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VISIT THIS: EVERETT FAMILY FARMSTAND
Have you ever eaten a tomato like an apple?
I did last week, unable to resist a ruby Early Girl that seemed to glow from within. Seeds and juice squirted across the gravel driveway as I stood on the front porch of the farmstand at Everett Family Farm, taking in the bucolic space before I hopped in my car and drove back to civilization.
This gem sits right off of Old San Jose Road about a mile from Soquel Village, but feels a world away. Within the quaint, tin-roofed building, Rich and Laura Everett sell fruits and vegetables from their 45-acre certified organic farm, as well as eggs, berries and even mushrooms from their neighbors. A quiet breeze drifts through one side of the stand, screened in but left open to the summer air. Near the entrance, a digital scale and a chalkboard menu of prices allow customers to calculate their purchase. There’s no attendant, so payment is given based on the honor system via cash, check or Venmo.
I adore this farmstand any time of year, but the current shoulder season between summer and fall is undoubtedly the best time to visit. Rich Everett calls it “the golden time,” when winter and summer squash share the same table, and tomatoes are still bursting forth, both the bulbous heirlooms with their sweet, fresh flavors and the hearty sauce varieties.
“It’s been a magical season due to Mother Nature,” Rich told me. “It’s a time when everyone goes, wow, this area can really support a lot of stuff.” Fall apples are coming in – Everett Family Farm grows 14 varieties – and soon Laura Everett will stock the fridge with her homemade cider, both hard fizzy versions and soft cider by the jug. Pumpkins will be the next to arrive.
I walked out with a bouquet of dazzling yellow dahlias ($10), a bag of tomatoes ($4 per pound) and a mixed back of Belle de Boskoop, Gala and Honeycrisp apples ($3 per pound). I also had a lovely and meandering conversation with two ladies about growing delicata squash and how to prepare the delicate, finger-length fairy eggplants. Like every visit, I left feeling lighter, hungrier, happier.
2111 Old San Jose Road, Soquel. Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; everettfamilyfarm.com.
BEST OF THE WEEK AHEAD
Below, find a curated list of the best food and drink events in Santa Cruz County for the coming week. At the top, I share my picks of unmissable local happenings.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
ICYMI – here are the food news stories from Lookout that you might have missed, plus important news from beyond our borders picked by yours truly.
- Death of Equinox’s Barry Jackson leaves gaping hole in local wine community (Lookout)
- Capitola newcomer Pete’s Fish House delivers breathtaking views and elegant seafood (Lookout)
- In front of supporters, Woodhouse Brewing wins outdoor music OK (Lookout)
- English Ales up for sale (Edible Monterey Bay)
- The A’s leave behind a baseball (and food) legacy in Oakland (Eater SF)
