The Friday Night Farmers' Market in Clearlake, Calif., offers good food, entertainment and arts on the shores of Clear Lake. Courtesy photo.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Friday Night Farmers' Market is now open Friday evenings, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Redbud Park in Clearlake.

In its fourth season, the certified farmers' market offers fresh local and regional produce, freshly prepared foods, live music, and cottage industry arts and crafts from local and regional artisans, all on the grass at the shores of Clear Lake.

Local musical talent play each week with Blind Spot playing on June 17.

Market Manager Pharalee Travis promises a fun family oriented event with an emphasis on local community.

“We'll be adding a fun twist each week ranging from treasure hunts to cooking demonstrations, creating more reasons for the whole family to get excited about coming,” Travis noted.

The market, a collaboration of the CREATE, Lake County Community Co-op and the city of Clearlake, runs June through August, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and September, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Producers and other vendors are encouraged to join in the market season and can apply for the market by downloading the application at the co-op's Web site, www.lakeco-op.org, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-993-4270.

Certified farmers markets' are a fast growing segment of food supply and offer attendees some of the freshest food to be had directly from the producers.

The Lake County Community Co-op, since its inception in 2008, has advocated and facilitated opportunities for local food connections in Lake County.

For more information go to the co-op's Web site, www.lakeco-op.org .

Lake County Farmers' Finest runs two certified farmers' markets during the summer months.

On Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. a market takes place in Lakeport's Library Park, located on Park Street across from Lakeport City Hall.

On Saturday Steele Wines – located at 4350 Thomas Drive in Kelseyville – hosts a market from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Buy fresh, buy local and support your farmers.

For more information and to sign up for “The Freshest News” visit the Lake County Farmers' Finest Web site, www.lakecountyfarmersfinest.org.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Local farmers considering beginning or improving an agritourism venture have another opportunity to learn by participating in a followup workshop to be held July 7 at Six Sigma Ranch in Lower Lake.

Agritourism is defined as the, “business conducted by farmers or ranchers on their working agricultural, horticultural, or agribusiness operations for the enjoyment and education of visitors,” that is intended to promote farm products and to generate additional farm income, according to Ellie Rilla, co-author of “Agritourism and Nature Tourism in California,” who presented at the February 16, 2011 “Growing Agritourism” workshop in Ukiah as previously reported.

A followup workshop for those participants will be held at Six Sigma Ranch in Lower Lake, and any other Lake County farmer who could not attend the event in Ukiah are welcome to participate.

Funded by the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program and presented by the University of California's Small Farm Program, Agritourism Coordinator/Program Representative Penny Leff encourages all agricultural producers who are considering welcoming the public to their farm attend this workshop.

“Hosting visitors on a farm or ranch is a whole different business from farming or ranching,” Leff said. “No one can do it alone. This workshop is a chance for farmers and ranchers to get together with tourism professionals, insurance experts, and others to learn from each other and build some of the connections that support agritourism.”

The workshop will host discussions on planning and regulating round-table with planners and stakeholders, agritourism organization and event plans, developments and management challenges, collaborative promotion and cross-marketing, and agritourism 101 for beginners, all in small group settings.

Then a presentation by John Valentine and Kathy Lindquist of Nationwide Agribusiness about effective risk management programs, assessing liability insurance needs and options for agritourism operations will be given to workshop participants.

After the presentation, attendees are welcome to join a tour of Six Sigma Ranch and a discussion about Six Sigma's agritourism activities, challenges, successes, and plans and learn about the farm stay program at nearby Perini Ranch, also in Lower Lake.

There is no charge for the workshop, but registration is required.

The workshop will be held Thursday, July 7, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Six Sigma Ranch, 13372 Spruce Grove Road, Lower Lake, CA 95457.

To register, visit https://ucce.ucdavis.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=6480 or call Penny Leff at 530-752-7779.

For more information about Six Sigma Ranch, visit www.sixsigmaranch.com.

For more information about Perini Ranch, visit www.periniranch.net.

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The Wednesday Evening Market at Library Park in Lakeport kicks off the season June 1 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Lakeport market began last year to give those who cannot make it, or prefer to sleep in on Saturday morning, a chance to buy fresh local produce on a weekly basis, according to the organizers.

