Best Organic Produce - Farmers Market in Miami area
I'm from Northern California and live in Miami now. I've been a little grossed out with the produce at Wild Oats, Whole Foods, Homestead farmer Coops and even Epicure - so I did some research and found a fabulous outdoor organic produce market!
Sunday's only. Best to get there at opening time 9am but is open all day.
Beside the most amazing selections of exotic and unusual fruits and vegetables (yellow watermelon, mamey, watermelon radish) there is an amazing variety of mushrooms, many varieties of fresh picked lettuce, AMAZING and I mean the most AMAZING heirloom tomatoes you've ever seen and are to die for - really.
It's called Josh's Organic Garden. They are located at the end of Hollywood Boulevard at the beach on the boardwalk on the SE corner of the big hotel there. You are on the ocean and it's basically on the boardwalk. Can't miss it. It is SO worth the time to find it. There is EVERYTHING you need and it's the freshest and most beautiful produce you will find in ALL of Forida.
An excellent Thai restaurant a building south of the market. Try it if you go later in the day.
MIAfromSFO
Sep 20, 2007 06:37PM
Yes, Josh's is solid. The Thai place is called SushiThai on the Beach and it is so so but it is right on the beach
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/433386
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I just realized that i didn't link the article regarding Josh's. Here it is. http://www.rawfoods.com/articles/holl...
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How does it compare with Glaser Farm's Farmers Market? Or the one in Pinecrest? I haven't been to either. Is there nothing comparable in Miami-Dade?
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And how does Josh's compare with the Pompano or Las Olas farmers markets once they get rolling in the fall?
Does anyone know if the local South Florida CSAs also sell excess produce at any local farmers markets?
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The Glaser Farm's one blows unless you buy prepared foods. It's basically an outdoor Wild Oats. Most of the produce is not local and they don't even bother taking them out of the boxes they're from. I'm sure some stuff is local, but it's difficult to tell. I just find it hilarious seeing all these Groveites walking around and buying produce out of boxes at prices at or above the Fresh Market down the street.
The Pinecrest market is a little better. They actually have local produce and, in answer to Mega's question, I believe the people that put on the CSA for Miami have a booth there. There's is the most expensive, but most unique stuff.
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What you have to understand is that this is not the season yet. Glaser farms has organic whatever-is-in-season. If you go to a farmer's market expecting nothing but local produce, I'm afraid you have to wait until the season, which for the most part, starts later this winter. Right now you're gonna get a LOT of mangos. And would you feel better if they changed the boxes? Should they pretend the apples are grown nearby? I find it is a more pleasant experience to shop at an outdoor market, but you have to be realistic at this time of year. And the CSA doesn't even start delivering until January, although you can join now.
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That's exactly what I thought, Miami Danny... which makes me wonder - how is it that Josh's Organic is "local" while Glaser isn't, if we're not yet in "season?"
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The OP mentioned mushrooms, which can be grown year-round. Lettuce is by and large a winter crop, so I'm not sure when MIAfronSFO visited the market. Although the poster raved about 'exotics', yellow watermelon and mameys are not really that exotic if you live here-I bought a mamey yesterday at Publix, and I've actually bought some yellow watermelon at the Coconut Grove Farmer's Market as well. I was there yesterday, and they had over 100 organic items, not just fruits and vegetables, but many other items, including beans, lentils, grains of all kinds, organic dried fruits, nuts, etc. Mr. Glaser is an actual organic farmer, but, obviously, the oranges and grapes, etc., are not 'local'. There aren't a lot of grapes or apples grown here. But everything looked and smelled really fresh, despite being shipped here from wherever, and it is a great experience.
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You can't join now; there are no more spots. The cost of organics is also absorbed in order to subsidize those making the effort to grow things that will not pollute. No one buys organics for the price. We support a movement.
