Hidden Treasures

The Palos Verdes farmers market isn’t easy to get to from outside the area, but it’s a lively market with strong local support. Last Sunday, the Dry Dock fish stand, back after a hiatus, displayed a superb selection, including wild sockeye salmon caught off Eureka, yellowtail and two Hawaiian fish--opah and ono (which cook up tender like swordfish), caught 200 miles west of Santa Barbara.

Most citrus is in peak season. The Nicholas stand had Moro blood oranges from the Central Valley, with dark violet pulp and cherry-berry flavor. June Kashima of Orosi sold ripe pink-fleshed Chandler pummelos and white-fleshed Oroblancos (pummelo-grapefruit hybrids).

The J&C; Ranch of Oxnard had small and seedy but flavorful Fairchild mandarins, which are actually a quarter grapefruit by ancestry. And the Rosendahls offered satsumas (a type of mandarin) with wrinkled rinds and tender, juicy flesh, Algerian tangerines (a variety of clementine) and shiny bright yellow Meyer lemons.

Shimomura Farms, which grows all over Orange County, had Japanese leeks the size of baseball bats (anyone making vichyssoise for an army?), kabocha squash, Japanese spinach and pale winter melons. Jae Lee of Jae Il Farm sold kimchi made by his mom, Kyeong, in Hawthorne and many of the fixings: nappa cabbage, green onions, garlic and huge egg-shaped radishes.

Patrick Arias, who sells only at this market, had large sweet Medjool dates from Thermal. David Ha’s mountain-grown Fujis from Tehachapi were the crispest, sweetest apples; they’re also great dried and make a handy snack for the drive home.

Palos Verdes (Peninsula) farmers market, Peninsula Center, Hawthorne Boulevard and Silver Spur Road, Sundays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.