In season at the Old LA (Highland Park) Farmers Market

By Seth Budick - http://www.friends4oldlafarmersmarket.org -Cross-posted from NelaList: 

Citrus, including delicious Satsuma and Paige tangerines, continues to dominate the farmers  market. Do your part to battle scurvy by enjoying pomelos, grapefruits, oranges, cara-caras, blood oranges, Meyer lemons, kumquats and tangelos. Fresh herbs, apples, asian pears, cherimoyas and other winter fruits are also all available at the market, consult http://www.friends4oldlafarmersmarket.org for a full list.

In addition to the excellent avocados and citrus that Spencer Farms brings to the market each week, Pancho was also selling the unusual chilacayote squash this past week. Native to Central and South America, chilacayotes, also known as Malabar gourds or shark-fin melons, come somewhere between a cucumber and watermelon in flavor and have the texture of spaghetti squash as the pulp separates into its component strands when cooked. I've been experimenting with chilacayotes, which are often used in soups, candied, or made into jams, and I would love to hear from anyone with a secret family recipe. Comment here and share your chilacoyote delicacies with the world! And while you're at the market, pick up fresh nuts, cheese and fruit preserves and enjoy fresh tamales and honey  pineapple chicken for dinner.

Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.

The Highland Park Certified Farmers Market is located adjacent to the Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way between Ave. 57 & 58 and operates Tuesdays from 3-7PM.

- Seth Budick