Leena Eats, Gourmet Communication ... Food, Travel, Gastronomy

Welcome to Monterey Market, home of a crap ton of produce!

When I moved into the East Bay, there were food markets people constantly told me I needed to check out: The Berkeley Bowl, which you might remember from this post, and Monterey Market. Here is what you need to know about Monterey Market–if you are looking for a wide variety of produce (I’m talking eight kinds of potato and ten kinds of oranges) or something exotic or locally grown, this is your place. It was opened in 1961 just down the street by the Fujimoto family, who came from Japan and lost everything during WWII internment camps. Monterey Market used to be a full functioning grocery store, complete with a butcher, but in 1980, they moved to their current location and shifted to produce-only, the Fujimoto family’s specialty.

I like to shop at places with this sign. It makes me happy.

I was most impressed by the variety this store had. So many things I had never seen in person or hadn’t seen since Australia exist HERE! Just walking through the place with a camera is a learning experience.

Did you know brussels sprouts grew on a stalk? I sure as hell didn’t!

Potatoes as far as the eye can see!

This is a citrus fruit called a Buddha’s Hand. I’ve never used one, but I always used to play with them at the farmers markets in Australia.

Mandarins! That are not in cans! WHOA.

Lemons on steroids.

Pomelos, fried chicken mushrooms and round carrots. I don’t what fried chicken mushrooms are, but I sort of want to eat them NOW.

~LTG! *********************************** Monterey Market 1550 Hopkins Street Berkeley, California 94707 www.montereymarket.com 510-526-6042 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM Saturday Closed – Sunday