If you're looking for a wide variety of fresh and unique agricultural products, California's Certified Farmers' Markets are great places to go! There are over 350 Farmers' Markets in California. Many of these markets operate year-round on a weekly basis. The festival-like atmosphere makes shopping fun for the whole family. It's educational too! You can learn about the products by meeting face to face with the farmer. For more information about Certified Farmers' Markets, visit the Web site listed near the bottom of the page. You can also learn more about low-fat nutrition and fitness through a new program called Project LEAN. At some of the Southland Farmers' Markets, registered dietitians are on hand to provide helpful hints about staying healthy. For example, did you know that the color of a fruit or vegetable indicates the nutrient value? The deeper or richer the color, the better it is for you! That's why tomatoes, carrots, romaine lettuce and spinach are considered powerhouse foods. If your town's Farmers' Market does not have a registered dietitian on hand, some markets offer printed information on nutrition and even provide recipes! Here's one of those recipes that's perfect for a summer picnic…Nectarine Salsa! Nectarine Salsa (From Keith Swinger, Grower, Former Vineyard Market Vendor) Ingredients 3 nectarines Juice of 1 lime 1 tomato 1 avocado 2 jalapeno peppers 1 or 2 garlic cloves ½ teaspoon each of cayenne pepper, coriander and cumin 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon sugar Preparation Chop nectarines, tomato, avocado, peppers and garlic finely. Add lime juice and seasonings. Enjoy with chips or crackers of your choice! For more recipes and information about California's Certified Farmers' Markets visit their Web site at http://farmersmarket.ucdavis.edu. If you have questions or comments about this story, please E-mail us at calheart@kvie.org.