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Beets
Abundant and sweet, they can't be beet! This root vegetable is rich in betalain pigment, which removes toxins in the body and helps to purify our liver and blood. They have also been shown to reduce blood pressure and have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Beets are a super versatile vegetable that can be eaten raw, roasted, cooked, juiced and pickled. They can be just as varied in color, ranging from yellow-orange to deep red to purple, depending on the variety. Fun fact: you can use beets in natural dyeing.
Storage Tips:
The
best way to store beets
is by cutting the greens off in order to keep the flavor and firmness. Wash beets and put them in an open container with a wet towel on top, preferably in the fridge. Keep the greens in an airtight container with a little moisture.
Zero Waste:
Don't throw away the tops (greens)! Beet greens are delicious and nutritious. They can be used just like chard or spinach.
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Recipe from the book
Full Moon Feast
by Jessica Prentice
Serves 4
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter, ghee, or olive oil
1 onion, sliced or chopped small
½ teaspoon (or more, to taste) caraway seeds (optional)
1 carrot, thinly sliced
1 stalk celery or 1 parsley root, thinly sliced
1 small can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes or tomato puree, or 1 tablespoon tomato paste (optional)
1 bunch medium red beets (or one very large red beet), peeled and thinly sliced
1 quart beef stock or filtered water
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste
½ cup beet kvass or rusell, ¼ cup brine from homemade pickles, or a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, to taste
Sauerkraut, made from either red or green cabbage or add a handful of shredded fresh cabbage after the carrots
Crème fraîche, sour cream, or yogurt for garnish
Fresh dill, chives, or scallions for garnish (optional)
Directions:
Heat the butter or oil in a medium-sized soup pot. Add the onions with the caraway seeds and saute for a moment. Add the carrot and celery, and saute until soft. (If you are using fresh cabbage instead or sauerkraut, add it now.)
Add the diced tomatoes, tomato puree, or tomato paste and heat through.
Add the beets and the stock or water. It is good to cover the vegetables with liquid by about ½ inch. You may need to add a bit more water or stock to make sure this is the case.
Add the bay leaf and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer until all is tender.
Turn off the heat and remove the bay leaf.
Add a pinch of salt and a grind of pepper to the pot. Taste the soup and adjust the seasonings by adding salt, pepper, and kvass, brine, or vinegar to taste.
Put a spoonful of sauerkraut in the middle of a shallow bowl and then ladle the soup over it.
Serve with a dollop of crème fraîche, sour cream, or yogurt and a sprinkling of fresh dill, chives, or scallions if desired.
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Find the Perfect Valentine's Gift for your Sweetie!
Is your Valentine spicy or sweet, either way you'll find unique and special gifts for your loved ones at the Berkeley Farmers' Market. Here are some great suggestions:
Local, small-batch fermented chile elixirs from Sexi Spice with flavors that include wood-fire chiles, medicinal mushrooms, and herbs that make for unique gifts.
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Pick up a box of handmade organic vegan chocolates sweetened with coconut sugar from Coracao for a decadent treat.
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Sweet berry jam from Swanton Berry Farm or summer preserves from Frog Hollow
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Locally roasted and sustainably sourced coffee from Foggy Hills Coffee |
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Coffee Pop Up!
We're excited to welcome
Foggy Hills Coffee for a coffee pop up at the Downtown Berkeley Farmers' Market on 2/8, while our new coffee vendor
Higher Land Coffee are on a sourcing trip to Thailand and Vietnam.
Foggy Hills Coffee Co. is a small family owned and operated company that was founded in Berkeley, California in 2018. For us, coffee is a family affair. From roasting and packaging, to sitting down together with a fresh cup of coffee, our goal is to bring people together over great coffee. We carefully curate our coffee profiles, selecting only the highest quality beans from farmers that have sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. ⠀
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This platform has also allowed us to give back to a cause that is close to our hearts. Roasting for Research is our non-profit initiative that supports and raises awareness for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Find out more at http://www.roastingforresearch.com.
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Events
Sunday, February 9, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Ecology Center Classroom
Come make your own beeswax cloth food wrap at the Ecology Center!
Steer away from disposable plastic wraps with a reusable, safe alternative: beeswax cloth food wrap. In this workshop we will make our own wraps that can be used to cover containers in the fridge and keep bread, your lunch, or vegetables fresh. It even works well for cheese!
Sunday, February 9, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
San Francisco
Saturday, February 22, 11:00 am - 1:30 pm
Ecology Center Classroom
This FREE worm compost workshop will show you an easy way to transform your food scraps into plant food with the help of red wiggler worms. This hands-on workshop with StopWaste staff Jeannie Pham will cover the benefits and uses of worm composting.
Sunday, February 23, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Oakland
Slow Food East Bay's
series of events celebrates the cultural food traditions of immigrants, refugees and displaced people, learning how food helps people stay connected to homeland and also engage with new communities. Attendees will be inspired by stories from chefs and community organizations, learning how diversity and migration have helped in the development of our food system.... And, frankly, make it delicious!
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50th Anniversary & Earth Day Concert & Celebration
Saturday, April 18, 2020, 10 am - 3 pm
This year, we will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Ecology Center, and it will also mark the monumental founding of Earth Day, celebrated by millions around the globe. Against the colorful backdrop of the Ecology Center's Downtown Berkeley Farmers' Market, this FREE community event will bring together like-minded organizations and activities for the entire family. The event will feature Ecology Center lead activities, live music, food, drinks, and appearances by key figures in the environmental movement.
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Farmers' Market Hours & Locations
EBT and WIC Fruit & Vegetable checks gladly accepted and Market Match incentives distributed
at all markets.
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South Berkeley
Tuesdays, 2 - 6:30 pm
Adeline St. at 63rd St.,
Berkeley
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Thursdays, 3 - 7 pm
Shattuck Ave. at Vine St., Berkeley
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Downtown Berkeley
Saturdays,
10 am - 3 pm
Center St. at MLK Jr. Way, Berkeley
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[Photo credit: Berkeley Farmers' Market Staff/Vendors, and Foggy Hills Coffee
]
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