The Farmer's Market at the Crockers Galleria, in San Francisco, on very Thursday from 9am to 3pm, is a wonderful place to visit.
The farmer from whom I regularly buy vegetables that are generally not found in Safeway or Whole Foods or any place I know. It is always very freshly picked and flavourful. And make excelent Indian reciepies. He brings the produce from his farm in Fresno, California.
The German Baker who make delicious breads and sweets. I love his baked goods. I strongly recommend each item. I regularly pick the 'Green Pumpkin Seed Pretzel' and the 'Onion and Cheese Bialy', that is how he corrects me when I say Begal.
After I started living in California, I was introduced to the farmers market. Growing up in India I had not experienced anything like a farmers market because we do not yet have anything like food marts, Costcos or Safeways, except for in major cities, we have been very recently introduced to shopping produce from air-conditioned Food Marts, Malls. We do have vegetable markets, produce market, that are make shift as well as permanent markets, that normally operate during the day till late evenings. Not necessarily do farmers come and sell produce in these markets directly, instead there are whole sellers who buy from the farmers in bulk at lower prices and sell the produce to vendors with an added percentage. And the vendors sell in the local markets to us at much higher rates than at which the farmers sold to the wholesale dealers.
So the farmers markets in California were a very new and exciting experience. The produce is seasonal, grown organically in local farms, freshly picked and directly sold by the farmers. Here one can also find many special vegetables that are not normally found in the regular supermarkets. While they do not always have the glossy perfection of their chemically stimulated relatives, their flavors is generally excellent. And the best part is, it feels like you are in a fair. With bright and colorful fruits, flowers, herbs and vegetables sold in the open air or in white tents. The fresh smell and sights of the produce, homemade breads, jams, preserves, pickles, chutneys, herb flavored oils, spices, honey etc., is very inviting.
The farmer from whom I regularly buy vegetables that are generally not found in Safeway or Whole Foods or any place I know. It is always very freshly picked and flavourful. And make excelent Indian reciepies. He brings the produce from his farm in Fresno, California.
The German Baker who make delicious breads and sweets. I love his baked goods. I strongly recommend each item. I regularly pick the 'Green Pumpkin Seed Pretzel' and the 'Onion and Cheese Bialy', that is how he corrects me when I say Begal. 
After I started living in California, I was introduced to the farmers market. Growing up in India I had not experienced anything like a farmers market because we do not yet have anything like food marts, Costcos or Safeways, except for in major cities, we have been very recently introduced to shopping produce from air-conditioned Food Marts, Malls. We do have vegetable markets, produce market, that are make shift as well as permanent markets, that normally operate during the day till late evenings. Not necessarily do farmers come and sell produce in these markets directly, instead there are whole sellers who buy from the farmers in bulk at lower prices and sell the produce to vendors with an added percentage. And the vendors sell in the local markets to us at much higher rates than at which the farmers sold to the wholesale dealers.So the farmers markets in California were a very new and exciting experience. The produce is seasonal, grown organically in local farms, freshly picked and directly sold by the farmers. Here one can also find many special vegetables that are not normally found in the regular supermarkets. While they do not always have the glossy perfection of their chemically stimulated relatives, their flavors is generally excellent. And the best part is, it feels like you are in a fair. With bright and colorful fruits, flowers, herbs and vegetables sold in the open air or in white tents. The fresh smell and sights of the produce, homemade breads, jams, preserves, pickles, chutneys, herb flavored oils, spices, honey etc., is very inviting.
