Enjoyed reading about the markets from your perspective. In some cases, I think communities get what they deserve. If they want to support a wholly 'local' market that features the best their neighbours produce, they will. Otherwise they'll be stuck with the commodified products of the big box stores and whatever the truck farmers want to carry.
Great post Cheryl! I'm a flower farmer and I'm often struck by how often people purchasing directly from farmers are looking for a bargain. I've often thought flowers need to take the lead from other farmers to educate the public about the real cost of the product. It's a hard thing to do when at least 50% of flowers here in Aus are imported, and I believe it's more like 80% in the UK.
Really thought provoking post Cheryl, I too share your frustrations. It’s always blown my mind how the markets across Europe thrive, compared to ones over here that many people avoid because they class them as being too expensive. Silly thought I think, and perhaps we should be wondering why pineapples flown half way across the world sell for under £1 in Tesco 🤔 even the kids I’ve taught health and nutrition in schools couldn’t understand how this stacked up. They were 7 years old. We must do better in this country.
Such an interesting post, Cheryl. I know how hard it is to make markets work here in the UK. I used to have a market stall and would go from Sussex market to Sussex market selling artisan charcuterie. We set up a market in our own village for a few years, but getting the customers to turn up regularly was hard and quite demoralising for the producers. Your post has inspired me to put a reminder in my calendar to go to the really good market in Lewes on Friday mornings… I’m going to build it into my weekly routine again from now on and maybe I’ll see if I can persuade a few friends to come along too! It’s a lovely way to shop. Thank you for prompting me
Lovely post, Cheryl. I've been enamored with this idea I've been calling "radical eating" -- which is eating with eyes wide open to the complete provenance of the food you consume (and I've written about this extensively in my own newsletter). It's so easy, as you write, to walk into a supermarket anywhere in the world in any season and walk out with cheap pineapple, winter squash, prepared shrimp, and individual cuts of meat. But that doesn't come close to painting the full picture -- you're not buying a cohesive basket, but instead, a mishmash of geographies, seasons, welfare practices, and animals. And all that masks the true cost.
Street markets -- and farmer's markets here in the US -- are not a panacea (and can be equally guilty of deceptive or unintentionally disingenuous practices), but they are a terrific place to start. Just seeing the producer of your vegetables, your fruit, your meat (& yes --your flowers!) goes a long way towards understanding what actually goes into the getting them into your life.
Enjoyed reading about the markets from your perspective. In some cases, I think communities get what they deserve. If they want to support a wholly 'local' market that features the best their neighbours produce, they will. Otherwise they'll be stuck with the commodified products of the big box stores and whatever the truck farmers want to carry.
Great post Cheryl! I'm a flower farmer and I'm often struck by how often people purchasing directly from farmers are looking for a bargain. I've often thought flowers need to take the lead from other farmers to educate the public about the real cost of the product. It's a hard thing to do when at least 50% of flowers here in Aus are imported, and I believe it's more like 80% in the UK.
Thank you Mardi. Yes, years ago I wrote a post about flowers having seasons too.
Really thought provoking post Cheryl, I too share your frustrations. It’s always blown my mind how the markets across Europe thrive, compared to ones over here that many people avoid because they class them as being too expensive. Silly thought I think, and perhaps we should be wondering why pineapples flown half way across the world sell for under £1 in Tesco 🤔 even the kids I’ve taught health and nutrition in schools couldn’t understand how this stacked up. They were 7 years old. We must do better in this country.
Thank you Suzanne.
Such an interesting post, Cheryl. I know how hard it is to make markets work here in the UK. I used to have a market stall and would go from Sussex market to Sussex market selling artisan charcuterie. We set up a market in our own village for a few years, but getting the customers to turn up regularly was hard and quite demoralising for the producers. Your post has inspired me to put a reminder in my calendar to go to the really good market in Lewes on Friday mornings… I’m going to build it into my weekly routine again from now on and maybe I’ll see if I can persuade a few friends to come along too! It’s a lovely way to shop. Thank you for prompting me
Thank you so much for the lovely comments. I know selling direct isn't always easy. Lewes market is on my list to visit. Maybe we can meet up!
I remember walking around the covered Leeds market as a very young child, with my mother and heart broken when part of it burnt down in 1975.
Important stuff, Cheryl. Thanks for reminding us.
Wonderful local markets in Rome too … supported by the municipality!
Absolutely! There are amazing markets all over the world.
Lovely post, Cheryl. I've been enamored with this idea I've been calling "radical eating" -- which is eating with eyes wide open to the complete provenance of the food you consume (and I've written about this extensively in my own newsletter). It's so easy, as you write, to walk into a supermarket anywhere in the world in any season and walk out with cheap pineapple, winter squash, prepared shrimp, and individual cuts of meat. But that doesn't come close to painting the full picture -- you're not buying a cohesive basket, but instead, a mishmash of geographies, seasons, welfare practices, and animals. And all that masks the true cost.
Street markets -- and farmer's markets here in the US -- are not a panacea (and can be equally guilty of deceptive or unintentionally disingenuous practices), but they are a terrific place to start. Just seeing the producer of your vegetables, your fruit, your meat (& yes --your flowers!) goes a long way towards understanding what actually goes into the getting them into your life.
Eating with eyes wide open, 👏
Even more reason to move to Barcelona!
Or support the markets we have here!!