Our local farmer's market recently expanded their operation to Saturday and now Wednesday mornings, so we have a better chance to make it down there to pick up some fresh local veggies and support our local growers.
The farmer's market is what it is. You won't find the selection that you would at a Mega Mart - no bananas or mangoes... which is kind of the point. You will find a nice selection f the stuff that grows seasonally in your part of the world. For us, right now, that means lots of onions, garlic, potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, herbs of all kinds, green beans, berries, squash, honey, sorghum, etc...
We got the fresh blackberries, above, and they were delicious. We also got some tomatoes that were not around long enough to be photographed before they were gobbled up.
Like I was saying, the only drawback is the narrower selection, but the benefits are many; very good produce, very little packaging (about as little as you like), very little transportation cost to move the product to market, local profit rather than corporate profit. If I can't grow my own (which I can't right now) I'd much prefer to give my business to these neighbors of mine.
Loooove me some blackberries. And some farmers market.
Posted by: pcNielsen | July 01, 2010 at 06:30 PM
Amen!
Farmer's Markets rock! We have a couple in our area, plus a few farm stands and a farm market selling the produce from the local agricultural college (which includes milk, sausage, a limited variety of cheese, bacon and vino made by the students.)
My dad met his future bride when my grandfather let the young buck drive the family buick out to a farm stand where a cute gal was selling eggs.
Good things happen when you buy direct!
Posted by: John Kasaian | July 03, 2010 at 09:52 AM
"For us, right now, that means lots of onions, garlic, potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, herbs of all kinds, green beans, berries, squash, honey, sorghum, etc..."
And you _do_ know how to make a fully awesome meal out of all that, I hope? Just the list is tickling my taste buds. Of course, it helps that I think potatoes, garlic and onion can be awesome, but there's enough there that you can get an above-restaurante-quality dinner even if you can't stand potatoes period.
Posted by: Shakespeare's Cobbler the ever loginner forgetter who needs to sync all his blog IDs | July 05, 2010 at 10:19 PM
Oh, that's a feast alright, Shakes, just not the unlimited spread one might be accustomed to in whatchya call yer Sooper-market produce section.
I didn't name everything that was available, of course, but we have those items in abundance. I LOVE home fries (taters-n-onions), and (as everyone knows) anything is better with garlic!
Posted by: Tim J. | July 06, 2010 at 12:17 PM