A sunny day in September at the Boulder Farmer's Market

I meander my way from Eben G. Fine Park along Boulder Creek to the Farmers Market on 13th Street. I could have parked closer, but sometimes it’s hard to get a spot and today the weather is glorious, so a walk along the creek sounded perfect to me. Arching boughs of many trees frame the water in shades of yellow and orange along the wooded path, as I make my way, carrying my empty grocery bag. It’s a Wednesday in September and the trail is active with packs of runners and an occasional cyclist. I arrive early and watch the vendors set up the blue and white canvas pavilions. I am grateful that the growers make the effort to come out twice a week, Saturday and Wednesday.
I sit in the shade on a green picnic bench while I wait for the fun to begin. I see a man and his dog nearby, and three girls sitting on the grass chatting amiably and a young man with a back pack taking a nap with his hat pulled down over his eyes. I feel strangely nervous about this type of shopping, it’s very personal. I get to meet the people who grew that food that I’m going to eat and I can only hope I don’t violate some unknown etiquette. I’ve been so used to the impersonal shopping that meets me at the grocery store. I can’t see much of the chain of people, plants and animals that brought me my food. There might be a produce clerk but it’s rare that I talk to them. Getting in touch with my food this way has made me more appreciative of the people who grow it and of the food too.
My hope is to get more of the astonishing carrots that I bought just last Saturday. I know it’s rare that anyone gets excited about carrots, but I do. I’ve been juicing them for breakfast and they get my day started better than a cup of coffee. I’ve been reading the Omnivores Dilemma by Michael Pollan lately and at least so far it’s pretty depressing. I’m learning about the cost of our conventional food chain not only in the amount of petroleum that is used but also the unsustainability of the our current system.
So when I walk the street looking for Honey Crisp Apples and Leafy Dino Kale I can’t help but smile. This food was grown locally and just tastes better. All these people have come out to do something right. They are here to get good food but also to support local agriculture. I remember in my travels abroad, how I envied the Italians their gorgeous tomatoes and I wondered not for the first time how it is possible that Italy has gotten so many things right, especially in the food department. But when I see what is going right at the Farmers Market it makes me proud to live here.
I stroll the street and see the Oxford Gardens stand and smile to see the bunches of carrots with the greens still attached. I know they are not open yet but I don’t think Peter will mind if I buy my Carrots early. He charges me $3.50 a bunch which I happily pay. I get four bunches total and put them in my canvas bag. I walk off with the greens poking up out of my bag and feel strangely proud, just buying carrots makes me happy.
I’m not a 100% localvore, at least not yet, but with the end of the season coming soon I know I will be shopping at Whole Foods as usual, but next year I will grow more and make it a point to shop the Farmers Market as much as possible. The Wednesday Market ends Oct 7th and the Saturday Market ends Nov. 7th. The more I learn about where my food comes from the more I’m sure I will be found rubbing elbows with a lot more people at the Farmer’s Market.