The concept of farmers markets may not be anything new. Basically, you buy produce from the farmers who grow them. You get to sample the produce, buy as little or as much as you need, and deal directly with the farmers on the price. But there’s something uniquely different about the Union City Farmers Market in California that makes me jump out of my bed every Saturday morning.
First, the Union City Farmers Market stands in the middle of a park, surrounded by lush trees and shrubs. Because of the greenery, it carries a rural vibe that makes me feel like I’m in the farm that grew the vegetables. Second, it sells produce commonly found in Filipino cooking, such as moringga, yam leaves, bittermelon, long chili peppers, and sininguelas. Thirdly, as the icing on the cake, I would hear vendors occasionally shouting some Tagalog words, luring Filipino customers to check their stalls, “matamis!” (sweet!) or “bili na kayo!” (buy now!).
radish or labanos
long beans or sitaw
bittermelon or ampalaya
Bittermelon leaves or dahon ng ampalaya
long chili peppers or siling haba
If you’ve been following my Instagram story, you’ll notice my weekly trip (and slight obsession) with the Union City Farmers Market especially with the J & M Ibarra Organics stall (J & M is owned by a Latino and Filipina couple that grows all organic produce since 1993). My definition of happiness is their organic heirloom tomatoes (I’m easy to please). Sometimes, I would make vegan Sinigang with my farmers market haul, a great way to enjoy my day off.
jujube
okra
variety of long chili pepper or siling haba
yam tops or talbos ng kamote
If you’re near Union City, I highly recommend to take advantage of its farmers market. If you’re looking for other kinds of produce aside from Filipino, that’s okay too. Union City Farmers Market carries other unique produce such as snake gourd, Armenian cucumbers, squash blossoms, and many more. There’s so much to discover and to explore. It never fails to inspire me to cook and eat. Saturday mornings couldn’t come any sooner!
peanuts or mani
water spinach or kangkong
The big leaves are taro leaves or dahon ng gabi. Right below them are lemongrass or tanglad.
moringga or malunggay
Union City Farmers Market
30940 Watkins St, Union City, CA 94587
What kind of unique finds do you spot at your neighborhood farmers market?
The tagalog spelling of spanish plum is usually sineguelas, siniguelas or sinigwelas.
Once I was able to buy fresh bamboo shoots, but this was last spring. I enjoy your blog, although I am not vegan but it inspires me to cook more Filipino food meatless.