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No one buys organics for the price? Perhaps if money is no object! Anyway, the RedlandOrganics CSA has a waiting list as of today. Traditionally people change their minds, so if you're interested, go to their website and sign up. No one buys organics for the price? Then why are so many people in this thread and elsewhere complaining about prices? And by movement, I guess you mean The Whole Foods Corporation?
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If price were the object, you wouldn't buy organic food. Instead you would go to Winn DIxie. People complain about the prices because money is tight. Whole Foods runs against the CSA movement, which, if you want to support local organic food, you must bite the bullet and cut corners elsewhere. However, if it is simply organic food one is after, Wild Oats and Whole Foods attempt to corner the market and have some good stuff. If the price overwhelms the cause, there will no longer be RedlandOrganics and you will have no choice at all. Therefore, I pay the premium.
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Josh's Organic Garden is nice, but he is now closed for a month. They reopen in the middle of October I believe.
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We actually went yesterday and had a great time. He has great stuff, but of course not everything is local, it can't be....But it is good stuff at good prices compared to what you can get at Whole Foods etc. We got great squash, herbs, tomatoes, lettuce, sweet peppers (no hot peppers yesterday), and had an amazing basically vegan dinner last night! Thanks for the tip.
This is the article that gave me directions:
http://www.living-foods.com/articles/...
Once you are at the boardwalk, it is easy to spot, and if it isn't you will hear Josh shouting things like "no hot peppers today" etc. ;-).
He mentioned he will be closed for the next two weeks, not a month.
Have a good one guys!
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Is there a specific address or the name of the hotel for Josh's Organic? I am a Miami Dade resident and not familiar with that area. Thanks!
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Lorilaw, here is a link to the only listing I can find. It's on the Broadwalk behind the Ramada just south of Hollywood Blvd.
http://www.rawfoods.com/articles/holl...
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Does anyone know if Josh's open today? Thinking about going over there this afternoon. Thanks!
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i cant believe nobody has mentioned Norman Brothers. Go there. great produce, great prepared food too. 1/4 mile south of sunset drive on 87th ave (galloway)
www.normanbrothers.com
forget the rest. go to Norman Brothers.
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Love Norman's. Also can't believe it's never come up before.
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Of course, it's not a farmer's market, nor do they have any organic produce other than carrots from California.
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Don't be so hard on yourself - I love Norman's too.
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Just having some fun. My point was it didn't come up on this thread because it's not a farmer's market, nor do they specialize in organics. . I love the Wagyu burgers, though-highly recommended. And the Wagyu steak's pretty amazing as well, if it's not priced thru the stratosphere.
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Just impressed by your discipline in adhering to topic. When you mentioned Norman's I thought "Oh, yeah, I always forget about Norman's". Then when you pointed out it is neither a farmer's market nor does it do much organic, I once again said "Oh, yeah."
What is their pricing per pound on Wagyu beef?
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Discipline is my middle name. They have the Mishima Ranch Wagyu burger patties at $10/lb (two patties) which are amazing, especially (maybe only) if you like rare beef. The sirloin was $18/lb-worth every penny. The ribeye was sky-high-I think $40-something (maybe even 60(?)/lb. Must cook this stuff high-heat, briefly. Here's more pix and info.
http://dailycocaine.blogspot.com/2007...
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My husband and I go to Josh's every Sunday morning; the market is open from 8:30am to 5:30pm. We like to get there early, before things get picked over. The selection is amazing, and of course continually changes throughout the year. Josh is very helpful; he'll be happy to tell you what the 'best buys' are as far as what it is in season. We've bought vegetables that will stay fresh for 2 weeks in the fridge! We live nearby, but I'd drive 60 minutes to get my fruits and veggies here.
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Here's my assessment--I live near downtown Miami and I've shopped at Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Glaser in the Grove, and Josh's. While I used to go to Glaser every week, it's been Josh's for years (since he had just 4-5 tables) Of the two markets, Glaser has WAY more variety (esp. in spices, dried foods, unique fruits, fermented foods, salad dressings, etc), but the prices are higher (like Whole Foods/Wild Oats) and most produce comes from California. Josh's is cheaper and fresher (a substantial amount comes from Florida), but it is just produce and juice. My father owned a produce company for 25 years (and I worked with him occasionally): Josh's is the freshest produce I've ever seen.