Although still smaller than the Saturday Morning Market at Steele Wines, Lake County Farmers Finest reported that the Lakeport market is growing nicely as more vendors make it part of their weekly circuit and as more customers find out about it.

Plan on bringing your whole family to this beautiful lakeside park, catch up with your friends, buy some goodies and listen to the lovely sounds of Travis Rinker entertaining this week with his acoustic guitar.

As the season progresses look forward to an ever-increasing variety of fresh and mostly local produce.

Out-of-county producers provide only what is not readily available in Lake County to round out your shopping experience.

Sign up for “The Freshest News” on www.lakecountyfarmersfinest.org to receive the most up to date information.

At the time of publication the following producers and vendors were confirmed to be selling on June 1. Expect some last minute changes and commitments – weather willing and plants cooperating, of course.

Producers

Canino Ridge – Olive plants and oil

Dewsnup Farms – Stone Fruit

EGB Farms – Apples, cherries, apricots, dried fruit

Forbestown Farms – Vegetable starts

Full Moon Farm – Seasonal vegetables

Under The Rainbow Farm – Cultivated mushrooms, plants starts, lettuce

Two Bee Garden Farm – Fresh cut flowers

Yerba Santa Dairy – Goat cheese

Value-added products

Lava Center – Jams, jellies, sauces and more

Wildcat Honey – Honey, honey sticks, eggs, soaps

Arts and crafts

Diego and Sherry Harris – Gourd art and jewelry

Don and Shirley Saderlund – Fine woodcrafts

Ron Barber – Knife sharpening service

Educational

Master Gardeners

Mendocino Community Health Clinic – Smiles Dental Outreach

The Time Bank of Lake County

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The hearing will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 19, at the California Human Development office, 55 First St., Lakeport.

The hearing will be conducted in Spanish.

This discussion will include challenges and barriers farmworkers face in the community. Anyone is more than welcome to attend.

California Human Development would also like to encourage any community service agency that provides assistance to the Hispanic population to attend and share ideas that would be a great benefit to farmworkers.

These plump, bright cherries were available at the Neufeld Farms booth on opening day at the farmers' market sponsored by Lake County Farmers' Finest on Saturday, May 7, 2011, at Steele Wines in Kelseyville, Calif. Photo by Esther Oertel.

A light breeze touched my face as I approached the eagerly awaited first-of-season Lake County Farmers’ Finest market on Saturday. The sun, gently warming, presided from a bright blue sky devoid of all but the wispiest clouds.

Like an avid fan waiting for baseball season, I spend six months each year longing for the return of farmers’ markets to Lake County after the season ends in October.

I was rewarded at this year’s opening market, spending a blissful two hours with farmers, their wares, and other fruit and vegetable enthusiasts on the well-manicured grounds of Steele Wines near Kelseyville yesterday morning.

There’s just something special about rubbing elbows with folks who immerse their hands in soil every day. In my mind, what they do is magic, as is the freshly-picked harvest they offer each week.

Being at farmers’ markets is not only a way to enjoy health-supporting food choices for a better quality of life, it supports our local economy through agriculture.

I tasted local olive oils (nine different types, to be exact), drooled over bins of bright, jewel-like dried fruit (thankfully, not literally), decided I’d plant an exotic fig tree one day, inhaled the pungent scent of fresh oregano, chewed on cinnamon mint, learned of the liver cleansing properties of dandelion greens, savored the sweet-tart taste of fresh goat cheese and marveled at a bread made with carrots and yams.

Cheesemaker Daniel Salmon offered tastes of Yerba Santa Goat Dairy wares. He creates the aged raw milk cheeses, while brother Javier Salmon makes the fresh goat cheese. The goats at Yerba Santa are free ranging and are fed an organic diet. The dairy is named for an herb which grows wild on the property, beloved by their goats. Photo by Esther Oertel.

I purchased, among other things, a bag of Lake County grown oranges, tight heads of broccoli tinged with purple and the most perfect snap peas imaginable.

I also bought a candle for my mother.

