Ripe Now! Shishito Peppers I Meet Sea to Sky Farm

With temperatures finally rising this week, we’re taking a moment to shout out heat-loving peppers, specifically the Shishito, a Japanese native. Most Shishito peppers are mild and slightly sweet, but every once in a while, you might stumble upon a feisty one that brings the heat. It's like playing a game of culinary roulette! Best enjoyed blistered or grilled, these peppers offer a delightful crunch and a flavor profile that balances the perfect mix of earthiness, sweetness, and a hint of smokiness. Add them to stir-fries, salads, or simply enjoy them as a tasty snack.

Find shishitos at Lucero Organic Farms, Riverdog Farm, Full Belly Farm, and Oya Organics.

Easy Eating: You may have seen Blistered Shishitos on summer menus, but why not make them at home? Take them up a notch with a sprinkle of Ume Shiso Furikake from the Yume Boshi stand. For dinner, try this Catalan-inspired Charred Cauliflower and Shishito Peppers with Picada Sauce.

Ingredients

6 ounces soba noodles
a big handful of shishito peppers
2 tablespoons thinly chopped scallions
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 small ripe avocado + (optional) squeeze of lime, or an additional dash of rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
(optional) add a protein: tofu, edamame, salmon, etc.

Soba Noodles with Avocado & Blistered Shishitos

From the Full Belly Farm Kitchen

Instructions

Boil a medium sized pot of water and preheat a cast iron skillet or broiler.
Cook soba noodles until al dente. Drain and transfer to a medium bowl.
While your soba boils, roast shishito peppers in a preheated cast iron skillet or under the broiler. Let them roast until black and blistered (usually 8-10 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Slice off the stems and coarsely chop the peppers, before tossing them in the bowl with the noodles.
Toss noodles with scallions, chopped shishitos, sesame oil, soy sauce, and rice vinegar. Top with sliced avocado (see tip below) and sesame seeds. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Add tofu or a protein of your choice to make this a bigger meal.

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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

Brokaw Ranch

Bun Bao

C&M Farm

Cafe Zambala

Coracao

Crane Creek Growers

Dirty Girl Produce

Flying Disc Ranch

Four Sisters Farm

Frog Hollow Farm

~~Gattonelli~~

(every other week)

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

Mill Valley Pasta Co.

Morell's Bread

Obour Hummus

Peach Jamboree

Phoenix Pastificio

Primavera Tamales

Queen of Sheeba Honey

Riverdog Farm

Sierra Cascade Blueberries

Smit Farms

Solano Mushroom

Stepladder Creamery

Tamales La Oaxaqueña

~~Three Stone Hearth~~

Tony's Kettle Corn + Crepes

Triple Delight Blueberries

True Grass Farm

Vang Family Farm

VIO Pastry

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

Chay's Farm

Donna's Tamales

Dirty Girl Produce

Farm Chocolate

Frog Hollow Farm

Full Belly Farm

Good Faith Farm

(every other week)

Habitera Farm

Kaki Farms

Kashiwase Farm

Lifefood Gardens

Little Fish Co.

Lou Vue

Massa Organics

Oya Organics

Peach Jamboree

Phoenix Pastificio

Puorro Oats

Queen of Sheeba Honey

Riverdog Farm

Roadside Rotisserie

Solano Mushroom

Soul Flower Farm

Smit Farms

Stepladder Creamery

The Fruit Tree

Three Stone Hearth

Yume Boshi

Thursday North Berkeley

All Things Sharp

Big Little Bowl

Blossom Bluff Orchards

~~Brown Cap Soft Serve~~

Chay's Farm

Crane Creek Growers

Donna's Tamales

E&H Mushroom Farm

Frog Hollow Farm

Golden Rule Organics

Little Fish

Massa Organics

Mendoza Organics

Morell's Bread

Phoenix Pastificio

Riverdog Farm

Roadside Rotisserie

The Fruit Tree

Uplands Apiary

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

Vendor Ins

New Vendors:

VIO Pastry: starts this Saturday!

Vendor Outs

Vendors taking seasonal breaks:

Thursday market: Bernie's Apple Cider
Tuesday market: Flying Disc Ranch

Learn More About the Berkeley Farmers' Markets

Meet Sea to Sky Farm

Perhaps you're a fan of their sweet potatoes or herbs, but how much do you know about people, legacy, and practices that make up Sea to Sky Farm?

Watch the video to follow owner Chris Laughlin through this fourth generation family farm nestled in Bonny Doon, California. They've just joined our Saturday market downtown, but you can visit them on Tuesdays in South Berkeley as well.

Watch Now

National Farmers' Week is just around the corner

It's nearly National Farmers' Market Week! From helping stimulate local economies to increasing access to fresh produce, this week showcases the vital roles farmers' markets play in our nation’s food system. Celebrate with us all week long at all three markets. Stay tuned for special programming!

Want to do some good this Plastic Free July? Join us at the South Berkeley Farmers' Market!

Recycling 101

Tuesday, July 18, 2–6:30p

If you have questions about what to do and where it goes, join us for Recycling 101! Leo Mendoza, the Recycling Education Coordinator from the Ecology Center, will be at the market to provide information on basic recycling sorting and to answer all your recycling questions, no matter how tough. Learn More.

Neighborhood Clean Up & Brand Audit

Tuesday, July 25, 2:30–6p

From the market, we'll be heading out to clean up the neighborhood and, with the help of #BreakFreeFromPlastic, inventory what we find. Join the Ecology Center in taking part in this movement, and leveraging the information to make a lasting impact. Volunteers will leave with reusable produce bags to help them continue to keep plastic out of their lives. Learn More.

Plastic Free July Raffle

Now through July 31

While you're at any of Berkeley's Farmers' Markets, buy a ticket for our Plastic Free July Fundraising Raffle. For more than 50 years the Ecology Center has been at the forefront of the fight for a sustainable, waste free, future. In addition to winning some cool prizes, like gift cards, gardening classes, and spa visits, you'll know you're supporting us in continuing in this effort. Tickets are also available at the Ecology Center Store, Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 6pm. Good luck! Learn More.

The Ecology Center EcoStore Pilot Refill Program launches July 18!

With our new Pilot Refill Program, you can now make the Ecology Center Store your one-stop zero-waste shop! Grab your plastic-free essentials, a zero waste gift for a loved one, and refill your household products — all in one fell swoop! Bring your containers; we'll also have jars for sale. Looking forward to having you shop with us!