When you start to buy organic it is easy to get shell shocked by the prices because you are used to the deceptive packaging at the grocery store and organic places price things by the pound. Example: Publix's fresh spices: $32 per pound.
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I've heard Laurenzo's in NMB runs a Farmer's Market. Has anyone ever been? Is it any good?
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It is not really a farmer's market and it is nothing you can't get at Publix. I may be wrong, but I think I remember nothing being organic and barely anything being local. But I guess it is cheap and convinient if you are already shopping with them at the Italian market.
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Mostly agree with yomyb's description, with one minor exception. I haven't been in a couple years, but I do recall that they did have some unusual items that you didn't often see elsewhere - cardoons, yellow tomatoes, nice herbs, etc.
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Funny-I was there the other day and they had some 'cactus' pears. They looked so interesting I picked one up and started examining it and then proceeded to get about ten painful mini-needles stuck in my hand...exotic, indeed. Other than that, there weren't really any items I'd go out of my way for-they call themselves a 'farmer's market', but that's really in name only. And the place is looking a bit ragged. Cannolis still rock, though.
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I agree -- it's easy to get shocked by the prices. But as I wrote before, if it is price one is after, organics would not be an issue. When we buy organics, it is not for ourselves, but for a movement. It's a sacrifice we make for the land, the small farmers (though Publix, Horizon, and Whole Foods bastardize this), and a future without GMO's, pesticides, and hormones.
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I was at Josh's this past Sunday and I really loved it. Got some fresh organic rosemary. The only local produce as far as I could tell was lettuce. His produce was from Canada, Pennsylvania, and I think I saw some California boxes (L2M?) too. Fresh from Cali, or Canada is still traveling a long way to get here. Additionally, some of these growers are not small farmers at all. And, again, this is not a farmer's market, but he is merely acting as a retailer for wholesale products-although there's nothing wrong with that. As I've said before, the season hasn't started here yet. Be patient. And could you please explain "Publix fresh spices: $32 per pound'? I'm not sure what you mean.
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I suspect $32/pound means $2 / oz (which I believe is the usual package size for fresh herbs at Publix) multiplied out.
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Critical Miami brought up another farmer's market I haven't seen mentioned down in this thread. And for the first time, the location of this farmer's market actually makes some sense! It's where? Down in Homestead.
http://criticalmiami.com/2008/01/07/h...
244th St and US 1. Has anyone been?
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I know there's not a lot of 'organic' produce here, but Chef Dewey LoSasso of North One10 will be heading down to the Redlands to grab some fresh produce, and promoting it at the Upper East Side Greenmarket on Saturday, from 9AM-3PM. He's also making Virgin Dewey's ( see www.dailycocaine.blogspot.com for a photo of the bottle) and will be offering espresso, key lime creme brulee, Indonesian chicken salad, and some other stuff. Chef Sandra Stefani of Casa Toscana will have artisan breads, and other Italian products, Chef Michael Schwartz of Michael's Genuine was shopping here last week, and Michelle Bernstein of Michy's has been spotted shopping here both Saturdays the market has been open. I think tomorrow will see a lot more chefs shopping here, and maybe some more vendors, as well.
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Vendors! More vendors! Real farmers! Please!
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If more chefs go to the Redlands, that would be great news!
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I think a number of local chefs are now procuring produce from the Redlands - obviously not nearly as many are taking such responsibility to promote it as what Dewey's doing. Good stuff.
Took a look at his online menu recently and saw that some dishes included "Miami Shores Mangos" - how's that for going local?
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Bill McKibben, global warming God, says local is the new organic. Both would be great!
