Living in Germany, I've come to appreciate the farmers' market experience in an entirely different way from ones I've been to in California, Texas, and the DC metro area.
When I've shopped at in the US, the markets only run from the spring to the fall, and the emphasis is on locally-grown goods. Sometimes, though you usually have to ask, products come from as far away as the other coast. Generally, though, they are from the state you're in. The prices are generally much higher than you'd pay at a grocery store, the logic being that you're paying the farmer, a much smaller scale producer, directly, and a more fair price for the food. The options available may be more exotic and rare, too - vegetables you wouldn't see at the grocery store, or have never heard of (ramps were new to me until visiting the Dupont Circle market in DC).
When I moved to Mainz, Germany, a city by German standards (population: 200,000 - a far cry from the city of Washington, DC), I was amazed to see the farmers' market here is four times the size of the Dupont Circle market, happens three days a week, and runs year-round. This, it seems, is common in towns and cities of all size in Germany. Though I'm not convinced having it run throughout the year is really that wise (who wants to be shopping for veggies and fruits, that are largely imported from Africa and South America anyway, outside in freezing weather and wind??), there are deals to be found once spring is here.
The demographics of your typical German market are interesting, too. Though the average ages in DC and SF are MUCH lower than in Mainz, thus skewing my very unscientific analysis, going to the Mainz market is truly a family activity. It's packed with people of all ages, chatting up the vendors and buying things from olives, to fresh bread, to cheese and local honey. It also has a very different feel; less like a special occasion to try random foods, and more like a trip to get groceries that look better and last longer than what I can buy at the store here. And in the summer, for a lot less dough. You'll still see produce from all over the world, but the spring and summer bring a lot of locally grown Deutsch fruits and veggies, and the rest usually come from Spain and Italy.
Though it may not sound like much, the market has been, and continues to be, my favorite part of Mainz. There's nothing like shopping there on a sunny day, stopping for a kaffee und kuchen, and heading home to decide what to make with the goodies!
When I've shopped at in the US, the markets only run from the spring to the fall, and the emphasis is on locally-grown goods. Sometimes, though you usually have to ask, products come from as far away as the other coast. Generally, though, they are from the state you're in. The prices are generally much higher than you'd pay at a grocery store, the logic being that you're paying the farmer, a much smaller scale producer, directly, and a more fair price for the food. The options available may be more exotic and rare, too - vegetables you wouldn't see at the grocery store, or have never heard of (ramps were new to me until visiting the Dupont Circle market in DC).When I moved to Mainz, Germany, a city by German standards (population: 200,000 - a far cry from the city of Washington, DC), I was amazed to see the farmers' market here is four times the size of the Dupont Circle market, happens three days a week, and runs year-round. This, it seems, is common in towns and cities of all size in Germany. Though I'm not convinced having it run throughout the year is really that wise (who wants to be shopping for veggies and fruits, that are largely imported from Africa and South America anyway, outside in freezing weather and wind??), there are deals to be found once spring is here.
The demographics of your typical German market are interesting, too. Though the average ages in DC and SF are MUCH lower than in Mainz, thus skewing my very unscientific analysis, going to the Mainz market is truly a family activity. It's packed with people of all ages, chatting up the vendors and buying things from olives, to fresh bread, to cheese and local honey. It also has a very different feel; less like a special occasion to try random foods, and more like a trip to get groceries that look better and last longer than what I can buy at the store here. And in the summer, for a lot less dough. You'll still see produce from all over the world, but the spring and summer bring a lot of locally grown Deutsch fruits and veggies, and the rest usually come from Spain and Italy.Though it may not sound like much, the market has been, and continues to be, my favorite part of Mainz. There's nothing like shopping there on a sunny day, stopping for a kaffee und kuchen, and heading home to decide what to make with the goodies!
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