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Missing cool-weather spinach this summer? Give Water spinach a try. Unlike some of us, this member of the morning glory family is thriving in this heat. 


Like its name suggests, this crop traditionally grows in aquatic conditions. It’s actually a vine that meanders along the tops of freshwater habitats in Southeast Asia, where it's native. Michael Vue of Lue Vue Farm is able to grow this Hmong staple locally and in the soil by simply keeping an eye on his soil’s moisture levels.


This variety’s distinct hollow stems and long, thin, arrow-shaped leaves make it easy to identify at the market. Its flavor is mild and slightly earthier than spinach, but sweetens nicely when sauteed. Michael recommends preparing water spinach simply, with a potent, contrasting flavor like garlic or chili. Check out the recipe below for how to prep and stir fry them to perfection. 


Find Water spinach on Tuesdays at Lou Vue Farm and Saturdays at Vang Family Farm. At only $3 a bunch, you can’t go wrong!

Sauteed Water Spinach

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch water spinach
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • optional: fermented soybean paste
  • optional: 5-6 leaves fresh mint


Instructions

  1. Trim away the bottom 1-2 inches of the water spinach stems.
  2. Cut the stalks into 3 inch lengths, including the stems. Soak in a large basin of cold water to remove sand and dirt. Pat dry.
  3. Use a mortar pestle to crush the garlic, and then the peppers. Set both aside.
  4. Set a pan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and wait for about 1 minute or until the oil is hot.
  5. Add the garlic and chili mixture and stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
  6. Put the chopped water spinach in the pan and stir for about 2 minutes or until slightly wilted.
  7. Add the soy sauce, followed by the fermented soybean paste. Continue to stir to mix all the ingredients until the water spinach turns bright green and more wilted, about 2 minutes. 
  8. Serve & top with fresh mint. For best results, enjoy immediately.
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Current Vendors

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 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

Massage

Morell's Bread

Obour Hummus

Peach Jamboree

Pomo Tierra Orchard

Phoenix Pastificio

Primavera Tamales

Queen of Sheeba Honey

Riverdog Farm

Roli Roti

Sierra Cascade Blueberries

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 

South Berkeley


Andy's Thai

Alexandre Family Farm

Basecamp Bakery

Brokaw Ranch

Bolani

Blossom Bluff Orchard

Bun Bao

Chay's Farm

Donna's Tamales

Dirty Girl Produce

Frog Hollow Farm

Full Belly Farm

Golden Rule Organics

Kaki Farms

Kashiwase Farm

Lifefood Gardens

Little Fish Co.

Massa Organics

Milk Cloud Bakery

Muzhik

Narci Organics

Oakland Bloom

Oya Organics

Peach Jamboree

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)

North Berkeley


ALD & Y Organics

All Things Sharp

Big Little Bowl

Blossom Bluff Orchards

Bun Bao

Cactus Dreams

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

Little Fish

Lucero Organics

Massa Organics

Massage

Morell's Bread

Muzhik

Phoenix Pastificio

Pomo Tierra Orchard

Riverdog Farm

Roadside Rotisserie

Saltie Co. Granola

Stepladder Creamery

Tanahashi Farm

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.

Upcoming Vendor Breaks

Downtown Berkeley

South Berkeley

North Berkeley

Last day for Sierra Cascade and Triple Delight Blueberries is tomorrow, Saturday 7/13.

Muzhik will be absent Tuesday 7/23 & 7/30.

Sea to Sky Farm will return Tuesday 8/6.

Muzhik will be absent Thursday 7/25 & 8/1.

Learn More About the Berkeley Farmers' Markets

Huge win for farmers and CalFresh cardholders with Market Match budget extension

Gov. Newsom just approved the 2024-25 state budget and it includes $35 million for the CA Nutriton Incentive Program (CNIP) which funds Market Match. In other words, Market Match is fully funded through 2027!


For 15 years, Market Match has matched CalFresh spending dollar-for-dollar with vouchers for fresh produce at 293 farmers markets, CSAs, mobile markets, and farm stands across the state. The program also ensures millions of dollars are spent directly with small CA family farmers who use sustainable agricultural practices.


A massive thank you to all our supporters who signed petitions, wrote letters, joined calls, and rallied alongside the Ecology Center to save Market Match! We could not have done this without you.

TOMORROW: The Perils of Plastic Foodware and the Path to Healthier Materials with Sue Chiang

Downtown Berkeley Farmers' Market

Saturday July 13; 11:30a–12:30p

Don't miss this informative session hosted by Sue Chiang, the Director of Green & Clean Purchasing Program at the Center for Environmental Health. The talk will be followed by a raffle with reusable foodware prizes!

Learn More

Other upcoming Plastic Free July events:

Solutions to Plastic Pollution Webinar & Film Screening; Saturday July 13

Recycling Center Tour, Saturday, July 20

Your Zero Waste Home: Waste Audit Demo, Saturday, July 27

Plastic Free July Trivia Night: Wednesday, July 31 

Food Demos All Month Long!

Farm Fresh Cooking to Prevent Food Waste

South Berkeley: Tuesday July 16; 3–5p

North Berkeley: Thursday July 18; 4–6p

Downtown Berkeley: Saturday July 20; 11a–1p

This food waste-focused food demo returns for another season – summer! Join StopWaste educator Chef Helga as she transform our market's summer's bounty into simple, delicious, and affordable meals.

Learn More

Induction Range Demos

Saturday July 20, 2024, 10a–3p

Downtown Berkeley Farmers' Market

South Berkeley Farmers' Market

Tuesday July 23 & 30, 2024, 2–6:30p

Chat with induction experts from the Berkeley-based Channing Street Copper Company, or stop by to see a range in action!

Learn More

Upcoming Events at the Berkeley Farmers' Markets

Saturday July 13: Perils of Plastic Food Ware with Sue Chiang

Saturday July 13: Ecology Center Youth Environmental Academy Tabling

Tuesday July 16: Farm-Fresh Cooking to Prevent Food Waste Demo

Tuesday July 16: Shotgun Players Tabling

Tuesday July 16: Kids Art Table

Thursday July 18: Farm-Fresh Cooking to Prevent Food Waste Demo

Thursday July 18: Fresh Approach Tabling

Thursday July 18: Kids Art Table

Thursday July 18: Girl Scouts Tabling

Saturday July 20: UCB Blood Pressure Project Tabling

Saturday July 20: Farm-Fresh Cooking to Prevent Food Waste Demo

Saturday July 20: Channing St. Copper Demo

Saturday July 20: AC Master Gardeners Tabling

Tuesday July 23: Kids Art Table

Tuesday July 23: Channing St. Copper Demo

Thursday July 25: Kids Art Table

Thursday July 25: UCB Blood Pressure Project Tabling

Thursday July 25: AC Master Gardeners Tabling

Farmers' Market Hours & Locations
EBT and WIC Fruit & Vegetable checks gladly accepted and Market Match incentives distributed at all markets.
South Berkeley
Tuesdays, 2 - 6:30 pm
Adeline St. at 63rd St., 
Berkeley
North Berkeley
Thursdays, 3 - 7 pm 
Shattuck Ave. at Rose St., Berkeley
Downtown Berkeley
Saturdays, 10 am - 3 pm
Center St. at MLK Jr. Way, Berkeley

510.548.3333 | farmersmarkets@ecologycenter.org | ecologycenter.org/fm 

 

[Photo credit: Berkeley Farmers' Market Staff]