When I saw that the assignment was to visit the local Farmer’s Market I was excited to have a chance to visit the Market as I have never been, but always wanted to. I was disappointed to find I couldn’t go to the Wednesday Market due to work and that the hours on Saturday conflicted with my work schedule as well. Unfortunately, I had to limit my visit due to my work lunch only being an hour, but I still found so many things I wanted to see in more detail, that I will surely visit again! Because I knew I was going to have a limited amount of time to stay, I found a recipe in advance from the Italian cookbook I ordered through Iliad: Ravioli alla Piemontese, oh yes it was as impressive as it sounds. I worried that the main ingredients I needed from the market were herbs or green leafy vegetables that may not be easily distinguishable in a ravioli dish, but the worry didn’t affect this incredible experience. I spoke to two vendors’: the first who sold me garlic knew very little about the process behind producing the food they were selling, and the second’s family always had a stand at the local market so she kind of inherited her position. The first vendor is actually part of a growing controversy over Farmers’ Markets where local farmers are in competition with resellers who sell food that they themselves have not grown. According to the author of Food for Thought: Do You Need Farmers’ for a Farmer’s Market?, Farmers markets, with their hodgepodge of organic kale, artisan rye bread and peach preserves, have surged in popularity in recent years. But now authorities are questioning whether they're missing a crucial ingredient: real farmers”. The controversy notwithstanding, I found the atmosphere much more open than in your typical grocery store. People were friendlier and more relaxed which made me forget my rush and slow down to converse with a few fellow shoppers. Jen began eating locally grown foods about 4 years ago when she realized she was teaching her children the importance of food and wanted to set a high standard. She feels her family is healthier and that it has had a positive effect on the whole families’ mood and energy level. How amazing for Jen to have found a small way to make such a big change in not only her life but the lives of others! I could have talked with Jen all day but alas, work was calling. I did have a chance to make my Ravioli alla Piemontese and it was fabulous (if I do say so myself). The garlic and spinach were part of the stuffing of the ravioli but I have to say they did add some zest to the dish. Of all the assignments so far this is hands down my favorite, I got to do research outside of school, and I got to eat more decadently than usual.
It had never occurred to me that the vendors selling at the market may not have had a hand in growing their products. When I hear the term 'farmer's market' I just automatically assume that it's the farmers themselves selling their goods. So I think that it's really interesting to see the difference between the vendors you encountered.
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