To the Market

“We have neglected the truth that a good farmer is a craftsman of the highest order, a kind of artist.”     

Wendell Berry

Do you have a Farmers’ Market near you?  I hope so.  We do—only ten minutes away by car—so last Sunday we paid a visit.  I loved it all: 

♥the colors,  shapes, and vibrancy of the fruits and vegetables

♥the cascading bouquets of pink, yellow, orange flowers

♥the “collective effervescence” of being with happy people looking for the perfect tomato or the just-ripe apricot

♥the three empanadas and chimichurri sauce we bought from the woman from Paraguay and talking with her about drinking mate, a South American herbal tea

 ♥the zucchini, cabbage, and lettuce we carefully chose to augment our empanada dinner that evening

And then there were all the enticing booths we enjoyed looking at but managed, this time ‘round at least, to resist—like the popcorn popper, the pastry chef, and the bacon seller. 

It was fun running into people we knew and seeing people we didn’t know. It was a sweet way to begin our Sunday, giving thanks for all the people who give us inspiration with what they create in food and art.  

Another little market I love going to for the same kind of food and people inspiration is one of our local grocery stores—Jerome’s Carmel Valley Market.  

Jerome offers fresh organic produce, food and wines from local vendors and from all over the world, and because he is an accomplished chef and caterer trained in France and Switzerland, he offers a variety of freshly made food for take-out.  Most Fridays Jerome makes one of our favorites—paella.  

Sometimes when I am shopping there,  French music is playing in the background.  Oh, dear. I head for the rosé wines from the Provence, or the  Bonnat bars from Voiron and what about that new Brie I just heard about?

And I always see someone I know at that market and that makes me happy—I think it’s my, and many locals’, community center.    

So today I give thanks for markets—Farmers’ Markets and local markets—for providing nourishment for the body and soul and for the sense of community they help create.   Merci!