"farmers market" news and stories

• Mama Fina finally puts the Dominican Republican on the L.A. culinary map.
• Viola's Gourmet Goodies isn't just a condiment company -- it's a Hollywood legend.
• Farmers markets can be high stakes for new merchants.
• Guess why WP24 is turning downtown L.A. into a dinner destination? (Hint: WP stands for Wolfgang Puck.)

With farmers' market season about hit primetime, a Wall Street Journal story sounded the alarm about farmers and others who purchase and resell products that are not theirs.

It seems the Wisconsin case the story focused on is more the exception than the rule. "You got to grow it to sell it. We do not allow resellers," said Michael Hurwitz, director of greenmarket for Grow NYC, which runs dozens of farmers' markets in New York City including the king-sized Union Square Market. "We are a very strict producer-only market."

Unless they're granted an exception – which would be for a product that's grown locally but not otherwise available at the market -- farmers not only must stick to what they grow, but they also have to be at their market booth a least 25 percent of the time and have someone intimately involved with farm production there for the rest.

If you're at a farm-to-table restaurant or farmer's market these days, you may see a curious item of produce on offer: fiddlehead ferns. Here's the scoop on these curly green delicacies.

Momofuku Milk Bar Volcano Photo: Kat Kinsman

A few of the best stories spied elsewhere on the Web this week:

A new study from the University of South Carolina finds comfort food not as comforting as you'd think.

A snacking-while-driving invention makes talking on your cell phone while driving seem positively safe and sound.

Despite the recession, consumers are still willing to shell out as much as $999 per person to rub shoulders with celeb chefs at food festivals across the nation.

David Chang, of Momofuku fame, may open a Milk Bar in Georgetown.

More Americans are starting small farms, sometimes called 'hobby' or 'lifestyle' farms, which provide much of the food found at the nation's farmers' markets and roadside stands.

Now you can get your candy fix and your rock on with Kiss-branded M&M's.

Le Bernardin reservations out of your reach? Chef Eric Ripert launched a wine club, giving the average Joe access to his vino-expertise and recipe pairings to use at home.

Tagine and vegetables. Photo: jkdjulia, Flickr.

• On pulling out the tagine and delighting in an all-day cooking class in Morocco, while a taste of the country will hit Pittsburgh and a recipe for Cucumber Mint Salad/Sorbet.
• Roasting? That's so last year. Care to try an electronic turkey fryer this Thanksgiving?
• Writer Miriam Rubin muses about this summer's farmers' market gems and the joys of canning.
• Beer bits: The Steel City Big Pour is over, but some brews live on, and more beer festivities are on the way.
• Be still our vino hearts -- the grapes are overflowing, which means falling wine prices and great grabs.