Farm Fresh

Have I told you I love local farmers’ markets? No doubt I have. I discovered these markets in Pennsylvania (read post here) and upon moving to Louisiana, finding the farmers ranked high on my list of priorities. I love buying fresh-from-the-field fruit and just-picked-this-morning vegetables. I enjoy chatting with the vendors and hearing their stories. They are passionate about the things they do and the wares they sell.
There’s a nice outdoor market in town Saturday mornings behind Historic City Hall, 8-12. And one on Tuesdays at the (also historic) Cash and Carry on the corner of Broad St. and Enterprise Blvd from 4-6.

These markets can be rather quiet and unexciting through the winter months, but begin getting colorful around this time of year. Carrots, beets, green onions, and turnips seemed to take center stage today.

Strawberries are delightful this time of year.

Fresh eggs are sold at seemingly every other booth. Can’t beat this vendor for whimsy though.

This sweet lady sells jams, jellies, and salsas every week at both markets.

Mr. Nelson is also a regular at the markets and sells wonderful baked goods. I’m so sorry this photo is out of focus – I should have taken two. But he was so excited about me blogging about the farmers’ market, I had to include him.

Anyone who knows me knows I swear by local honey!

 

This is my favorite plant man.

You’ll also find hand-dyed yarn made from shorn-from-the-sheep wool and hand-knit items, homemade Greek yogurt, carbonated juices, homemade pastas, prepared foods such as hummus, chicken salad, and quiches.

For your listening pleasure while you shop, there’s, of course, live entertainment.

What do you buy at the farmers’ markets?

Pittsburgh's North Side Farmers' Market

You all know I miss a lot of things about Pittsburgh. One thing I really miss is the North Side Farmers' Market. I think of it every Friday afternoon, when, if I still lived in the 'burgh, I would be there. Early September is just about the peak of harvest time in the northeast and the place is hopping as I write, I'm sure. I loved the colors there; the bouquets of fresh cut flowers, produce sold from the back of farmers' trucks -- tomatoes, corn, green beans, squash of all kinds, onions, beets, bright shiny peppers, greens, cucumbers, you name it. And the smells . . . I miss the bread man -- does he still make the yummy loaves with chocolate chunks and dried cherries? Sandhill Berry Farm, with those incredible raspberry chocolate chip cookies, pies, and jams. The Polish stand, selling pierogies and halushka, the Greek vendor with his spinach pies, gyros, and baklava. The man with his little table of figs and the guy who hawks peaches and apples, always ready with a sample. The lemonade stand. I miss it all. And what a great place to people watch. People are so colorful, too. Pittsburgh's a very ethnic town -- Asians, African-Americans, Indians -- and everyone loves fresh produce. Young couples holding hands, deciding what to have for dinner. Elderly in motorized wheelchairs buying their weekly fruits and vegetables. Middle-aged singles with dogs on leashes. Kids running through the trees, with moms chasing after them. Cars and buses on surrounding streets and helicopters landing at Allegheny General.

I don't have any photos. it never occured to me to take pictures of the farmers' market when I lived there. But I did find a link.

Of course, we have farmers' markets here in Lake Charles. And I love frequenting them. It's just not quite the same hustle bustle. The colors, sounds, and smells are different. I miss it.

Do you have a favorite farmers' market? What do you love about it?