Where to buy true yams?

[Robert Lauriston]

Following up on a topic on the Home Cooking board, this topic mentions that they're available at "the Afro-American market where the Friday Oakland farmers market takes place":

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/40497

Is that referring to Oriental Lucky Mart (which I'm pretty sure has them) or someplace else?

Oriental Lucky Mart, 535 8th Street, Oakland, [phone]

[drmimi]

Although I try to avoid Marin as much as possible (the traffic, the congestion, the people), I am now there about once every three weeks. The trek to Azteca may be worth it. But I have a hunch there is something closer to me in Cotati, Rohnert Park or Santa Rosa.

It's kind of late for US grown sugar cane. Must have come from somewhere south of the border.

Anybody with recs in those three communities? I usually try following "the folks" (as in if you see folks of a particular ethnic group frequenting a particular ethnic resturant or store more than likely the food and drink there is authentic).
I've been chased around more than just a few Indian (from India) stores in my time. They couldn't figure out why an African American could possibly want in their store:). It helps that I speak Spanish, so when I go to a Latino place, folks try to place me as a Panamanian or Nicarauguan. I get a warmer reception.

[rworange]

drmimi, in another post where yams were mentioned it reminded me that Azteca Market in San Rafael has them which is on your side of the Bay and doesn't involve crossing bridges.

It is a Mexican market but for some reason had those yams and stalkes of sugar cane. I didn't look too closely, they might have other ingrediants.

However, SKIP the tamales. The butcher came from the back of the store carrying a pot of just made tamales ... some of the worst, driest tamales I ever had.

555 Francisco Blvd E # 24, San Rafael, 94901 - [phone]

There's Azteca #2 on 4th Street too but I didn't notice them there.

[drmimi]

Thanks- it is called Greenstrings-- they have gorgeous fruits and vegetables. Great variety- although in the winter it will be heavy on broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage other winter veggies. It was a pleasant surprise.

[drmimi]

How about the Berkeley Bowl (in Berkeley)? They have one of the most complete produce sections (much of it organic) I have seen in Northern California. My best friend in Modesto would make a special trip there weekly because the produce was so good (all the good stuff would be shipped out of the Central Valley to the Bay Area).

[Robert Lauriston]

I've seen lots of unusual root vegetables at BB, but if they've had true yams I missed them. They're very strong on Japanese, Chinese, and Latin produce, not so strong on African and Caribbean.

For the record, over 80% of Berkeley Bowl's produce is conventional, and the organic stuff is mostly factory-farm. We get almost all of our produce direct from local organic farmers, and when we have to supplement that with stuff from the Bowl it's depressing.

[rworange]

No. During one visit I was looking around for someone who posted on Chowhound about African groceries and BB is sadly lacking anything. It could be they were out of the yams on that particualar visit, but it is not the first place I'd send anyone.

[drmimi]

Sounds like Housewives market would be a better bet than Berkeley Bowl--there were quite a few Caribbean and African resturants in downtown Oakland a couple of years back- don't remember the names. I am not sure how well they have thrived. Fortunately I don't have to drive out of Sonoma County for locally grown organic vegetables. There is a treasure trove up here. A really nice farm at Adobe and Frates on the way to Sonoma, several great spots along Bodega Ave. I was disappointed by the local farmers market this past summer.
Another idea would be to try the flea markets in the San Jose area--more likely to find "ethnic" veggies there. I have other friends who have brought back all sorts of unusual root and above ground fruits and veggies from there.

[Melanie Wong]

Could you tell us more about the farm at Adobe and Frates outside Petaluma? I think it might be called Green Strings or something like that and I've been wondering about it...
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

[sailorbuoys]

I saw some true yams at Monterey Market the other day.

[rworange]

I never have made it to Oriental Lucky Mart, but I do know that Jack's in the Housewives Market sells them.
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/326475

Anyone in the San Pablo area can buy them at Brookside U-Save Liquor Mart
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/327988

[Melanie Wong]

Could be Jacks or African-Caribbean. I have seen them in a small market in that area, but can't tell you which one.
http://www.oldoakland.org/oo/director...

[Ruth Lafler]

I've always wondered about African-Caribbean -- maybe one day I'll be driving past when I actually have time to stop and check it out.