Purple Green Onions in Orange County

Near the southern end of the Foothill toll road, where gated communities and shopping centers abut Rancho Santa Margarita’s last scraps of undeveloped land, there’s a small farmers market, begun in December, with a couple of interesting vendors.

Among the seven last Wednesday was Rob Durfos of One Oak Ranch, who quit a career as a fisherman to grow specialty organic produce in Fallbrook. He was selling large, gorgeous, fragrant purple green onions, brought to market with their roots in water and presented on ice. He also had round Meiwa kumquats, much sweeter than the common Nagami variety; giant, white-fleshed Bangkok guavas; Pierce and White cherimoyas; and antler-like manzanita branches, used for firewood or decoration.

Most intriguing, he said that he’s expecting to harvest eight varieties of lychees in July (he also sells at the San Clemente market).

Sean Sullivan of Valley Center brought superbly sweet and crisp organic sugar snap peas, a delight to eat raw, along with top-quality favas, beets, carrots, pristine baby leeks, navel oranges and Fuerte and Hass avocados.

Julie Gama of Valley Center Orchards also sold fine Hass and Fuerte avocados, along with navels, Lee mandarins, Eureka lemons and Oroblancos.

Magarro Farms of El Toro offered Camarosa strawberries, cabbage, Maui onions and zucchini.

Javier Berumen’s stand, from Westminster, also had Camarosas, as well as leeks, carrots, yellow onions, radishes and celery.

The market’s manager and sponsor, Steve Crossen, works most of the week in real estate investing and sells for a bakery at farmers markets on weekends.

Rancho Santa Margarita farmers market, Dove Canyon Drive east of Plano Trabuco Road, Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.