Ripe Now! Gusanito Beans I New BIPOC, woman-owned businesses at our markets, Halloween festivities and more!

If you’ve got the time, shelling beans can be a wonderfully therapeutic – and rewarding – task. This week, we’re shelling Dirty Girl Produce’s Gusanito beans. These gorgeous, magenta "little worms" are packed to the brim with perfectly plump, pure-white beans.

Once out of the shell, prepping Gusanitos can be as easy as simmering them in broth for 25 to 35 minutes, but check out the recipe below to really treat them right. When really paid attention to those last few minutes of simmering, these beans turn out wonderfully creamy and full of flavor. Freeze them out of the shell or dry them in the shell to enjoy them when the season’s long over.

Find Gusanitos and other shelling beans for just a few more weeks at Dirty Girl’s stand on Saturdays and Tuesdays.

Joshua McFadden's Perfect Shelling Beans

adapted from The Six Seasons, makes 5 cups cooked beans

Ingredients

4 cups fresh shelling beans
1 small whole dried red chili pepper
2 bay leaves
1 garlic clove, smashed and peeled
Salt
8 cups water
extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

Put the beans, chili, bay leaves, garlic, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a large pot. Add 8 cups of water.
Bring everything just barely to a boil over high heat, then immediately reduce the heat and adjust so that the beans are simmering, but not actually boiling. Cook uncovered until the beans are about halfway soft—soft enough to bite them with no crunch, but they’ll still be quite dry and crumbly inside.
At this point, add another heaping teaspoon of salt and a glug of olive oil. Keep cooking at a gentle simmer and check frequently. Stop cooking the beans when they are very creamy and tender all the way through but not yet mushy.
When you are just about at that perfect point, move the pot off the heat and let the beans cool in their liquid. They’ll finish softening the last few degrees as they cool. Add more salt and olive oil to taste before serving and enjoying.

Donate to help keep our farmers' markets going strong!

If you would like to acknowledge the Berkeley Farmers' Markets,

please write our name in the notes section of the donation form.

Current Vendors

Downtown Berkeley

Achadinha Cheese Co.

All Things Sharp

Andy's Thai

Avalos Farm

Bariani Olive Oil

Beber Almondmilk

Bolani

Big Little Bowl

Bun Bao

C+M Farm

Coracao Confections

Dirty Girl Produce

Edith's Pie

Flying Disc Ranch

Four Sisters Farm

Frog Hollow Farm

Gattonelli

Good Faith Farm

(every other week)

Golden Rule Organics

Happy Boy Farms

Higher Land Coffee

Joodooboo Tofu

Kaki Farm

Kashiwase Farm

Laguna Garden Bakery

Lifefood Gardens

Little Fish

Lucero Organics

Massage

Miss Bee Haven

Morell's Bread

Obour Hummus

Pomo Tierra Orchard

Phoenix Pastificio

Primavera Tamales

Queen of Sheeba Honey

Riverdog Farm

Roli Roti

Smit Farms

Solano Mushroom

Stepladder Creamery

Tamales La Oaxaqueña

Three Stone Hearth

True Grass Farms

Vang Family Farm

VIO Pastry

Your Granola Garden

South Berkeley

Andy's Thai

Alexandre Family Farm

Basecamp Bakery

Billy Bob Orchard

Brokaw Ranch

Bolani

Blossom Bluff Orchard

Bun Bao

Chay's Farm

Donna's Tamales

Dirty Girl Produce

Frog Hollow Farm

Full Belly Farm

Flying Disc Ranch

Golden Rule Organics

Kaki Farms

Kashiwase Farm

Little Fish Co.

Lucero Organics

Massa Organics

Muzhik the Traveling Tailor

Narci Organics

Oya Organics

Phoenix Pastificio

Queen of Sheeba Honey

Riverdog Farm

Roadside Rotisserie

Rufi's Cacao

Sea to Sky Farm

~~Silver Sky Ranch~~

(every other week)

Solano Mushroom

Smit Farms

Stepladder Creamery

Summer Solace

(every other week)

The Fruit Tree

Three Stone Hearth

~~Yume Boshi~~

(every other week)

North Berkeley

ALD & Y Organics

All Things Sharp

Big Little Bowl

Blossom Bluff Orchards

Bun Bao

Chay's Farm

Crane Creek Growers

Donna's Tamales

E&H Mushroom Farm

Edith's Pie

Farmor's Dressing

Frog Hollow Farm

Golden Rule Organics

Kashiwase Farm

Lifefood Garden

Little Fish

Lucero Organics

Massa Organics

Massage

Morell's Bread

Muzhik the Traveling Tailor

Phoenix Pastificio

Pomo Tierra Orchard

Rasa Rasam

Riverdog Farm

Roadside Rotisserie

Tanahashi Farm

The Fruit Tree

Uplands Apiary

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

Learn More About the Berkeley Farmers' Markets

New BIPOC, woman-owned vendors to look out for at our markets!

Rufi's Cacao

South Berkeley Farmers' Market

The sweet, rich taste of Oaxaca – now available at the South Berkeley Farmers' Market. Mole, homemade Oaxacan drinking & snacking chocolate, and pan de yema in time for Dia de los Muertos. Rufi's Cacao is an immigrant-owned business coming to us from local small business incubator Oakland Bloom.

Rasa Rasam

North & Downtown Berkeley Farmers' Markets

Ever tried rasam? Rasam is a South Indian broth typically made with various spices to aid in immunity, energy, and digestion. This particular rasam is made with love right here in Berkeley, and is perfect for the cooler days ahead.

Food demos ALL week long!

October 22–26, 2024

All three Berkeley Farmers' Markets

In need of some fall cooking inspiration? Chef Helga from our partner StopWaste is back with the Farm-Fresh Cooking to Prevent Food Waste food demo series. Stop by any of the markets at the following dates and times to learn how to make the most of your farmers' market haul this fall.

South Berkeley Farmers' Market:

Tuesday, 10/22; 3–5p

North Berkeley Farmers' Market:

Thursday, 10/24; 4–6p

Downtown Berkeley Farmers' Market:

Saturday, 10/26; 11a–1p

Learn More

Halloween & Día de los Muertos Festivities

Thursday, October 31, 2024; 3–7p

North Berkeley Farmers' Market

Celebrate Halloween & Día de los Muertos at the farmers' market! We'll have scary-good tunes, face painting, trick or treating, and pumpkin decorating. BAHIA educator Laura Gonzalez will also come out to help us prepare for Day of the Dead with a paper maché flower workshop. Together we'll decorate a community altár in honor of our loved ones who have passed.

Locavore Wonderland application closing soon

Attention sustainable makers! The last day to apply to vend in our annual gifting series, Locavore Wonderland, throughout the month of December is October 31, 2024. Click the link to apply now or share with folks who may be a good fit.