Dave, explaining Mercury in retrograde... with mushrooms I think there's about... 10 million people at KCC every Saturday? I think at least twice a market I try to barter my mushrooms for customer's t-shirts and mushroom accessories Ted brought asparagas!!!! He shared some of these monster stems with us to munch on. And new crop, soybeans!!! But, it's a one time harvest so.... that was it for the soybeans.
I brought along Caleb, Becca's boyfriend and a farmer from Idaho, as a sidekick. I learned from him that farmer's markets in Idaho (actually, probably most places) are only seasonal. The markets he brings his goods to (I know he does garlic... I forget what else) allow customers to purchase with EBT, food stamps. There's a sort of EBT machine that they can get coins from, and the vendors redeem those coins for cash later. Conering food security, I learned ffrom the panel I watched (and talking to Caleb) that food production is not the only, or most important element, but food distribution is key as well. Everybody needs to be able to afford and have access to healthy, fresh food. I told Brad that I didn't know if putting out a sign with half that many items crossed off and unavailable was the most effective marketing tool. This Japanese tourist was as stoked as I was about my glorious reunion with Timia 'PINEapple' Crisp. No joke, SHE wanted to pose for pictures with us. I hadn't seen Timia in 3+ years!! She took a break from San Diego and solving all the world's problems from her chemistry lab to side kick with me at the markets for a week. She was apalled at my money disorganization and sent me a cash box as an early xmas gift. I can't even begin to tell you how much it's changed my life. I can add "cash box" to the list of items that being this excited about makes me feel like an Adult. Others include when a washer and dryer is included in a house you want to rent, making excel spreadsheets for expenses, being in bed at 10 pm, and small children massaging my shoulders. Friends don't make friends get up at 4:30am to work for free for them at farmer's markets. But BEST friends do!! 399,383 customer to ask: "What are these red things?!"
Me: "Waxed Jambu. They are from Southeast Asia." Customer: "Waxed what...?!" Me: "Same family as Mountain Apples" 399,384 customer to ask: "What are these red things?!" Me: "Waxed Jambu. They are from Southeast Asia. Same family as mountain apples." Customer: "Waxed what... ?!" Me: "Oranges" |
This is going to get warm and fuzzy...Being a part of the community at the Farmer's Market feels so good inside, it's beyond words. Small businesses and farmers hanging out together and interacting with their customers, I just think that's priceless. No middle man, greater transparency, a more personal opportunity to connect and talk with the people who grow or make your food, an easy way to invest in your local economy, when I think about it it's so beautiful I want to cry a little bit... Archives
January 2014
Categories
All
|