Perhaps I don’t go to the Farmers Market more often because it reminds me of how lazy I am in the kitchen. I get to feeling guilty about all the boxes and plastic containers that fill our pantry shelves and how I gripe about the cost of going to the grocery store, where giant corporations have partially (or fully) prepared my meals for me.
But the Farmers Market is forgiving. And reliable. I’m always glad I went and it always takes two of us to carry in all the bags of goodies that I got for $20 or $30. Not just fruits and vegetable, either, but honey, pasta, herb plants, even beef (but I really wish the beef weren’t frozen and wrapped in paper where I can’t see it). I especially like Saturday mornings early, before the crowds.
I know there has been a lot of discussion about how to improve the Farmers Market and most of the proposals I have heard and seen look to be architectural. I have no problem with the sheds or the open-air environment, however. I have been to markets in other cities, including the remarkable Lexington Market in Baltimore, and the Grand Central Market in Los Angeles. It seems clear that the magic is all with the vendors. We should spend less time concerned with making it look like Disneyworld and find a way to attract more vendors, especially beef and seafood suppliers. Maybe instead of "If you build it, they will come" it should be "if you sell it, they will come". Of course, I will only feel that much more guilty, but it’s a sacrifice I am willing to make. Or I could just cook more.