I was impressed with the first day offerings, especially since as the season advances, there will be more growers and more diversity. I left with promises of what will be new next week (cauliflower, fava beans and even more olive oil producers) and warm pride for our county’s fertility and bounty.

The Lake County Farmers’ Finest sponsored “Saturday morning market” will continue each Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until noon, rain or shine, through October.

In addition to local agricultural products, artisans and craftspeople will offer handmade wares and musicians will entertain. Special events will be scheduled, such as culinary demos. (We’re already planning one that features local olive oil.)

In addition to the Saturday market, Lake County Farmers’ Finest will open their Wednesday evening market on June 1 in Lakeport. That market is held in Library Park near the shores of Clear Lake.

The deep green of these fresh heads of broccoli sold by Sky Hoyt Specialty Grower was enhanced by a gentle purple hue. Photo by Esther Oertel.

Another market reopening in June is one sponsored by the Lake County Community Coop on Friday evenings at Redbud Park in Clearlake. Like the other markets, it will feature musical entertainment and special events.

I’ll do my best to keep you posted about goings-on in these markets, as well as the season’s progression of produce. I’m excited to see what’s coming.

For those who wish to sample our area’s produce and support local agriculture without leaving home, visit the Lake County Farmers’ Finest online ordering program at www.lakecountygrown.com or the Lake County Community Co-op site at www.lakeco-op.org.

Today’s recipe is one that features items which may be purchased now at local farmers’ markets: goat cheese and fresh herbs. Until locally grown potatoes arrive later in the season, use the small “new potatoes” found in your favorite supermarket or specialty store. Enjoy!

Goat cheese and herb stuffed potato bites

Ingredients

1 cup chevre (fresh goat cheese)

1 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt (fat-free variety of either is fine)

1 tablespoon chopped chives

1 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs, such as oregano, dill or thyme

Cracked black pepper and salt to taste

Mini potatoes (in assorted colors, if available)

Optional garnishes: cracked black pepper, parsley, black olives, roasted red pepper

Procedure

Wash potatoes in water and remove eyes. (Prick those without eyes removed so steam may be released.)

Lightly coat them with olive oil and place on baking pan. Sprinkle lightly with salt.

Bake potatoes in 350 degree F oven until tender. (Baking time depends upon number and size of potatoes. Check often.)

Allow baked potatoes to cool.

Slice in half and remove flesh from center, leaving a well. (Reserve flesh for another use.)

Prepare filling by blending cheese, sour cream and herbs in a food processor. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pipe or spoon filling into potato halves.

Garnish with additional black pepper, a parsley sprig, a slice of olive or diced roasted red pepper, if desired.

Recipe by Esther Oertel.

Esther Oertel, the “Veggie Girl,” is a culinary coach and educator and is passionate about local produce. Oertel teaches culinary classes at Chic Le Chef in Hidden Valley Lake, Calif., and The Kitchen Gallery in Lakeport, Calif., and gives private cooking lessons. She welcomes your questions and comments; e-mail her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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The Dorn family of Loassa Farms presented their signature olive oil, a field blend of several estate grown olive varieties. Tastes of the oil were available to curious shoppers. Photo by Esther Oertel.

Handcrafted wares, such as these gourds, baskets and jewelry by artisans Sherry and son, Diego, Harris were on hand. Photo by Esther Oertel.

Harpist Linda Brown's deft strumming added to the relaxed atmosphere of the market. Photo by Esther Oertel.

This freshly-picked oregano from F & G Farms of Kelseyville, Calif. was especially fragrant. Photo by Esther Oertel.

A impressive eight varieties of handcrafted olive oil were offered for sale and tasting by the Chacewater Olive Mill of Kelseyville, Calif., including two citrus-infused varieties, one with Meyer lemon and the other with blood orange. Customers at the end of the table are viewing Chacewater's olive oil soaps. Most of the county's olives (and some from out-of-county) are pressed at the olive mill at Chacewater. Photo by Esther Oertel.

Oranges in Lake County? Apparently so. Bags of the freshly picked fruit were available at the Buckingham Oranges booth, along with figs, walnuts, fresh herbs and lemons. Photo by Esther Oertel.