The Farm Stand: January’s bounty from local farms

By Paso Robles Press · Fri Jan 30 2026

By BeeWench Farm

Happy New Year! The start of a new year usually comes with resolutions to eat healthier and work out more. What better way to start the new year off right than with a haul of fresh produce from the farmer’s market? Enjoying fruits and veggies at their peak gives you an important nutrient boost this time of year. Walking around the farmer’s market is also great exercise!

One of the biggest complaints I hear from everyone is that it’s expensive to eat healthy. Everything is expensive right now, but healthy eating doesn’t have to be. Planning meals around in-season fresh produce is one of the easiest ways to save on groceries. Our farmer’s markets have beautiful, fresh produce, meats, oils, and more that are much better value than what you can get at the store. Our North County Farmer’s Markets also match your Cal Fresh EBT benefits up to $15 at each market so you can add $60 extra if you go to all four markets to buy locally grown groceries.

Our favorite budget-friendly veggies this time of year are cabbage and potatoes. Right now, cabbage is in season and is packed with vitamins to keep you healthy this season. Cabbage is high in fiber which means it will help with digestion and help you to lose weight if that’s a new year's resolution. Cabbage goes into a lot of dishes here because it cooks easily and pairs well with any other veggies. I always have some bacon in the fridge so I can make bacon, cabbage, and potatoes in a pinch. The cabbage soup recipe below is one of my favorites and I never make it the same way twice. Feel free to add in other veggies and any herbs you have on hand. It’s also delicious with some bacon added in.

One of my favorite ways to stay healthy through the cold season is to make big batches of soup every week. I usually make the soup Sunday night and then fill up mason jars with the leftovers. I take a mason jar, a slice of sourdough bread, and some persimmons or oranges with me to work for lunch. Not only is it super simple, but I love not stressing over what I’m eating for lunch every day because it’s all set! Also, it is nice to bring an extra jar in case a coworker is in need.

Another great seasonal treat is citrus! Citrus fruits are known to have a high nutritional density, which is beneficial for speedy healing from illness. Not only do they help boost your immune system, but they have very few calories which makes them a nutritious snack choice to supports weight loss goals. I add lemon and orange zest to many dishes and love some lemon juice in my hot tea in the morning. Oranges and persimmons are delicious to snack on and we have to best ones grown at so many local farms! Be sure to save the peels and make your own cleaning spray!

What’s in Season:

Fruits:

• Avocados
• Navel oranges
• Blood oranges
• Grapefruit
• Tangerines
• Kumquats
• Lemons

Vegetables

• Beets
• Cabbage
• Chard
• Mushrooms
• Kale
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Kohlrab

Cabbage Soup

Ingredients

• 1 head of cabbage chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic chopped
• 2 leeks chopped
• 1 yellow onion chopped
• 2 medium carrots peeled and chopped
• 4 celery stalks cut into slices
• 8 medium yellow potatoes peeled and cubed
• 4 tbsp butter
• 8 cups broth chicken or vegetable
• ½ cup dill chopped
• salt and pepper

Instructions

1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter.
2. Add chopped garlic, onions, and leeks and cook for about 5 minutes until soft and translucent, stirring occasionally.
3. Add chopped carrots and celery and cook for another 3 minutes.
4. Add cubed potatoes and chopped cabbage. Pour broth in.
5. Cover the soup and cook for about 20-25 minutes until all the vegetables are cooked through.
6. Check for seasoning and add salt and pepper to taste.
7. Add dill and mix well.
8. Serve and enjoy! Save leftovers in mason jars for an easy to-go lunch!

Citrus Cleaning Spray

Ingredients:

• Orange, lemon, or other citrus peels
• Mason jar
• White vinegar
• Water

Instructions:

1. Collect citrus peels (can be a mix) in a jar and keep in the fridge until it’s full.
2. Pour enough vinegar into the jar to cover the peels
3. Set the jar in a cupboard for at least two weeks
4. After two weeks, strain the vinegar into a bowl. Toss the peels.
5. Dilute vinegar solution with an equal amount of water and add to a spray bottle. 
6. Use on countertops, glass, and more but avoid wood, marble and granite as it is quite acidic.

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