I can hardly wait for farm market season.Because my community consists of a cluster of small cities, I have several markets from which to choose. My favorite is a Saturday market located in a shady park in an L-shaped historic district. In the shadow of hulking buildings from the 19th century with lovely brickwork and soaring turrets, I can find local fruits and vegetables and craft items. This one starts in mid-May.
Closer to home, there's another market that operates on Tuesdays and Fridays. Although it is located in the parking lot of a newer park and is a bit more established, although less scenic. The farmers who sell their produce here are fiercely independent! When the city wanted to change the market to Saturdays, they declined. It took them a few seasons to get accustomed to the new park, too. For years, the market was located along the river and when the city asked the farmers to move, they protested vehemently.
Sadly, I heard from one of my vendor friends that some of the farmers will not return this year. One died at the end of the season and several others have deemed it not profitable to participate. You can hardly blame them. The local markets are not as well attended as they might be in larger cities. The notion of eating low on the food chain is not widespread up here yet.
When I lived in Madison, the very popular Dane County Farmers Market was only four blocks away on the Capital Concourse. I'd go early for the freshest produce, carry my string bags home, and then go back mid-morning for more. I managed to live on about $25 a week those days.
Good value for fresh is certainly part of the draw of farm markets. But beyond that, there is a romance to buying directly from the grower and buying it in the time-honored tradition of an outdoor market.
I like the ritual of it. I like coming home laden with bags and bags of fresh green beans, radishes, carrots, tomatoes and peppers. I like the element of surprise, too, like the times last year when I found pears, plums and currants in addition to the ever-present apples. (I had to laugh when I saw a table of brassieres for sale at the market under the elevated Metro tracks at L'Hopital Pitie Salpetriere in the 13th in Paris. Totally unexpected!)
I like unpacking my purchases, cleaning them and storing them, one at a time. There is a rhythm to this process as there is a rhythm to the seasons. It is these rhythms that provide us with ballast in our lives.
Do you have a favorite farm market? What's your best farm market find to date? I love bringing home cilantro and garlic as they scent my car with the most delicious of combinations.
25 comments:
Well of course I could talk about French markets, but I never have the time to go to them anymore! This must change!
Actually, Olympia, Washington (my home town) has a lovely Farmers' Market which was for many years the state's second biggest after Seattle's Pike Place market. I'm not sure if it's still the second biggest, but it is lovely.
I remember the last summer we lived in Minneapolis I went, late morning to the farmer's market. There was a guy down from Bayfield, WI selling blueberries. He wanted to leave and sold me the rest of his supply for 50 cents a pint (they had been 1.50). I bought them all, of course, and went home with over 10 pints of blueberries. It was heaven - they were freshly picked and soooo good! We gorged for 3 days - then froze the rest.
Betty & I agree on Seattle's Pike Place market. When I was there last week I saw fiddle head ferns for the first time. There is lots of romance to them...just the idea is.
Betty, on the subject of French markets, we just installed a bigger memory chip in my carmera so I can take tons of photos next month in Paris.
I think your home turf is far ahead of the Midwest when it comes to such things. Madison may be the exception. . .
Oh, Katie, that sounds wonderful. I like to go early for best selection, then later for the best deals. Late mornings can be a great time to shop.
Yes, I agree, Tanna. I would love to see fiddlehead ferns.
I love browsing and shopping through markets. I remember them well from my home town. But they just don't seem to be as popular nowadays in the States. It's refreshing to see much of Europe still has them. And I really enjoy them when I'm there.
My favorite market is actually in the next state over -- Danielson, Connecticut. It is small, by some standards, perhaps 12-15 farmers in high season, but the variety is spectacular. One organic farmer specializes in garlic, and every summer I'm introduced to new and flavorful garlic varieties, some heirloom and some just new-to-me. Portland, Maine has a lovely year-round market, too, a la Pike Place.
Terri, I have found them not to be too popular up here but in Madison, the Satruday market is a place to see and be seen and if you don't go, you are out of the loop.
Lydia, we have a garlic grower here, and he does offer different varieties, but I suspect yours may have a few more.
I love going to the farmer's market here, but it doesn't open for at least a month. I haven't even seen an announcement about it yet. Sigh.
Of course I loved living in Paris and going to the market every week. Other than the vegetables, I love the ham, cheese, olives and have actually even bought clothes there (but not a bra). While there's nothing like the markets in France, the Saturday farmer's market in my town, Kingston, NY is pretty good. Last year, I bought a bag full of the tiniest shallots, they were so sweet and cute. We used some of them for vinaigrette and the rest were roasted along with a chicken. Too bad the farmer's market doesn't start until the end of May.
Mary
www.ceresandbacchus.com
Yes, Mary, May is a long wait, especially when the markets close in October. For some reason, one of ours is openng May 19 this year, I think to get people in the habit.
They will sell non-food items, but probably not bras.
Kalyn, I feel for you. Ours used to start in mid July! This new one is led by a very ambitious lady farmer who has high hopes.
That was lovely. I enjoyed reading about your experiences. I'm a farmer's market novice but this year I've found my market (I think there's only one--it's not a huge town) and I intend to be a regular!
There are benefits to being a regular, Glenna. My friends the Vangs used to give me nice little extras - a couple of apples, some onions, whatever. They charmed me. I have heard they might not be back. That saddens me.
