unprepared
Sep. 22nd, 2018 10:51 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
microbieThere are so many variations on the "change sucks" lament: "I remember when we elected presidents who could form complete, coherent sentences without assistance." "Society was much more pleasant when we could ignore the feelings of people we didn't like." "You can't buy a good tomato anymore." Here's mine: Farmers markets aren't for farms anymore.
At my regular farmers market, I count four farm stands. Then there are closely-related artisanal offerings: shrub (barf), coffee (barf), cheese, pickles, bread. I draw the line at the following: bagel holes (like donut holes but boring and sad), gluten-free prepared foods, vegan prepared foods (two stands, depending on the day), popsicles, popcorn, and Sri Lankan street food. Sometimes there's a chocolate stand (cacao: still a tropical crop, as is sugar!). The bakery sells more pastries and donuts than bread; their bread selection has shrank to ciabatta, baguette, and (if you're lucky) challah. I've even seen a potter and a furniture maker displaying wares at that market.
I think Sri Lankan street food is a cool idea (haven't tried it because I go early and they're not ready to sell until brunch time), but I don't understand when and why we decided that every place must have prepared food available, even at places where you're ostensibly shopping for groceries. We went to Bob's Discount Furniture six months ago, and even that store has a cafe.
And don't get me started on how farmers markets are like church for yuppies--the place to go on the weekend to socialize and participate in highly specific rituals. I know I was one of the young 'uns ruining farmers markets for the olds because I would buy meat and eggs back in the day. My punishment is waiting while two parents with off-road megastrollers chat about their week in front of the only pile of nectarines.
It's almost enough to drive me back to supermarkets, which have prepared foods and the requisite seating, but at least all that is usually confined to one side, and the regular aisles aren't places that invite leisurely conversation.
At my regular farmers market, I count four farm stands. Then there are closely-related artisanal offerings: shrub (barf), coffee (barf), cheese, pickles, bread. I draw the line at the following: bagel holes (like donut holes but boring and sad), gluten-free prepared foods, vegan prepared foods (two stands, depending on the day), popsicles, popcorn, and Sri Lankan street food. Sometimes there's a chocolate stand (cacao: still a tropical crop, as is sugar!). The bakery sells more pastries and donuts than bread; their bread selection has shrank to ciabatta, baguette, and (if you're lucky) challah. I've even seen a potter and a furniture maker displaying wares at that market.
I think Sri Lankan street food is a cool idea (haven't tried it because I go early and they're not ready to sell until brunch time), but I don't understand when and why we decided that every place must have prepared food available, even at places where you're ostensibly shopping for groceries. We went to Bob's Discount Furniture six months ago, and even that store has a cafe.
And don't get me started on how farmers markets are like church for yuppies--the place to go on the weekend to socialize and participate in highly specific rituals. I know I was one of the young 'uns ruining farmers markets for the olds because I would buy meat and eggs back in the day. My punishment is waiting while two parents with off-road megastrollers chat about their week in front of the only pile of nectarines.
It's almost enough to drive me back to supermarkets, which have prepared foods and the requisite seating, but at least all that is usually confined to one side, and the regular aisles aren't places that invite leisurely conversation.
no subject
Date: 2018-09-22 06:56 pm (UTC)The farmer's markets here are exactly what you've described, but because we're so close to the Central Valley, the produce really is worth dodging the strollers for.
no subject
Date: 2018-09-22 11:07 pm (UTC)It's been a lousy growing season here; hard to justify the effort when there's not much besides five different kale varieties.
no subject
Date: 2018-09-25 01:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-09-26 01:39 am (UTC)