About Karen Beverlin, The Produce Hunter

Karen Beverlin is the Vice President of Specialty Sales for The Produce Hunter. The Produce Hunter curates the Farmers’ Markets, and works with small, local family farmers committed to sustainable agriculture, responsible production, and propagation and promotion of fruit and vegetables with exceptional flavor. Follow her as she finds the best of the Santa Monica Farmers Market every week with on Instagram (@fpproducehunter).

Extra Small Haricot Vert Bean *L*S*

Very fine, tender and sweet, our Extra Small Haricot Vert Beans have exceptional flavor and texture. Their diameter is about half that of commercially grown French Beans. They look lovely and taste wonderful. This is how Haricot Vert were meant to be, and replacing commercially grown run-of-the-mill French Beans with our Extra Small Haricot Vert…

FM Eggplant Mix *L*S*

We are purchasing sweet, beautiful Eggplants from two different growers and creating a wonderful mix of shapes, colors and textures. These white, green and lilac Eggplant varieties are sweeter and milder than their more common purple cousins. Their exterior color is basically irrelevant once they are cooked, but their sweet, delicate flesh and unusual shapes…

FM Mixed Carrot *L*S*

Our farmers grow these beautiful carrots using sustainable methods and lots of TLC. From week to week, the Farmer’ s Market Mix will contain a combination of some or all of the following five varieties (Sugar Crisp, Nantes, and Black Knight are pictured): Nantes (orange), Sunrise (red), Sugar Crisp (yellow), Belgium White (white) and Black…

FM Fava Bean *L*S*

Fans of Fava Beans don’ t seem to mind the work it takes to prepare them. They laud the bean’s distinctive flavor and creamy texture. How much work? you ask. Well, in addition to having to strip them from their sleeping bag of a pod, you must also remove the tender beans from the pale…

Fava Tips *L*S*O*

Fava beans are famous for their rich, bright flavor, but Fava Tips are relatively unknown. Fava Tips taste like Fava-flavored chard…treat them like spinach or chard in quiches, lasagna, omelettes or salads. Quickly saute with olive oil, and season with salt and chopped fresh sorrel. Complementary flavors are the same as for Fava beans…basil, dill,…

FM Fennel *L*S*

Fennel is native to the Near East and the Mediterranean where it grows wild in dry, stony places. It is an aromatic plant whose taste may remind you of anise or licorice. Pale green, celery-like stems evolve into bright green, feathery foliage. The ribbed leaves are thick and fleshy at the base and form a…

Fenugreek Sprouts

Until now sprouts had two basic flavors…spicy (kaiware, radish) and green (sunflower, alfalfa). Welcome FENUGREEK SPROUTS. These little, yellow seeds and their creamy white sprouts have a flavor reminiscent of East Indian curries. It makes perfect sense, since fenugreek seeds are a traditional component of curry powders. Thanks to fenugreek sprouts…sandwiches, salads and even deviled…

Fiddlehead Fern

Fiddlehead Fern are the young green shoots of any variety fern, but the commercially available variety is usually Ostrich fern. If you are unsure of the origin of their name, refer to the top of the nearest violin (or fiddle, depending on your neighborhood). Treated as a spring vegetable, fiddlehead ferns have a flavor reminiscent…

Flageolet Shelling Bean *L*

These tiny, tender French kidney beans range in color from pale green to creamy white. Since they are rarely available fresh in the United States, cooks have become used to seeing them dried and canned. In response to requests from Southern California chefs, one of our farmers is growing these European favorites so we all…

FM French Leek *L*S*

This Leek variety is prized for its long, white shank and tender texture. Each leek’ s diameter is less than an inch. The scale of French Leeks is perfect for cutting them into 1 1/2 to 2 inch lengths to be featured in myriad recipes. Try Leeks Victor (remember Celery Victor?). Leeks Vinaigrette with Smoked…

Garlic Scapes (Whistles) *L*S*

(Please note: the Garlic Scapes season is just starting so quantities are limited!) When a hardneck variety Garlic’s flower stalk is newly-budded, it is tender and provides a delightfully subtle garlic flavor. Known as Garlic Scapes or Garlic Whistles this Spring item is often stirred into cooked Potatoes, cooks well in stir-fries and serves as…

Golden Horn Pepper *L*S*

With the shape of a pumped-up Anaheim chile, the flavor of a yellow bell pepper, and the golden orange color of a California sunset, these GOLD HORN PEPPERS are a welcome addition to the pepper arsenal. Beautiful roasted and stuffed, they would make great inside-out rellenos…stuff this sweet pepper with a spicey, cheesey mixture and…

Green Chard, Young *L*S*

Particularly rich in vitamins and minerals, green chard is becoming increasingly popular and widely grown in Italy, France, Spain, Holland, Switzerland, and the United States. This YOUNG GREEN CHARD is the result of a grower thinning his rows of green chard. Note that the grower cut the chard at the very base of the bunch…this…

FM Green Garlic *O*

Some of America’ s most respected chefs have extolled the virtues of Green Garlic. We’re all used to seeing common Garlic which is the dried mature bulb of the garlic plant. Green Garlic is the same plant pulled from the ground at a much earlier stage, often even before the bulb forms. Green Garlic can…

Green Romano Bean

These beautiful GREEN ROMANO BEANS are a sure sign that we are deep into summer. This flat-pod bean is an heirloom variety that traces its origins to Italy. In 2 quarts rapidly boiling water seasoned with 2 teaspoons salt, cook the romano beans until tender but slightly firm. This should take approximately 2 minutes. Transfer…