Food & drink: Buy local, buy direct

The Davis Farmers Market remains one of the longest-running— and most eclectic—local open-air farmers’ markets in Northern California. Launched in 1975, the market features local organic produce of all varieties, flowers, honey, fresh-baked goods (try Davis Bread & Desserts famous sticky buns!), homemade cheeses, hot foods and yes, live music of every genre. Everything’s available at affordable farmer-to-consumer prices, of course. The market is an especially great place to frequent during the summer months, because that’s when all the bountiful, Michael Pollan-approved fruits and vegetables (everything sold there is grown or made by the seller) overflow the stalls. Find it at Davis’ Central Park, between Fourth and C streets, every Saturday morning and Wednesday afternoon starting in late spring; www.davisfarmersmarket.org.

Here are a bunch of other times and locations where you may sample the wealth of your local farmers’ markets. We can’t stress how valuable a resource these fresh-air grocers are; even better, they really are fun. For more information, check out www.cafarmersmarkets.com.

Saturdays
8 a.m.-noon at Sunrise Mall, Sunrise Boulevard (behind Sears Auto Center), open all year

8 a.m.-noon at Country Club Plaza, Watt and El Camino (in the Butano Drive parking lot), open all year

Sundays
8 a.m.-noon at the state parking lot, Eighth and W streets (under the freeway), open all year

Tuesdays
10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Roosevelt Park, Ninth and P streets, open 5/6-10/28

10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Fremont Park, 16th and P streets, open 5/6-10/28

Wednesdays
10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Cesar Chavez Plaza, 10th and J streets (in front of City Hall), open 5/7-10/29

4-8 p.m. at the Elk Grove Regional Park, Elk Grove-Florin Road (in the Pavilion parking lot), open 5/14-8/27

Thursdays
8 a.m.-noon at the Florin Sears Store, Florin Road and 65th Street (in the front parking lot), open all year

10 a.m.-2p.m. at Downtown Plaza, Fourth and K streets (between Macy’s and Holiday Inn), open 5/1-10/30