Everybody at the Good Bite office is lucky to be based in sunny Santa Monica, CA and even luckier to be across the street from the beach and literally a stones throw from one of LA's biggest farmers markets, the Wednesday Santa Monica Farmers Market. In celebration of this wonderful market offering even more wonderful seasonal veggies, fruit, nuts, farm-fresh eggs, milk, cheese, and tons more, we've added this new weekly column sprouting every Wednesday morning from here on out. What's in Season This Week? offers a look at the goods local farmers are harvesting right now, in addition to recipe suggestions to get you cooking. Enjoy! As usual, many shoppers at the farmers market this morning. A mix of chefs and non-professional cooks seeking out top quality seasonal eats. The most abundant fruit we saw today was persimmons. Brilliant orange and red-hued heart-shaped Hachiyas and the shorter more squat orange-yellow Fuyas. Know Before You Buy: Most persimmons found in the US fall into the astringent category, meaning that if it's not ripe and you try to eat it, the persimmon will taste very tanic and bitter. However, as the persimmon ripens, it becomes sweeter and loses its astringency and tastes similar to a papaya. In general, Hachiyas are considered more astringent than Fuyas, though both are best consumed after ripening. Once ready to eat, Hachiya persimmons take on an almost custardy texture and should be eaten when very soft (looks like it's about to go bad). On the other hand, Fuyu persimmons should be eaten while firm (like an apple). Tip: Wrap unripe persimmons in paper to speed up the ripening process. · Persimmon Rose Preserves [Live Green, Wear Black] · Breakfast Persimmon Parfait [Glamour] · Persimmon Pudding with Cinnamon [Pleasant Eats] · Persimmon Bread [Six by 10] · Kale, Pomegranate, and Persimmon Salad [Pleasant Eats] · Pan-Fried Brie with Persimmon Salsa Canapes [Cookin' Canuck] · Whole Wheat Couscous Salad with Persimmon, Mint, and Pine Nuts [Kalyn's Kitchen] · City House Beet and Persimmon Salad [Cook Eat Fret] · Persimmon Chiffon Pie [Food52] · Persimmon Soy Shake [Hodo Soy Beanery]