By Lindsay Ringer
Farmers Markets are about finding what’s in season, meeting the people who cultivate produce, and supporting local business. Learn more about local markets @ SLO County Farmers' Markets.
The Los Osos Farmers Market happens on Mondays from 2-4:30 pm. It is casually glorious with fresh squeezed juice, veggie stands, organic meats, and food vendors. My friend runs an oyster catering company (Flying Colors) and once in a while she heads to farmers to exchange a satchel of fresh oysters for the mushrooms, carrots, kale, and onions of her choosing. She is also known to hunt down citrus melodies for her Mininet dressings for the oysters. Her father is the founder of Kandarian Organic Farm which has historically shared its hearty grains with the community here and now are found at organic food stores. But the real secret to Los Osos Farmers is a stop at Beerwood for good company, live music and a cider or two.
This past week, I went to the San Luis Obispo Farmers Market on Thursday with my friend Alex who was eager to score some dinner. Early on, she and I spotted this beautiful mushroom medley. In the produce section of the stands, we passed Cal Poly Plant Sciences, Francisco Valasquez Farms, Shanley Farms, Venegas Farms, Windswept Farms. We stopped at the berries of Bautista family farms and the Farmermaid Flower stand arranged by variety. In the midst of the food vendors, I noticed a Taste the Bloom honey stand. We plundered dinner from Shalimar food truck and Taste and Greek Restaurant and dessert from the LOKUM store. Then we hiked up Terrace Hill with her dog who requires 4 walks a day!
Earlier this summer, I did a beach walk with an old friend Lissie in Avila. In spite of the fact that she is due this fall, she went right into the ocean and started bobbing. On our way home she asked about the Arroyo Grande farmer’s market. This market runs 12-2:30 pm parallel to Grand Avenue on Olohan Alley. She pulled a canvas bag out of her purse and started shopping for vegetables for her family home in Nipomo. What I wasn’t expecting was stopping at a charming florist stand where Lissie talked shop for 15 minutes with the owner, since she has a wedding floral company (Lupinora_Floral).