What better way to celebrate the first day of summer than by joining us to savor the tale of farmers’ markets—and the fresh and flavorful bounty they help us bring to our tables. Farmers’ markets have their own intriguing culinary history, especially the lush markets of Southern California. On hand to regale us with the story of the rise, struggle and renaissance of these markets is California native Amelia Saltsman. 

Amelia Saltsman is an author, cooking teacher and host of Fresh from the Farmers’ Market, a joint project of the Santa Monica Farmers’ market and CityTV. For more than 20 years she has shopped the renowned market, which stands at the forefront of a national trend toward cooking with local, seasonal ingredients. Her new book, The Santa Monica Farmers’ Market Cookbook,  is a celebration of the market’s excellence and its hardworking farmers. Ms. Saltsman has written for such publications as National Geographic Traveler and the Los Angeles Times.

Recorded Saturday, June 21, 2008 at Chicago History Museum.