Farmers Markets for Authentic Travelers

Farmers markets – like this one in La Jolla, California – are “happenings” that provide visitors a chance to experience the local lifestyle.

Farmers markets are great places to connect with the local lifestyle of a place you’re visiting. Luscious red tomatoes, carrots with frilly green tops…and what’s that spikey thing? It’s fun to see what’s grown nearby and get inside information – and maybe samples – from the vendors.

Suddenly, dining out is more fun, as you order dishes that include ingredients you saw at the farmers market. It’s even better if you’re staying in a vacation rental and can enjoy the fruit and vegetables “at home.”

Just passing through? Fresh produce is a wonderful alternative to standard road food.

Here are a few of my favorite farmers markets:

Very close to home, the Open Aire Market in La Jolla, California is a great place to try regional specialties such as avocados, oranges, macadamia nuts, and berries – most from small family farms. The greater San Diego area is also known for flower cultivation – especially poinsettias and ranunculus – and, in season, these are available, too.

La Jolla’s large foodie population gathers at the market every Sunday and samples the latest locally-produced olive oil, bread, cheese, honey and more. Full disclosure: I live about a mile from the Open Aire Market and shop there regularly. Even if my kitchen is fully stocked, I drop by to enjoy the live music, have lunch at one of the many ethnic food stalls, and check out the jewelry, clothing, housewares, and gift items offered by local artisans.

From my home to my home-away-from-home: I always enjoy the Otara Market in Auckland, New Zealand. I once worked in a restaurant in this city that served the nondescript food that was standard throughout the country, so it came as quite a surprise when – on a return visit – I was offered innovative modern multi-cultural dishes. Today, New Zealand’s vibrant food and wine scene draws travelers from around the globe.

The Otara Market in Auckland, New Zealand, draws a multicultural mix of food lovers.

The crowd that assembles at the Otara Market on Saturday mornings includes a colorful cross-section of Aucklanders. The city’s substantial Polynesian population comes to stock up on taro, kumara, and plantains sold by ex-pat Fijians, Samoans, and Tongans. Asian vendors hawk enormous Chinese turnips and a wide range of exotic-looking greens. Area chefs and sophisticated home cooks vie for the best and most unusual local produce.

The Granville Island Public Market is one of Vancouver’s top attractions.

In Canada, Vancouver’s Granville Island Public Market is another of my favorites. I love the waterfront location, the cafes in and around the market, and the artistically arranged local produce. If you go, be sure to try a Nanaimo Bar – a yummy Canadian dessert named for the British Columbia city of the same name. The recipe was submitted to a magazine contest in the 1950s and has been a favorite ever since.

Of course, markets don’t have to be big to be wonderful. The summer our family rented a villa in Tuscany, we all agreed that the juiciest peaches, the most flavorful raspberries, and the sweetest melons came from the impromptu farmers market that popped up from time to time in the center of Radda in Chianti.

My best memories from that trip are of lingering over wonderful meals, enjoying the flavors, and savoring la dolce vita.

Ciao,

The small farmers market in Radda in Chianti provided our family with wonderful fruit and vegetables – and a great view of the local lifestyle.

Tags: Auckland, British Columbia, CA, california, Canada, connect with local people, farmers markets, fruit, Granville Island Public Market, Italy, La Jolla, living like a local, local food specialties, meet local people, New Zealand, Open Air Market, Otara Market, produce, public markets, Radda in Chianti, San Diego, shopping, Tuscany, Vancouver, vegetables

Category: Italy, New Zealand, Southern California, Vancouver