Strolling in San Clemente

Many managers boast of the friendly, small-town atmosphere of their farmers markets, but San Clemente really delivers the goods. Spread along a gently sloping street in the picturesque village, the market is perfect for strolling and schmoozing. It’s average in size, but draws a superb collection of growers.

Last Sunday, Beverly Fintikakis offered vleeta, also known as purple amaranth, a leafy green related to the plant that bears amaranth grain. Once cultivated in the gardens of the ancient Greeks and Romans, it’s delicious boiled, steamed or sauteed, with olive oil, garlic and lemon juice. She also brought boysenberries from her farm in Apple Valley.

Nathan Peterson of Fallbrook displayed exquisite organic baby lettuce, watercress and yellow wax beans, as well as raspberries and Chandler strawberries. From DeLuz, an agricultural Shangri-La near Fallbrook, ACW Ranch had buttery Fuerte avocados, basil, cherry tomatoes and collard greens, along with loquats and Dr. White cherimoyas.

Barbara Chapman of Escondido sold late-season Encore mandarins, Minneola tangelos, Bearss limes and Nagami kumquats. Anna Villalobos from Pauma Valley brought sweet Valencia oranges, blackberries, sorrel, spinach and fresh herbs: parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme, natch.

The melon harvest from the Imperial Valley is in full swing. The Vedder Ranch stand had watermelons, honeydews and Tonyas--a honeydew-cantaloupe hybrid with sweet, juicy, pale orange flesh.

From Linden, near Stockton, the Smit Ranch stand brought bright yellow Flavorella plumcots with incredibly intense sweet-tart flavor, fragile, mild-tasting Sweet Delight white peaches and Bing cherries.

San Clemente farmers market, 200 block of Avenida del Mar, Sunday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.