California Local Foods

Growing seasons are long and multiple in California, but produce items still have their seasons. Find out what to expect when with this Guide to California Seasonal Fruits & Vegetables.

Californians are surrounded by farmers markets. Find a Certified Farmers Market (one where farmers sell produce from their farms directly to consumers) near you with this Listing of California Farmers Markets.

Whether you're new to farmers markets or an old hand, check these Farmers Market Shopping Tips before you head out.

The Golden State is awash in food festivals from big splashy fairs to smaller community events. Find a festival near you or featuring your favorite California ingredient:

• Artichoke Festival (Castroville, California)
• Avocado Festival (Carpinteria, California)
• California's Artisan Cheese Festival (Petaluma, California)
• Gilroy Garlic Festival (Gilroy, California)
• Gravenstein Apple Fair (Sebastopol, California)
• Lambtown, USA (Dixon, California)
• Mendocino Crab & Wine Days (Mendocino, California)
• Petaluma Butter & Egg Days (Petaluma, California)
• Stockton Asparagus Festival (Stockton, California)

Eat like the locals eat in California with these great recipes for classic California dishes:

• California Roll
• Cioppino (Seafood Stew)
• Cobb Salad
• Cream of Artichoke Soup
• Meyer Lemon Marmalade
• Pan-Fried Abalone
• Roasted Garlic
• Santa Maria Barbecue

Find more California classic at California Recipes.

There are several sustainable, locally focused ranchers and livestock farms in California. Know of one that isn't listed here? Please email me at localfoods@aboutguide.com.

• Clark Summit Farms in Tomales Bay raises pastured beef, pork, chickens, eggs, and sometimes geese
• Marin Sun Farms provides beef, pork, lamb, goat, chicken, and eggs to the San Francisco Bay Area

Dungeness crabs crawl along the shore from Central California on north to Alaska and are a seasonal favorite, especially in Northern California. The crab season usually opens in mid-November in the San Francisco Bay Area, where Dungeness crab is a traditional part of Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas Eve crab-picking dinners. Learn more About Dungeness Crab here.

You need almond orchards to get green almonds, and California grows a whole hell of a lot of almonds. Look for delectable green almonds at farmers markets and some specialty markets in April and, depending on the year, into early June sometimes.