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Visited the Upper East Side Greenmarket today and was glad I did. Given the typical experience at Miami "farmers" markets I had low expectations, and they were exceeded by quite a bit.
Dewey LoSasso (from North One 10) was indeed out and had dragged along an exotic fruit farmer from the Redlands, and brought some thai guava, pomelos, some sweet little finger bananas, and a some other exotic tropical fruits. Dewey had made some "Virign Deweys" and a few other items and had some home-made hot sauce for sale. There were at least 3-4 other fruit and vegetable stands, a couple of which had some nice locally grown produce - we got some delicious red navel oranges (5 / $1.00) and ruby red grapefruit, there were also some nice-looking Immokalee beefsteak tomatoes, some zucchini, peppers, one guy had some farm-fresh eggs. Another vendor had some produce which I suspect was not locally grown but was organic, other had brought in some boxed fruit and veg which at least looked pretty nice quality. There was a honey producer who had several varieties of local honeys including orange blossom, wildflower and palmetto.
Grabbed some Colombian baked goods - a nice arepa con carne, and a cheesy bread thing - then regretted not saving some room for the Argentinian empanadas.
Saw the $8/lb stone crab guy, they looked and smelled good but I'm just not that brave.
This was my first visit, but it sounds like market is improving every week. Certainly better than my experiences at several others. Another great addition to the Biscayne Corridor (MD - is this the "surprisingly hip restaurant row" or is it 79th Street? I get confused.)
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Great report, Sir Frodesnor. Patience, as they say, is a virtue, and I believe they will keep improving every week. I had a nice, long, conversation with the organizer, Claire Tomlin,and she is confident that the market will get bigger and better. She told me that she is speaking to farmers (at least one that I know personally), to get more participation. Roger Washington of Red Dragon Fruit Company (the farmer you mentioned) told me that getting up to Miami on a Saturday is very tough. In fact taking any time away from the farm is very hard.for him. So the problem is not really that the farmers don't WANT to come, they are simply too busy. They probably need to make upwards of $1000 just to make it worth their while (a figure quoted to me by several people). Vito, the fresh mozzarella guy from Apulia was pretty much sold out when I arrived at 1:15, and Casa Toscana had sold out of their artisan breads. I bought two containers of blackberries, and one of raspberries, that were perfectly ripe and ready to eat, all three for $5. The photo is below. The berries are
imported from Mexico and Chile, but you don't see them all the time, and that's pretty cheap. They tasted great, warmed by the sun. The same vendor also had cheap papayas and mangoes. Oh, and two words...Mango Mousse. I have more shots of the Virgin Dewey and his hot sauces (including guava), at www.dailycocaine.blogspot.com For you celebrity-chef watchers, Michael Schwartz was shopping there again today, and Michelle Bernstein sent her mother. And Dewey and Dale had their kids with them. Very down-home.
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Couple of questions and I apologize in advance if I the answers were previously mentioned.
When do they do the Upper East Side Greenmarket?(every sat, just sat?)
Are there food vendors involved or is this basically produce? I ask b/c I was recently in London and loved the Borough Market. Amazing place and I've never seen anything like it. (you guys mentioned some food items)
Who is this Vito guy and how do we find him outside of the market?
Off thread topic but related- Casa Toscana, thoughts?
I've never been to Dewey's restaurant, should I go?
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Right now it's just Saturday, 9AM-3PM, and just a ten week 'trial period', to appease the neighbors who were vocally skeptical. I think the trial period, due to the success and pretty smooth operation, may be extended. There is food. North One10 has espresso, key lime creme brulee's, Indonesian Chicken Salad, and something else I've forgotten. I don't have Vito's info at hand, but I can get it. I just met him today thru Sandra of Casa Toscana. There was an organic stand selling escargots, and wraps, and mango mousse.. One vendor sells homemade hummus and other dips and sauces (the girl who gets her produce from Immokalee). There is a cookie guy, and the Colombian and Argy vendors Frod mentioned. There's also your standard juice lady, There are croissants at Casa Toscana's booth. I think that's it. And the Virgin Deweys...
