For the last three months I have been traveling in the US. I spent June, July and most of August in Evanston, Illinois and now I’m starting out September in gorgeous Woodland Park, Colorado. One thing above all has made me feel at home throughout this Summer and that has been shopping as much as possible at Farmers Markets instead of grocery stores.
Upon arrival to a new “home” I usually start by scoping out bookstores and coffee shops. These are where I spend the majority of my free time and usually within a week or so I recognize my baristas, bookstore clerks or other staff and feel like I belong (We all love this feeling of course). Having these places where strangers recognize your face adds meaning and value to otherwise impersonal interactions. The next thing I look for when arriving in a new place is a good Farmers Market. Even if you are not traveling, I challenge you to shop as much as possible at local markets, most towns have at least one.
During my few months in Evanston, for instance, I got to know the area in a unique way by observing what fruits, veggies and flowers were in season and being grown nearby. I would also look forward to fresh ingredients every week and spent way less money at the market then I would have at the grocery store for items that were far superior. I got to know the tomato lady, the portobello guy and… THE CHEESE PEOPLE! I loved discovering a varietal of fruit or veggie that I had never heard of, like a lemon cucumber or a patty pan squash.
Now that I have landed in Colorado, I already found a local market. My first visit provided tons of fresh produce and fabulous conversation. Of course there is nothing wrong with making a run to the grocery store, but I enjoy the community aspect of the markets, especially when away from home for long periods of time.
During the first visit to the Farmers Market in Woodland Park, I encountered a man wearing a shirt with a picture of an unhealthy looking person on the front. The shirt said “From this…to…” Upon further inspection I realized the headshot on his shirt was of him from a few years back. I asked him about it and we ended up talking for a while about his health journey and how natural, raw foods were the key to his healing. As you could guess, he was currently healthy and glowing and as people walked by he told them about his business growing sustainable food. His farm also donated meals to people in need and all of the price tags in his booth had a “Suggested Price” followed by “Pay what you can afford”. It was quite inspiring and something you just would not get while buying tubs of spring mix at the grocery store. I also ended up buying some turnips from him, among other things, which honestly I had no idea what I was going to do with but I was excited to learn more about an ingredient that was suddenly available to me. This particular Market had live music so I sat and listened for a while and struck up another conversation with a couple who let me sit and the end of their picnic table.
All in all I can highly recommend Farmers Markets as a way to engage with any community you happen to be in, whether traveling or at home. During my time visiting and living in different cities around the States this year, Farmers Markets have been one of the most exciting things about exploring a new place. Happy Hunting!
Do you have a market in your town? What is your favorite part of visiting your local market? Have you ever discovered a new fruit, flower, herb or veggie? I appreciate your comments.
