Where I Live: Stockton, CA: July 2010

July 14, 2010
Produce Express - Growers and Suppliers Display Day

From their web site:

PRODUCE EXPRESS is a wholesale distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables to food service operations in the greater Sacramento Valley.

The event was held in the Sacramento Produce Market at 2630 - 5th Street, Sacramento, CA 95818.

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As I rode into the Sacramento Produce Market on my BMW F650GS headed to the Market Club for breakfast. I noticed a bunch of tables and displays set up on the loading dock. So after ordering my breakfast I walked the 50 or so feet along the dock from the Market Club to the Produce Express. Well, I found out that they were having their growers and suppliers display their wares for the various restaurants in and around Sacramento.

So of course, I had to Blog the event. So after eating my breakfast I walked back to the Event.

I talked to Jim Mills of Produce Express, who was running this Event and he explained what was going on and said that I could take photos for this personal Blog of mine.

Jim Mills at the sign-in table

The first station was from Mulvaney's B and L.

Pasta Dave from Mulvaney's B and L

A delectable salad at Mulvaney's B and L station

Then there was Ray Yeung, known as "Mr. Tomato"

Ray has many, many varieties of heirloom tomatoes

More varieties

Samples to be tasted

And still more varieties

And even more varieties
In talking a little to Ray I found out that his grandfather Yeung used to own and run the Hong Kong Cafe just north of the Produce Market on 5th Street and Broadway. That was during my late high school and early college days when I used to eat there on occasion.

Some other fresh vegetables from Yolo County just across the Sacramento River.

Riverdog Farms

Dwelly Farms in Brentwood

Castaneda Bros. Produce
2875 Rockville Road, Fairfield
Hours: 9 a.m - 5 p.m. Everyday/ Open July - Nov.
Castaneda just re-located to Rockville Road. They feature a large selection of peppers, tomatoes, melons and other seasonal fruits. They have one of the largest selections of peppers locally. Also, they are one of the few stands that offer the sweet orange melons in the summer. This is a smaller produce stand that is in one big barn mostly offering a limited variety of produce.

Some other near by growers of fruit.

Here is an interesting concept. Wine vinegar made from upscale varietal wines. The company is Sparrow Lane Vinegars. Their offices are in Angwin, but they had to move their bottling operation to a bigger location in Modesto to accommodate demand.