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Just to make clear so you (or others, really, since I suspect you already know this) don't get your hopes up too high - the Upper East Side market is nothing like Borough Market. Borough Market covers a few city blocks and must have hundreds of vendors. This is a small-scale temporary deal with maybe a dozen or so vendors who set up tents and take them down at the end of the afternoon. Otherwise I think MD's answered your other questions.
I think Casa Toscana is a nice neighborhood place with pretty good Northern Italian food and an incredibly charming hostess/chef/owner, Sandra. I've had some very yummy chicken liver crostini there, a nice ravioli w/ truffle oil that was a special one night, I didn't love the lasagna, and keep meaning to try the osso buco but have never been there with a sufficient appetitte to take it on. The wine selection is short but interesting with primarily Italian wines, and a sort of amusing way to do it - all the wines are up on shelving on the wall, and you go over, take a look and grab whatever bottle you want (prices on a little sticker on the back of the bottle). Sandra's always glad to help choose.
North One 10 is also worth a visit. Dewey was one of the original "Mango Gang" and the food I guess I'd call "New American" with a tropical twist, but with ingredients that will literally go all over the map. It's been a while since I've been and it looks like the online menu's been updated, so I don't know if I can recommend particular dishes, but the salmon croquetas (w/ "damn hot guava sauce") were good, as was the duck.
I've always been intrigued by their special event menus though I've never been. Check out the Valentine's menu and the Super Bowl brunch menus on the website ->
http://www.northone10.com/events.cfm
MD, did you happen to catch where the guy with the unlikely combination of escargot, wraps and mango mousse was from?
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Thanks MD & Frod for your responses. Yeah, I wasn't expecting a large market and certainly nothing like Borough. Just looking for a food oriented market. Sounds like this has some potential. I need to bump North One 10 up on the "to do list".
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The guys selling the escargots had a chalkboard that said 'Be Organic'. I don't know if that's their name or just their mantra, but I can tell you that the people scarfing down that mousse looked like they were in bliss. I posted some photos, and I'll try to do it here, as well. Didn't work last time.
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'Be Organic' had, I believe, an avocado or avocado/mango mousse as well.
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That stand is hilarious. The sign said "Be Organic" and then the menu ran down" Escargot...$X, Avocado...$X, Mango Mousse...$X". They also had wraps. It was the most patchworked menu I'd ever seen! I wish I'd gotten the mousse though, it looked very good.
I saw Michael Schwartz there and was going to ask him about my eggs and grits (see ridiculously long post on the Michael's Genuine post) but he looked like he was going to rip someone's head off. Does the guy ever smile? I think the most happy expression I've seen on him has been one of ambivalence, otherwise he just looks mad. Maybe my waiter was scared of asking for the fried egg. I understand why. Regardless he made the rounds at the Casa Toscana and North 110 booths but didn't look too interested in anything else.
And many thanks to Dewey for bringing the dragonfruit guy up from Redlands. They guy was superfriendly and kept wanting people to try his stuff. Granted it was a little expensive, but maybe with more turnover he'd be able to get his prices down. Come on people! Buy some thai guavas and sunburst tomatoes. They're awesome!
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Funny-I always thought of Michael as a sunny guy! And by the way, those eggs are double-yolked, so you would have been in for a treat had you had one over your grits. And if a waiter stuck a spoon in my food, it would probably end up coming out the other side, if you get my drift. And I'm a sunny guy. too. You showed remarkable patience.
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The experience was so absurd I had to keep it going. I was waiting to see if he'd scoop the ice cream for my dessert tableside.
Michael sunny? I believe he's easily gotten the most censor bleeps ever for a guest on Top Chef.
And Mr. MD sunny? Anyone who comes up with Press Chops has gotta be more dark side of the moon than shiny happy person. But keep it up, the skewering is hilarious!
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