Holidays gifting made easy at Concord Farmers Market
CONCORD, CA—Start your holiday shopping at a place where you know quality and freshness come first – the Concord Farmers Market. [Editor’s note: Although Contra Costa County entered a new COVID-19 Stay-At-Home order starting Dec. 6, public health officials have deemed Certified Farmers’ Markets as an essential public service equivalent to grocery stores. So, the Tuesday Farmers’ Market in Concord remains open this week. Support your local farmers and stock up on healthy foods.]
From baking ingredients to delicious gifts to meal planning, the Farmers Market is the place to go for the best ingredients. Make it easy on yourself while helping local farmers feed their families during this difficult time. The holidays will be a bit different this year, but there are traditions you can still carry on.
Holiday baking will be a breeze with crunchy almonds and walnuts from J&J Ramos Farms in Hughson, fresh eggs from Great Valley Poultry in Manteca and sweet-tart citrus from Diaz Farm in Fowler. Lemon cookies, almond crescents, nut bars and more will disappear as fast as you can bake them.
If you want to create holiday gift baskets, fill them with fresh citrus, nuts and bakery items from Cabalen Sweet & Savory of Oakland, handmade soaps and balms from Delta Moon Soaps from Rodeo and fresh apple cider from Rainbow Orchards in Camino. The combinations are endless – and delicious.
Purchase fresh holiday flowers from Sunrise Nursery of Watsonville to complete your “home for the holidays.”
Visit the market each week throughout the season and enjoy the ease of safe outdoor shopping while you select the freshest, locally grown products.
Make yourself some hot apple cider to fully enjoy the season. This recipe takes a while, but it will make your home smell like the holidays.
Hot Apple Cider
- 10 sweet apples, quartered (Fuji, Golden Delicious, Gala, Jonagold)
- ½ to ¾ c. sugar, depending on how sweet you like it
- 1 T ground cinnamon
- 1 T ground allspice
- Whole cinnamon sticks (optional)
Place apples in a large stockpot and add enough water to cover them by at least 2 inches, about a gallon. Stir in remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Cover pot, reduce heat and simmer for 2 to 2½ hours. Taste to see if you want more spice.
Strain the apple mixture through a fine mesh sieve and discard solids, saving the liquid. Drain the cider again through cheesecloth-lined sieve. Use coffee filters if you don’t have cheesecloth.
Serve warm with a cinnamon stick. Refrigerate remainder.
The Concord Tuesday Farmers Market is open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. every Tuesday, year-round, rain or shine, in Todos Santos Plaza. The first hour is for seniors and those at risk. Parking available in nearby structures or on the street.