Peanuts: The Perfect Pick at the Farmers' Market

If the widespread recent peanut butter recall has put you off packaged peanut products, now is the perfect time to get back to basics. Go nuts with the fresh peanuts available at the farmers' market this week.

Peanuts became popular in the US when George Washington Carver revitalized post-civil war agriculture with the suggestion of peanut crops, according to the Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association (PCFMA). Then, a food revolution began when Dr. John Harvey Kellog patented the first form of peanut butter in 1895, using it as a protein source for ailing elderly patients with poor dentition.

Peanuts — known as goobers in Africa and monkey nuts in the UK — are actually neither a pea nor a nut, but in fact a member of the legume family along with beans and lentils.

The peanuts you'll find at the farmers' market are raw, unshelled, and uncooked. Boil them in salty water while still in the shell to cook them.

Recipes Using Peanuts

Apricot Thai Salad
Cucumber and Tofu Salad w/ Miso-Ginger Vinaigrette
Snow Pea, Melon, and Peanut Salad
Spicy Stir-fried Chinese Long beans and Peanuts

Concord Farmers' Market Highlights

Tuesdays
Alhambra Valley Pears: Bartlett pears.

Bautista Ranch: Pumpkins and winter squash like butternut, acorn, kabocha, and other varieties.

Halog Ranch: More pumpkins and winter squash as well as carrots, onions, sweet potatoes, beans, and spinach.

Achadinha Cheese Company: Handmade artisan cheeses like Capricious, which won "Best of Show" at the American Cheese Society meeting; Broncha, a Portuguese goat cheese; and a creamy feta with a fresh salty flavor.

La crepe a moi: Crepes, both sweet and savory in a variety of flavors. They also have gluten-free batter.

Thursdays
Mark Lewis Farms: Fuji, Gala and Golden Delicious apples, and creamy sweet Bartlett pears.

J&M Farms: Organic winter squash like acorn, butternut, and kabocha squash; lots of lettuce, mixed salad greens, and spinach; and convention mushrooms like oyster, button, crimini, and portobello.

Bistro Blends: Flavored olive oils and balsamic vinegars.

Mt. Diablo Soap Company: Goats milk soaps with no artificial scents or ingredients.

Sister Sara: Homemade pickles, sauces, jams, and barbecue sauces.

About the Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association

The Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association is a not-for-profit organization that develops, operates and supports Certified Farmers' Markets in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Concord Farmers' Market

Todos Santos Plaza, Willow Pass & Grant Street

Clayton Farmers' Market

Diablo Street, between Main and Center in Downtown Clayton

Do you know of a peanut recipe? Share it in the comments.