Honey

Riverdog Farm

Smit Farms

Solano Mushroom

~~Summer Solace~~

Stepladder Creamery

Tamales La Oaxaqueña

Three Stone Hearth

Tony's Kettle Corn + Crepes

True Grass Farm

Your Granola Garden

Tuesday South Berkeley

All Things Sharp

(every 2nd & 4th week)

Andy's Thai

Avalos Farm

Basecamp Bakery

Brokaw Ranch

Bolani

Blossom Bluff Orchard

Crane Creek Growers

Donna's Tamales

Dirty Girl Produce

Flying Disc

Frog Hollow Farm

Full Belly Farm

Good Faith Farm

Kaki Farms

Kashiwase Farm

Lifefood Gardens

Little Fish Co.

Lucero Organics

Massa Organics

Massage

Oya Organics

Phoenix Pastificio

Queen of Sheeba Honey

Riverdog Farm

Roadside Rotisserie

Sea to Sky Farm

Solano Mushroom

Soul Flower Farm

Smit Farms

Stepladder Creamery

The Fruit Tree

Three Stone Hearth

Yumé Boshi

Thursday North Berkeley

All Things Sharp

Big Little Bowl

Blossom Bluff Orchards

Donna's Tamales

E&H Mushroom Farm

Farm Chocolate

Frog Hollow Farm

Golden Rule Organics

Happy Boy Farms

Little Fish

Massa Organics

Morell's Bread

Phoenix Pastificio

Riverdog Farm

Roadside Rotisserie

Summer Solace

The Fruit Tree

Uplands Apiary

*lists subject to change

Seasonal Vendor Breaks

Billy Bob Orchards: away until August

Kashiwase Farms: return to North Berkeley in late May

Lou Vue: return TBD, likely early May

Lucero Organics: return Tuesday, April 25

Pomo Tierra Orchard: away from North Berkeley market until August

Sierra Cascade Blueberries: return mid June

Triple Delight Blueberries: return mid May

Vang Family Farm: likely early May

Learn More About the Berkeley Farmers' Markets

Earth Day Event Round-Up

Saturday, April 22, 2023

Looking for a great way to celebrate Earth Day this year? Why not start with a trip to Berkeley's great Saturday Farmers' Market, where you can enjoy the best our local farmers and vendors have to offer. From there, head to Earth Day on the Plaza to engage with purpose-driven non-profits and enjoy live performances before making a trip to the Home Electrification Fair at the Brower Center.

Finally, end the day with the nation’s premier environmental and adventure film festival, the 2023 Wild and Scenic Film Festival. The Festival combines stellar filmmaking, beautiful cinematography and first-rate storytelling to explore nature, community activism, adventure, conservation, water, energy and climate change, wildlife, environmental justice, agriculture and more.

Tomorrow: Mill Valley Pasta Pop-Up

Downtown Berkeley Farmers' Market

From bucatini and ramen to novelty seasonings and tomato sauces, come check out the many offerings of Chef Tony Adam's pandemic-project turned business on Saturday, April 22.

View Selection

The Master Gardeners are back!

Downtown Berkeley Farmers' Market

Gardening questions? The Alameda County Master Gardeners have answers. They'll be at the Downtown Berkeley Farmers' market all summer long, every other Saturday beginning tomorrow, April 22.

Book Signing: Tomi Hazel Vaarde

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Ecology Center Store

Wednesday, April 26, is the official release of Tomi Hazel Vaarde's book, Social Forestry: Tending the Land as People of Place, with a book signing with the author. This book is a must for anyone who wants a reciprocating relationship with their communities, themselves, and our awe-inspiring forests and landscapes.

After the book signing, there will be a special livestream viewing of Hazel’s "Eco-Grief & Stewardship Conversation," an Earth Day panel featuring Starhawk.

Learn More

This is a FREE event, and registration is required for the Earth Day panel discussion.

Berkeley Public Schools Fund Community Block Party

Saturday, April 29, 11-3

Civic Center Park (Next to the Farmers' Market!)

See the mission come to life through student performances and exhibits showcasing the talent and brilliance fostered by more equitable public schools. Get hands-on with BHS Robotics, Middle School Maker Spaces, and other activities for all ages.

Bring a picnic blanket and grab lunch from the Downtown Berkeley Farmers' Market! Looking for parking? Try the Center Street Garage (2025 Center St).