Why I will start shopping at the farmers' market from now on

I had some free time today. Free time for me means shopping. Shopping for me means going to the farmers' market or the flea market scrounging for knick knacks but my favorite is buying fresh produce and knowing that it was just plucked that morning. Check my loot below the post.

All this while, I have been shopping in large grocery chains and complaining about how the quality of my vegetables is not up to my standard. The broccoli are sometimes limp, the vegetables look dull like they've been on the shelve for more than a week. It is just not very inspiring. There are days when the tomatoes are fresh and vibrant red and the peppers just pops yellow, red and orange but those days are relative rare. I felt like I was shopping as a drone rather than embracing these fresh produce as I should.

These feelings change when I start buying veggies from the farmers' market. Vegetables are laid out in beautiful array and is fresh. The sellers are farmers themselves and are extremely knowledgeable about their produce. They would even tell you how and what to cook to bring the best of flavors out of their produce. I get extremely excited and my happiness level goes up really high whenever I go into a farmers' market. The ambiance is just fresh! You want to buy those green stalks of celery, you want to buy and make delicious salads with the yellow and green squashes, you *want* to eat vegetables like you never eat them before! Such is the inspiration of fresh produce, to me.

My farmers' market is Marche Atwater. One of the more popular markets around Montreal next to the market in Jean Talon. I have yet to get to Jean Talon market because I am quite happy with the selections I have in Atwater for now AND the fact that Jean Talon is a little far for me, whereas Marche Atwater is just a nice 10-15 mins walk away.

Freshness is key to me and that is why I have started to buy produce once every 3-4 days because it is worth it. Not only do you get to nourish your body, you nourish your soul when you are surrounded by colorful vegetables and fruits. The broccoli from the market and the broccoli from the grocery store is vastly different in taste, imho. Maybe it is psychological, but one thing's for sure, my broccoli ain't limp ;)

My loot from today:


1lb green beans,
1large head of cauliflower,
1/2 lb of red chilis,
a bunch of green onions,
2 medium sized eggplants,
a bundle of asparagus,
1lb of fresh shitake mushrooms,
1 large head of fennel root,
a large head of celery,
4 large zucchini,
4 yellow squash, 1 large cucumber
1.5lb of red tomatoes (not in pic)
1 large juicy watermelon (not in pic)
1/2 a crate of strawberries

Total: $37 worth of vegetables that I know will last me for at least a week.

I am so contented :)


P.S. Will be freezing half the strawberries for future uses and buying a another crate when I go to the marche again because they are SO sweet!