Everyone knows that many specialty farms exist in the Northern California region, ranging in locations such as Watsonville, all the way up through Northern California, continuing on through Oregon, and up into the state of Washington. Home to the exceptional artichoke, brussel sprout, fava bean, spinach leaves, and much, much more, specialty farms are producing some limited quantities of high quality, very unusual crops, all for you to try in your kitchen. But first you have to know where to find them.
Ocean Mist Farms, located in Castroville, produces a wild vegetable called Cardoon. A member of the thistle family, close relative of the artichoke, cardoon grows six feet tall in the wilds of France, Italy, and along the Mediterranean Sea borders. Now, it grows in Castro Valley. This is a find, standing close to 6 feet tall, with broad lobate leaves and thorny tips. Available year round, its seasonal low point in production is during California's summer months of July, August and September. Ocean Mist is the largest commercial grower of Cardoon in the United States, but it is also grown by Knoll Organic Farms in Brentwood, California as well. Both of these companies distribute their product through VegiWorks Specialty Produce Company, located in South San Francisco. Cardoon lovers use the fleshy leaf base, heart and roots in salad, deep fried or marinated, two of the more popular uses of this vegetable. Simply served raw also is a favorite in European cultures. Its' flavor has been described as slightly spicy, herbaceous, celery like, with a hint of salsa like flavors. Executive Chef Gary Roth of Los Altos Golf and Country Club recommends a recipe called CARDOON FRITTERS, a recipe found in Alice Waters' book Chez Panisse Vegetables.
Chef Michel Nischan of the W Hotel in New York on Lexington Avenue, likes to use a wide variety of mushrooms throughout the winter months. " My favorites right now are winter oyster mushrooms, chicken mushrooms, wine red mushrooms, and pine boletes. I am also very interested in using all different types of greens — lambs quarter is a salad green that we also use chopped and wilted, stinging nettles, sheep sorrel, wood sorrel, and purse lane really holds up to cooking in one dish. I add it to a very clear fragrant fumé with sea beans and seaweed. Sea beans are very interesting and are found in the tidal areas along the coast. I'll forage my own around Norwalk in the Long Island Sound. In France, they are quite popular, and are sold as pousse pierre." However, when we asked Michel to share the name of his full time forager, he replied ever so sincerely, "My forager prefers to remain anonymous because she is very committed to servicing only a handful of clients." (I think he said she will only handle six clients total.) So there you have it. However, our sources tell us that if you are looking for gourmet mushrooms, then you should check out Gourmet Mushroom Basket out of Sebastapol, CA. These folks are experts on the cultivation, care, and preparation methods of all the mushrooms you are familiar with, such as Shiitake, Pompon Blanc, Maitake, Baby Blue Oysters, Black, Brown and Golden Oysters, Brown Clamshell, Alba Clamshell, Cinnamon Cap, Forest Nameko, Trumpet Royal, Morels, Chanterelles, Cepe, and more. For many of the other specialties that Chef Michel mentioned, check with the very reliable and informative John from VegiWorks at 415 559 1449.
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| Chocolate |
Olive Products: |
Visit the El Rey Chocolate website |
For more info about Bleu Foods |
| Grains: |
Seafood: |
Visit the Lotus Foods website |
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Organic Products
Healthy Times
13200 Kirkham Way, No. 104, Poway, CA 92064
Ph: (858) 513-1533
Organic Baby Food and Organic Baby Care
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| Growers |
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Ocean Mist Farms
10855 Cara Mia Parkway
Castroville, CA 95012
Ph: 831-633-2144
www.oceanmist .com
cardoon - (Scolymus Cardunculs),broccoli, artichokes, spinach, fava beans, fennel, rapini, and more.
A Country Garden
3424 Tully Road
Hughson, CA 95326
Ph: 209-883-0088
Fax: 209-883-0942
heirloom tomatoes and spices
Rising C Ranches, Inc
Eric or Kim
5800 South Buttonwillow
Reedley, CA 93654
Ph: 559-637-9546
specialty citrus
Jacobs Farm/Del Cabo
Jenny
Pescadero, CA 94060
Ph: 650-879-0580
Fax: 650-879-0930
Organic tomatoes, herbs, vegetables, and more.
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Sausalito Springs
Catherine Wainer
PO Box 1351
Sausalito, CA 94966
Organic Watercress only
Knoll Organic Farms
Rick or Kristie
Brentwood, CA
Ph: 925-634-5959
Fax: 925-634-4859
Organic herbs, cardoon, fresh horseradish root, grilling woods, more.
Yah-Whooo Technologies
7370 Elizabeth Road
Vacaville, CA 95688
Ph: 707-693-6696
Fax: 707-693-1463
Organic herbs, microgreens, edible flowers, mint tips
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Distributors
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American Fresh
Brian Gardner
23470 Sunset Drive
Los Gatos, CA 95033
Ph: 408-353-6380
Fax: 408-353-1733
Produce, more.
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Elegance Distributors
P.O. Box 275
Eaton Rapids, MI 48827
Ph: 800-487-6157
Fax: 517-663-8153
Exotic produce
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