I went to the local farmers market today. Other than valuable information and a sense of community, I came away with these purchases:
Bags of potatoes for $10 each. I've bought from this farmer before, and his potatoes are easy to peel, and hold together nicely when cooking. A bit pricey but I'd rather get them from a local farmer than the supermarket.
Same grower, $3 cucumbers. It's bigger, fresher, and healthier than the ones I can get at the store, which are only about a dollar cheaper. So good on sandwiches!
3 long green peppers for $5. I've bought quite a few things from this vendor this year. He's on the expensive side but it's always very good.
His onions are expensive - this bag cost me $9! That's more than double the price it would be at the store. Hopefully they're worth it!
The vendor who sells this jam is a 94 year old man who grows all the berries himself! It's $6 a jar, and fantastic. He's got about 15 different types and they're all made fresh. He's been doing it nonstop since his wife died a few years ago.
This bag of cherry tomatoes from a random vendor I'd never bought from was $3. I haven't tried them yet but they look good. My own cherry tomatoes are coming ripe now, and they're great, but one can always have a few more tomatoes! Mmmm.
This larger bag, from a different farmer, was $5. Unfortunately, nobody is selling flats (large quantities) of tomatoes. They just don't grow that well up here, even if you have good land, or greenhouses, and lots of experience. That makes me feel pretty good I'm getting a crop of tomatoes from my garden this year. I've never grown food this far North before.
I grabbed this bag of sweet apples for $3. They're a bit undersized, and aren't perfectly symmetrical, but they're tasty and grown without chemicals. The vendor is an older woman who has a yard full of apple trees. Probably the best value of anything I bought today, although I'm happy with all of it!
Besides the wares, I find the farmers market an invaluable source of information that is specific to my location. Most vendors are the growers themselves, and are more than willing to discuss their techniques. Many of them will gladly share tips and answer questions. Most towns have a farmers market, often on Saturdays, and it can really help foster connections and build community. I don't really know anyone in this town yet, but I already feel at home every weekend at the farmers market.
DRutter
That was a really nice Market today! Mmmm great weather :-D
Good thing that you are able to talk to local farmers. They are the very good source of information. They've got a lot of experiences. 👍♥️
Oh my goodness those prices are high! But I agree, if you're buying directly from the producers, your food will be more nutricious, with mutrients that will not come in factory produced foods, mostly love. I'm glad you have a farmer's market so nearby. In my town, the farmer's market doesn't have a veggie vendor. So strange. It's a good thing I'm growing so much of my own.
Wow... what kind of farmers are at that market, if they don't grow produce?!
I miss sweet potatoes, my father is still growing potatoes on his small garden. Just last week they also harvested 50KG of pumpkin my mother sold them to our neighbors.
In my city I usually buy at what we call "los gochos" are farmers markets in the Andean region of the country. Some also buy and resell in these businesses.
But they are national products that they bring to the city.
They also sell fruits in supermarkets. But, personally, I don't like vacuum-packed fruits in plastic. I can't pick them, see their colors, and feel their texture when I buy them. I think this is the most satisfying thing about cooking, when you choose what you will eat.
Also, as you say, it is good to support national production.
I think it's great to eat food that was grown close to your home, whenever possible. Of course, some foods can't be grown in certain areas... for example, here in Canada we don't grow any bananas or pineapples! But we have a lot of maple trees for making delicious maple syrup, heheh. But our staples should always be food we grow ourselves, or is grown by a farmer nearby. Farmers markets are excellent places for the farmers, and also for the community, which benefits from all that high quality fresh produce!
OMG....I just did the math. You are paying literally as much as 20 to 100 X compared to here in Thailand for same thing. local clean farmer's produce. Unreal. Sorry to see your, and my country going to total shit. Re-blurted!
Yikes! Although I'm not surprised, you've said basically the same a number of times. Yeah, the countries in question are completely different! They both have pros and cons, the price of food being only one. Can't have the pros of Canada without having the expensive food!
But wouldn't that be great if I could buy food from Thailand's farmers directly? Without having to cross the ocean for it, I mean. Maybe they'll invent transporters, and food prices (well, EVERTHING prices) will drop around the world. Until then, I can't buy Thai produce, as much as I'd like to.
When you say your country is also going to shit, I guess you mean the USA?
Thanks for the reBlurt, bro! Stay well!
"When you say your country is also going to shit, I guess you mean the USA?"
Specifically San Fran Shitsco ;) lol
LOL that's so gross buddy :P
I think it's official. In regards to purchasing power, Thai population just beat out Cananda's.
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