Ripe Now! Sonora Wheat I Food demos, poetry, & more at our markets this summer

Have you noticed the bags of Sonora wheat at the Riverdog Farm checkout?

This soft, white variety of wheat was popularized in the United States after arriving in the Sonoran desert in the 1600s where the dry climate supported abundant growth. They were used in soups like pozole and ground into masa harina for the first-ever flour tortillas. Interestingly, this variety’s drought tolerance is what kept it from taking off as a commercial grain – it couldn't quite sustain the intense-watering that came with early (and arguably present) agricultural mechanization. Luckily, we have folks like Riverdog Farm keeping this heirloom alive and organic through pesticide-free dry-farming just an hour north in Guinda. Pick up a pound to prepare at home, or try their wheat in bread form over at Morell’s Bread. Just ask for the Sonora Loaf.

Wheat Berry Salad with Cucumbers, Herbs, & Feta

Serves 6.

Wheat

1 c Sonora wheat from Riverdog Farm
1 tsp red wine vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil

Salad

1 tsp red wine vinegar
fine sea salt
2 tbsp olive oil
2 Persian cucumbers, sliced
3 handfuls of salad greens of choice
2 c loosely packed chopped basil, parsley, mint, dill, and cilantro (whatever herbs you have on hand!)
6 oz of feta, crumbled

To prepare heirloom wheat, dry-toast wheat berries in medium pot over medium-high heat 3 - 5 minutes, or until a shade darker and fragrant. Let cool to room temperature. Cover with cool water and soak overnight (leaving at room temperature is fine).
Drain wheat berries. Fill same pot three-quarters full with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Add generous pinch of salt and return wheat berries. Lower heat and simmer 35 - 60 minutes. Drain and return to pot.
Off heat, toss still-warm grains with vinegar, another pinch salt, and olive oil. Taste and adjust seasoning. Let cool to room temperature.
Meanwhile, to prepare salad, whisk together vinegar, 2 pinches salt, and olive oil in large mixing bowl. Using hands, gently toss cukes, herbs, and cooled wheat berries in the vinaigrette with greens and half the herbs. Taste and add more salt, acid, or oil, as needed. Turn out salad on wide serving platter and top with feta and remaining herbs.

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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

Edith's Pie

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

Queen of Sheeba Honey

Riverdog Farm

~~Roli Roti~~

Smit Farms

Solano Mushroom

Stepladder Creamery

Tamales La Oaxaqueña

Three Stone Hearth

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

Triple Delight Blueberries

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

Bun Bao

Chay's Farm

Coracao Confections

Donna's Tamales

Dirty Girl Produce

Farm Chocolate

Frog Hollow Farm

Full Belly Farm

Kaki Farms

Kashiwase Farm

La More Kitchen

Lifefood Gardens

Little Fish Co.

Massa Organics

~~Muzhik~~

Narci Organics

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

Triple Delight Blueberries

~~Yume Boshi~~

(every other week)

Thursday 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

Little Fish

Massa Organics

Massage

Morell's Bread

~~Muzhik~~

Phoenix Pastificio

Pomo Tierra Orchard

Riverdog Farm

Roadside Rotisserie

Saltie Co. Granola

Tanahashi Farm new!

The Fruit Tree

Triple Delight Blueberries

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

Cross-Walks & Bike Lanes & Buses- Oh My! San Pablo Redesign

Tuesday, May 21, 5-6pm

Ecology Center Store & Resource Center

In addition to being home to the Ecology Center Store & Resource Center, San Pablo Avenue unfortunately holds the title of third highest number of traffic crashes in Alameda County. To address this, the Alameda County Transportation Commission is leading a project to increase pedestrian and cyclist safety and improve transit service. After you get your groceries at the South Berkeley Farmers’ Market, join us at the EcoStore for a presentation to learn more about this project and share your thoughts on what San Pablo should look like!

RSVP

Environmental Justice Poetry Tour continues!

Saturday May 25, 2024; 1–2p

Downtown Berkeley Farmers' Market

Grab a seat at the Downtown market and soak in spoken word from Gabriel Cortez – the Ecology Center's Poet-in-Residence. Gabriel will share new work that sheds light on environmental justice, food and land sovereignty, and local lineages of resistance alongside a cohort of local poets.

Learn More

Event Series: Farm Fresh Cooking to Prevent Food Waste

The first of our Stop-Waste sponsored food demo series kicks off soon! Join Chef Helga Alessio, a graduate of the StopWaste Environmental Educator Training, as she cooks her way through out market, highlighting the ways you can make the most of your grocery haul. She'll show you how to transform transforming your kitchen scraps into delectable dishes, all while reducing food waste and stretching your grocery budget.

Dates & Times

South Berkeley Farmers' Market: Tuesday, May 28, 2024; 3–5p

North Berkeley Farmers' Market: Thursday, May 30; 4–6p

Downtown Berkeley Farmers' Market: Saturday, June 1;11a–1p

Market Match to fall back to $10 come July 2

We regret to inform our Market Match customers that due to a projected deficit in the California state budget, Market Match will be reduced from $15 back to $10 starting July 2nd. If you have any questions, email us here or stop by our information booth to chat with a market manager.