WHAT'S FRESH THIS WEEK?
Hard to tell from our up and down weather, but it's fall. We love all the varieties of winter squash that are in season now. Green beans, peppers, tomatoes and avocados are still hanging on, and we're starting to see wonderful lettuces, chard, broccoli and beets again. Look for custardy cherimoyas and sweet tangerines soon, and check out the beautiful red pepper wreaths for the holidays now at Santiago Soto's booth.

A NOSE FOR GREEN
As Little Italy undertakes a pioneering effort to become the greenest neighborhood in San Diego, Mercato vendors are doing their part. Joes on the Nose in the bright orange truck at State & Date offers organic espresso roasted locally by Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, has eliminated individual sugar packets, and even provides a recycling bin for straw wrappers. Go Joes! You just thought you loved him for his luscious coffee drinks and smoothies. Watch this space for more green stories from the Mercato.

COMING SOON
With the change of seasons, some of our farmers will be getting back to the land for a month or two, and others will be joining us. Later this month, watch for La Milpa Organica, one of our favorite Escondido farms, to bring their incredible greens, squash, olives and more to the Mercato. The da Silvas will be offering their amazing avocado oil, a favorite of local Slow Food chefs. We'll have hydroponic lettuces, for fresh greens all year long, and local sea urchin divers will surface to bring that specialty direct from the water to Date Street. Keep watching!

MERCATO AT THE FEST
After you get your shopping done at the Mercato on Saturday morning, hop on the trolley and head down to the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival grand tasting event at the South Embarcadero. The Mercato will have a booth there, our market manager is a Chef of the Fest judge, and participating Mercato vendors and chefs include Sea Rocket Bistro, Chef Scott Wagner of Chile Co Catering, Roy's, and Café Virtuoso. Wine, chefs, and familiar Mercato faces on the bay. Cheers!

Shop the Little Italy Mercato every Saturday from 9 am to 1:30 pm, year-round. Shop Date Street from Kettner to Union

Subscribe to the Mercato Messenger
Click here to get a weekly e-mail update from the Little Italy Mercato.

MUSIC TO SHOP BY
Luis Max and his new flamenco group will be back at the Mercato this weekend, so get ready to dance. New at the top of the market, Coco & Lafe come to us direct from their summer gig at the Copley Square Farmers' Market in Boston. Let's see, summer in Boston, winter in San Diego. That's a pretty smart duo. Musicians interested in playing at the Mercato can contact mercato@littleitalysd.com for more info.

Mercato shoppers eat all week long! Advertise your restaurant or lifestyle items in the Mercato Monitor, the newspaper that covers the pulse of the Little Italy Mercato. Winter 2008 issue coming soon. Email mercato@littleitalysd.com or call 619.233.3769 now!