Summer meals with Local Produce

San Diego has five major universities, dozens of beaches and more than 340 parks. But what else does San Diego have a lot of? Farmers’ markets!

(Additionally, did you know San Diego has more small farms than any other county in the nation?)

We are blessed with a very long growing season in San Diego, which means that the nearly 6,500 farms throughout the county are able to grow a ton of produce throughout the entire year. However, there are some fruits and vegetables that are best to eat during the summer.

Summer produce:

By visiting a local farmers’ market and purchasing fresh produce for home-cooked meals, you’re helping your family get plenty of fiber, vitamins and minerals, as well as helping local farmers with their businesses.

Looking for a list of San Diego farmers’ markets? Click here.

In hopes that you’ll visit a local farmers’ market sometime soon, below are six wholesome and delicious recipes that you can make for your loved ones using local produce from farmers’ markets.

1. Fruit and Gorgonzola Salad with Prosciutto

   Use peaches, plums and onions to make this flavorful, hearty salad. The tartness and sweetness from the fruit pairs extremely well with the salty prosciutto and the sharp dijon. Add your family’s favorite crumbled cheese for a salad everyone will wolf down.

2. Pappardelle with Corn

   While corn is clearly the star of this dish, the recipe also includes other summer produce, such as tomatoes, scallions and basil. This creamy and colorful pasta dish is packed with flavor not only from the tomatoes and corn, but from garlic, ground pepper and chicken broth. Tip: Use whole-grain pasta for a healthy meal full of fiber and other nutrients.

3. Bacon, Peach and Arugula Sandwiches

   This yummy sandwich makes use of summer-ready citrus, basil and peaches. Add bacon and arugula on top of the whole-grain bread for a fresh and unique summer sandwich that will have your taste buds dancing.

4. Fettuccine with Summer Vegetables and Goat Cheese

   Ditch the fettuccine alfredo and concoct this healthier version instead! Use a tomato, yellow squash, lemon and green beans to create this mouth-watering pasta dish that is perfect for summer. By using goat cheese for the sauce, you get a bunch of essential nutrients that you wouldn’t get from cow milk cheese.

5. Fresh Peach Cake

   Find a bunch of beautiful peaches at a farmers’ market? If you’d like to indulge yourself, turn them into a divine cake (or cupcakes)! Chopped pecans on top of the cake add fiber, calcium and more than 20 vitamins and minerals. This scrumptious peach cake is sure to please!

6. Summer Sorbet

   Want a fun way to cool down fast? Whip up this fresh fruit sorbet! With lemons and summer fruit of your choosing, this is a creative and refreshing way to use summer produce. Be sure to swap the alcohol in the recipe for water if you have children. (If you don’t have an ice cream maker, read the instructions from this recipe to learn an easy way you can still make sorbet at home!)

Support San Diego farmers by shopping for fresh produce at local farmers’ markets. Plus, when you have more fruits and vegetables at home, your family is more likely to eat them and you’re more likely to cook with them. Reap the benefits from the vitamins and minerals in produce that you can find throughout the summer. If you’re searching for more healthy meal ideas, check out Scripps Affiliated Medical Groups’ articles.