A Peach of a Party and famer's market tips

Oh no, I've been keeping my potatoes in the refrigerator! Well, just the Yukon Golds, but even this is a bad idea and will make them turn sweet, according to Russ Parsons' new book How to Pick a Peach. L.A. Times wine writer Corie Brown hosted a lovely book party for Parsons, the Times columnist who often writes on how to coax all the flavor out of fruits and vegetables. Lots of local food luminaries stopped by to taste some of the recipes from the book, including the Times' food editor Leslie Brenner, Timesians Steve Lopez and Kenneth Turan, chefs Mary Sue Milliken, Alain Giraud (pictured with Parsons) and Michael Cimarusti.
And strawberries? Don't take off the green hull before rinsing them, ok, because too much water will soak into them. You'll have to read the book to find out what you've been doing wrong with tomatoes all this time.