Oh Mimi! Your post made me want to run right out to the small but lovely farmer's market here in Brooklyn Heights. It's not anywhere near as fabulous as the huge farmer's market at Union Square in Manhattan, but just the fact that it's here in my less harried neck of the city is enough to make me happy. Nice to know you too get to enjoy that special pleasure. Mmmmm...I swear I can smell the fresh cilantro and garlic in your bag.
Ronnie, is it spring there yet. My forsythia is out, and there are finally some small buds on the trees.
Farmer's Markets make my heart sing Mimi. Your post makes me crave mine even more. I am partial to the one on Saturday mornings in Appleton- right on College Avenue. I love sneaking out of the house in the wee hours of morning, and when I get to the market I stop at the little Amish girls stand for a fresh-made pastry before shopping. When the kids go with me we stop at the gelato stand for a treat for them as well. I think it starts the second week in June...
It's so exhilirating being out with the area chefs- seeing what's new and fresh. I keep meaning to check out the market in downtown Green Bay on Wednesdays, but I feel so loyal to the Appleton market.
From childhood on, I have loved Soulard Farmers Market in St. Louis. Established in 1779 and in its current location since 1838, it is the oldest farmers market west of the Mississippi--some say in the country. Some of the vendors are farmers, but some buy produce from the wholesale produce market north of downtown to sell.
Soulard Market also has a butcher shop, a couple of bakeries and one of the best [and most fragrant] spice shops I've seen. And like the Paris market, you can buy the most unexpected things there, from novelty T-shirts to incense to velvet paintings. You can even buy goldfish, hamsters, kittens, bunnies and other assorted pets from the pet shop there.
When Marion and I lived in St. Louis, the market was a regular part of our Saturday routine. Now when we visit, we still try to get there. We may buy a few spices and some fresh fruit to be eaten almost on the spot. But mainly we just soak in the wonderful, colorful, lively atmosphere.ap
Erika, why does Appleton seem so much more sophisticated than Green Bay? I can imagine they might appreciate the market there. In the four years I lived in GB, I never went to the Farm Market, but people did seem to like it.
TerryB, somehow the idea of buying more than food is enticing. And you do not have to buy, just enjoy.
Ooh, I can't wait!
There is a busy market about five blocks from my house - I found it by walking in the opposite direction of people I noticed carrying bags of vegetables. It is crowded and the ground is muddy, especially around the fish section, but I can always find good vegetables there. (I ask the vendors what the vegetables are called, but can never remember their replies!)
Last week it was under renos and the vendors were standing on the very edge of this enormous open trough behind them, but it was business as usual.
Loading up on vegetables for a week is five to ten yuan ($0.80 - $1.56). I bought a fresh rabbit today for 22 yuan (just over three dollars) and am very excited to be cooking rabbit for the first time, for guests tomorrow...
Pepper, how fascinating to visit a market with vegetables whose names you do not know! It must be great to try so many new things.
I hear rabbit is wonderful and I admire anyone who can prepare it.
Oh Mimi now I'm really anxious for mine to start. May 1 in Colorado but not much fresh veggies yet unless they do the hothouse thing (but they are pricey), I can buy spices and seafood and of course prepared foods will be available. June 1st is when most of the farmers will be there and like you I love coming home with bags and bags of stuff to clean and devour during the week. I go on Saturdays since I work and make the rounds to a couple every week. My favorite is at Cherry Creek. I can even get fresh mushrooms which are yummy and Colorado honey. There is one close to the office on Thursdays so sometimes I wander there to see what I can find for that nights dinner. I love talking to the vendors and farmers and know a lot of them by name and they know me. I guess being a regular pays off because sometimes they give me a deal. I can hardly wait and I'm counting the days. I've never come across someone selling bras yet. That is a good one.
I miss the French markets. I am looking forward to going to lots of markets in Provence this summer.
Here our market is very small and simple, but it's regulated so that those present are small farmers (or sometimes bakers) selling their own produce, so it's still so much fun to meet the people. A couple in their mid-20s last weekend; in addition to their farm products like radishes and arugula, she was making and selling things like Lime-Coconut Scones (really good!) and he was joking about being the one she tries her experiments on while she's coming up with these flavors.
In addition to the superior quality of the products, I just love the human factor. I love the stories behind what I'm going to eat.
Judy, I agree about being a regular. The vendors are usually very nice about deals and freebies for regulars.
Lime-coconut scones at a farm market. Ooh, that sounds great! Provence for me will have to wait a year or so.. I would take the TGV down there for a day next month, but I want to do it right and spend at least two weeks there. Take lots of photos, Laura!
Mimi...to answer your question...it is glorious spring here! The forsythia started blooming a couple of weeks ago and my own block already has some white-blossomed trees in full bloom. Others are just budding like yours. Nearby there are these marvelous trees I call tulip trees - although I have no idea what they really are - that are all bloomin' beautiful! And I know this means the next farmer's market will be even more festive. Hope that's the way it is for you too.bjfrd
Beautiful photo Mimi - just beautiful. Our farmers market opened two Saturdays ago. I missed the opening day because I was driving my cat to the Sacramento Valley for eye surgery. But I went this past Saturday and as I approached, my whole body gave a sigh of relief - fresh, green produce, carrots, beets, radishes, herbs, peas. The list goes on. This year, a dear farmer has decided to eschew the use of plastic bags entirely and had packed little baskets with baby lettuces, early red onions and fresh herbs. It was delightful!
Oh how my mother would love those spring onions. My mother loves onions so much, she even makes onion sandwiches.
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