Cold freeze gives summer fruit a boost for the season

The cold freeze of 2007 has positively impacted this year's harvest of stone fruits as farmers report that shoppers can expect a plentiful crop. The stone fruit season runs through October. Ken Lee of Ken's Top Notch Produce based in Reedley, Calif., said it's a record year for 2007. Lee, who sells his fruit at the Ventura County Certified Farmers' Markets in Thousand Oaks, will have a generous supply of peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots and cherries. The Ventura County Certified Farmers' Market Association operates weekly markets with two in Ventura and one in Thousand Oaks.

The Thousand Oaks Market is on the rooftop of the former city hall building at 403 W. Hillcrest Drive from 2 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays.

The Ventura Farmers' Markets are Wednesdays at the Pacific View Mall from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturdays in downtown Ventura from 8:30 a.m. to noon. For more information call (805) 529-6266 or visit www.vccfarmersmarket.com.