Cheese charmers and bossy beans: Farmers markets open for the season
Thursday, May 8, 2008 | 05:26 PM ET
by Tara Kimura, CBCnews.ca
I was warned before my February arrival in Paris of the charming cheese man, who winks and smiles at his customers while rolling up long logs of ash-coated goat cheese in brown paper. As I stood before him, with my friend who is living in Paris for a year, she elbowed me and whispered, 'this is my cheese guy, the one I told you about.' And then we both swooned and blushed a bit as hurried shoppers rushed past us at the busy farmers' market packed with vendors selling fancy pastries, tins of foie gras and impossibly beautiful flowers.
I was not, however, given any counsel about the bossy bean man who, when I approached, said I would need at least two kilos of green beans for dinner.
I protested, saying it was too much, I couldn't possibly eat two kilos of green beans. He looked at me very seriously and informed me that I most certainly did need two kilos — anything under two kilos would not be enough and I would regret my decision. He then softened and as a compromise removed four beans from the overstuffed brown paper bag.
I have never before felt more challenged, thrilled and engaged while buying green beans.
This connection, between seller and consumer, is what I find is one of the most compelling reasons to visit a farmers' market. And for many consumers, the buy-local movement continues to be a priority for environmental reasons as well. According to a National Geographic survey of 1,000 consumers released in May, 77 per cent of respondents said they make buying locally grown food a priority when they shop.
On Saturday, my local farmers' market will open for the season — a welcome event after what has been a long and snowy season. Admittedly, the harvest of ruby red strawberries, long fingerling potatoes and crisp cobs of corn won't be available for a while. And I will also admit that the green bean debate will probably be never be matched by a market merchant in Canada. But for now, I revel in the anticipation of the vendors sweeping out the long and quiet side street, readying their booths and setting up shop for the season.
Tell us about your farmers' market. Do you have a favourite vendor? Or do you prefer the supermarket over the farmers' market?
« Previous Post | Main | Next Post »
This discussion is now Open. Submit your Comment.
« Previous Post | Main | Next Post »
Post a Comment
Food Bytes »
About the blog
From trends and culture to politics and nutrition, Food Bytes serves up tasty tidbits about food and the issues surrounding it that flavour our everyday lives.
About the writers
Amber Hildebrandt writes for CBCNews.ca in Toronto. Growing up on a farm in Manitoba, she acquired an insatiable appetite, but it was during a stint in Japan that she developed her discerning tastebuds and "foodie" ways.
Andrea Chiu is an associate producer at CBC Radio Digital. Though she loves to eat, cook and discuss food,
don't ask her to bake. It never turns out well. She tweets as @TOfoodie on Twitter and organizes food and wine events in Toronto called FoodieMeet.
Tara Kimura is the consumer life reporter for CBCNews.ca, covering a wide range of issues that range from rising food costs and the growing organic movement, to new trends in the marketplace.
Andree Lau is a CBC web reporter in Calgary. Her journalism career includes seven years as a CBC-TV reporter. Her own blog called "are you gonna eat that?" chronicles her eating adventures (including sampling snake and camel hoof tendon).
Jessica Wong is a CBCNews.ca writer who loves to eat and cook, as well as discuss, read and watch programming about food, sometimes all at once.
Kevin Yarr, CBCNews.ca's writer in Prince Edward Island, wrote about food and beer for national and regional magazines before joining the CBC. He acquired a desire for new tastes on his first trip to Europe, and an appreciation of eating locally and in season when he finally settled down on P.E.I.
Elizabeth Bridge is a writer with the CBC Digital Archives in Toronto. She first ventured into the kitchen as a child to indulge a sweet tooth by baking cookies and making fudge. A student budget compelled her to be a vegetarian (for a while) and instilled in her an ongoing curiosity about food and cooking.
Related
Recent Posts
- Chinese banquet dinner
- Thursday, April 9, 2009
- Share your Easter recipes
- Thursday, April 9, 2009
- Ode to the sandwich
- Wednesday, April 8, 2009
- Sweet treats and salty science
- Monday, April 6, 2009
- Peeking into your kitchen
- Thursday, April 2, 2009
- Subscribe to Food Bytes
Archives
- April 2009 (6)
- March 2009 (10)
- February 2009 (9)
- January 2009 (9)
- December 2008 (16)
- November 2008 (13)
- October 2008 (12)
- September 2008 (11)
- August 2008 (9)
- July 2008 (12)
- June 2008 (10)
- May 2008 (16)
Categories
- Agriculture (12)
- Amber Hildebrandt (22)
- Amuse-bouche (32)
- Andree Lau (24)
- Culture (43)
- Elizabeth Bridge (7)
- Health (13)
- Industry (26)
- Jessica Wong (26)
- Kevin Yarr (15)
- Leigh Felesky (3)
- Politics (11)
- Tara Kimura (29)
- Trends (33)
Comments
Lara
Toronto
We love our farmer's market, at the East York Civic Centre. My daughter and I try to find friends who will meet us there and we plan a picnic lunch. The moms take turns shopping and we share something from the market as well as food from home. We're really looking forward to its first day this year, May 20.
Posted May 10, 2008 03:02 AM
Caroline
Ottawa
We too are looking forward to more local produce, both our own veggie patch and the farmer's markets.
There are lots in the Ottawa area, the Market downtown, Parkdale, Carp, Lansdowne... its fun to be choosy, and wander over the produce and buy just the right amount, and exciting to come home with something new to try!
Sometimes it can be pricey, and I think the vendors can sometimes capitalize on the newfound popularity of the markets themselves ($8 for a bag of mixed Spring greens? riiiight... I'll grow my own in a pot on the windowsill thanks, or buy from the grocery store at $3.99, and its also local, when in season.)
But... it still feels good to support our local growers! We buy all our seedlings locally too, for our garden.
Posted May 12, 2008 05:15 PM