Enga mellom fjella

A farmer's market is so much more than...

...carrots.

ME?

Missoula has three Saturday markets. We are fortunate. A century ago most cities had markets; very few still do.

The market under the bridge specializes in agricultural produce. It has wool and spun wool, frozen Alaskan fish, fresh cappuccinos, local lavender, white peaches, jams, Georgia sweet tea, rhubarb slushies, heirloom tomatoes, all types of cabbage, poppyseed rolls made by Russians, Hmong flower vendors.

It's a magical place from May to October.

Cartago has the best daily market in Costa Rica imho (a flower market too). Pérez Zeledón has a very good one. Sodas, cevicherías, queserías, pescaderos, carniceros, tiendas pequeñas ...aún se vende plástico. (Restaurants, ceviche, cheese, fishmongers, butchers, small shos, even plastic).

The farmer's market in PZ though is extra special. All the surrounding agricultural areas show up. Produce comes from as far as Orotina (known for mangos and marañon). From lowlands (palm fruit, pineapple) to highlands (potatoes, carrots) to organic grown-under-tarp greens there is most anything one can imagine. Underused items like mosote (stems are soaked to produce a drink) to fruit unknown by foreigners (like cherry-size yellow nances) can be found in season. It would take a long time to eat all the variety that's sold. Grazing for a year might do it.

In the corner one can visit the ex-pats from various countries and buy foreign foods that cannot normally be found ...like home-made peanut butter. And English and French books ...ticos don't read and many ex-pats don't read Spanish.

I go to see my friends: Sam, Ilena, Mario, Franklin, Ronaldo, José... so many others as well. I eat a tamal con cerdo, drink a cafecito, inhale one of Harper's mint-chocolate brownies.

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