Fit Fare

The city of Davis, where I live, is a small community of over 60,000 in Northern California. It’s not an overstatement to say that the Farmer’s Market is the most important community gathering spot in our town. Although we are a small town, the market is known as one of the most successful and well known in California, with sales of over $1.5 million a year. Started 30 years ago by a small band of growers, it has now expanded to over 80 vendors attracting up to 7,000 visitors on Saturdays.

I went to the market this Saturday, arriving early in the morning before it officially opened, as one price of it’s success is the competition for parking spaces. I had a mental list of things I would buy: Vegetables, fruit, and tomato plants for my garden. I also told myself that I wouldn’t buy cookies, pastries or kettle korn. I needed those rules because going to the Farmer’s Market is a heady experience for me. Everywhere I look temptations abound, with cheese, sausages, breads, jams, cookies, pottery, and gorgeous produce beckoning me. I usually walk out with a lighter wallet and far too many bags of cookies, nuts, jams, and pastries.

At this time of the year, the produce vendors are displaying the first of the vine ripened tomatoes. It’s early now and only two vendors had them for sale. But in a month or so, the lavish amounts of tomatoes offered will be almost bewildering.

California is one of the biggest growers of sweet cherries and they are starting to make their first appearances at the market. For now just one red variety was on display, but soon we will have the golden Rainier cherries as well. One of the best things about a farmer’s market is being plied with free samples of fruit, vegetables, baked goods, and cheese. I discovered several excellant cheeses this time, one flavored with sage. Quality of the products offered, as well as better prices, are major reasons people come to the Farmer’s Market. The vendors often lower their prices as the day progresses. Although it wasn’t the case this time, I’ve gotten amazing deals in the past on plants and food. There is also a personal relationship that develops between the vendor and the customer. You feel good knowing you’re supporting the farmer or craftsperson directly.

One of my favorite spots is the stall for the Cache Creek Nursery which sells vegetable and herb plants. Their quality and range of selection is wonderful, and I always find a type of plant I’ve never seen before. This time I spied a Czech tomato plant called Stupice and snapped it up. My husband is of Czech descent, so I thought he would enjoy growing it.

Finally, after wandering from stall to stall, I decided to leave before the intoxicating odor of the freshly popped Kettle Korn proved too much for me. I left with my purchases: Tomatoes, tamales, strawberries, and 2 tomato plants. Oh yes, somehow two cookies had managed to find their way into my bag. Put there by elves, no doubt. The cookie elf always strikes at the Farmer’s Market when your back is turned.