By Stella Singer—
The season is picking up at the Castro Farmers’ Market! New seasonal vendors are popping up, and, as we head into summer, you will find a greater variety of fresh fruits and veggies at the market. Blueberries have made their debut for the season, and May is one of the best months to buy fresh blueberries from local growers. Alpine Blue is a go-to spot for fresh blueberries, and their stand will also soon boast cherries. The farmers at your local farmers’ market handpick their blueberries when they’re just ready and not before, bringing you only the sweetest blueberries available. Smaller blueberries will have a more intense flavor. Store unwashed berries in your refrigerator for five to seven days. Rinse before serving.
Cherry season has arrived with all of its delicious glory. This year’s early heat brought on an early season and has shaped the crop, meaning the general crop this year suffered a bit from the big heatwave. The good news is that you can now find early varieties like Coral Champagnes, Santina, and Royal Tioga. These are being followed by classics like Bing and Rainier. Late in the season, you can expect Lapin cherries, known for their deep color and extra sweet flavor. It’s always fun to taste all the different varieties, though the most popular among our cherry growers is the Bing. You can likely find cherries at Allard Farms, Ken’s Top Notch, Alpine Blue, and Resendiz Farms. Cherries should be stored unwashed in the refrigerator to help protect their texture and flavor. Enjoy them within two to four days.
Everyone’s got their own favorite way to enjoy the cherry season, and the resounding sentiment from our farmers is that cherries are best eaten fresh; there is no need to cook or bake them. However, if you’re looking to spice up your fruit, try our sweet cherry salsa. This salsa is a perfect bright and seasonal accompaniment to tacos or chips. We recently enjoyed this salsa on some mushroom tacos—an unexpected pairing, but they were yummy and packed with nutrients.
Along with blueberries and cherries, California apricots are starting to make an appearance. The local apricots you can find at the market are honey-sweet because they ripen on the tree rather than in shipping crates. The most prevalent varieties are the Poppy, Patterson, Blenheim, Tilton, and Castlebrite. The season usually runs from late spring to early summer. Fully ripe apricots are soft to the touch, full of juice, and should be eaten as soon as possible. You’ll also find delicious sweet dried apricots at the markets, so you can snack on them all through the year.
The Castro Farmers’ Market takes place every Wednesday from 3 pm to 7 pm at Noe and Market streets. The market is open through November 18. Come shop local, say hello, and enjoy this community space!
Cherry Salsa
2 cups chopped sweet cherries
1 cup chopped cucumber
1/4 cup jalapeño peppers, seeded, finely chopped
1 tablespoon minced cilantro
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons red onion, finely chopped
2 limes, juiced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
Chop onions and mince garlic then add to the juice of 1 lime. Let sit while chopping the rest of the ingredients.
Chop cherries and veggies and combine with onion, garlic, and lime juice mixture. Stir in olive oil. Add salt and lime juice to taste. Let the salsa sit for 30 minutes before serving. Serve on pork or chicken, or with tortilla chips.
Stella Singer is a recent UC Berkeley graduate who writes and designs for the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association. With a background in environmental journalism and science, she brings a keen interest in food systems and sustainability to her work.
Farmers’ Market Finds
Published on May 7, 2026
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