The Florida Farmer's Market
The term "not in season" doesn't apply
By Lena Hunt
While you're here in this year-round-growing-season-state of Florida for your cruise, be sure to check out what the never-ending sunshine produces – fresh fruits and vegetables, exotic plants and flowers, herbs and spices originally from other countries, and much, much more! Farmer's markets are dotted everywhere in Florida, particularly south Florida.
Farming and community farmer's markets have always been a huge part of our culture here in the USA. Many cities and towns in the sun kissed state continue the heritage and charm of locally-produced fruits, vegetables, nursery and orchard stock, and lots of other items (some you will find quite surprising) at community farmers' markets. Although there are some exceptions, the term “not in season” really doesn't apply here as you'll find great things to eat and to take home year round as the weather is warm and sunny. And being totally coastal (what part of Florida is really too far from the water?), fresh seafood abounds! When I say fresh, I mean fresh like in still moving around in the buckets and coolers! They've just been caught and rushed to the market. This is very reminiscent of an era long gone.
The Florida Farmer's Market
The term "not in season" doesn't apply here
By Lena Hunt
Southern Florida Cruise Port Specialist
Tampa - Miami - Port Canaveral - Ft. Lauderdale
October 24, 2010
Some farmers' markets are small and occur during weekdays. You'll find fresh fruits and vegetables for a fraction of what you'd pay in grocery stores. These smaller ones can occasionally be found as permanent stores and not just open on certain days. It's worth the extra stop to buy organic items at very low prices compared to what you will find and pay in grocery stores.
Items are usually just plucked so much so that they'll have the roots and leaves and even the soil attached. This usually means less chemicals, less packaging, and less
transport which leads to more nutrition, more flavor, and more freshness. Handicrafts and artwork are also typically on display and you'll find the original artists and creators manning their tents and booths. Popular items include homemade food such as fresh bread, canned jellies, handmade souvenirs made with natural materials that are found in the local area. Vendors will sometimes sell food and beverages such as hamburgers, hotdogs, bratwurst, lemonade, barbecued meats, and a variety of soft drinks.
Larger farmers' markets are a combination of farmers' markets/flea markets/carnival. They are an event in themselves and you'll find tons of everything spread out over acres of land. Like I said, this is an event, a very unique event. Just watching the people is a large farmer's market past time. People come from here, there, and everywhere hauling things that will haul their wares home or back to their hotel rooms. Some load backpacks (I use my serious hiking backpack with extra
support for heavy produce like watermelon and hard-edged items like books) and yet others bring wheeled luggage. The metal rolling carts are popular and some people even invent their own wheeled totes. I find it pretty amusing and fascinating to see what people will lug into these markets so that they can lug stuff home. You'll never know when you'll find a great buy on a wooden cabinet while shopping for fresh Florida citrus! And I'm not kidding about this. I have found a coffee table, the exotic Asian lychee fruit that I ate in my home country of Vietnam, dental tools, organic coffee, a beach hat, rare coins, a Weed Eater, and an iPod protector all in just one stop. And everything was at next-to-nothing prices! I'm considering checking out the real estate booth and tile floor section next. Laptops, computers, and cell phone and cell phone services are even offered.
They say that the USA is the melting pot and I have to agree with this especially at a big farmers' market. Sometimes I believe that English is the second language at a weekend market. Like the floating markets of Thailand but on land, colorful people and languages sell, market, buy, and barter their wares and services. I fully understand the Vietnamese that is spoken as two ladies discuss the different varieties of basil yet I can only answer back in some sort of Vietlish (mostly English and part Vietnamese. I listen in on a conversation in Spanish about the different stages of ripeness of mangos and how each stage can be prepared and eaten. I join in the conversation in my unique Spanglish (mostly English plus some sort of Spanish from having lived on a tourist-trap Mexican Caribbean island).
Entertainment is provided. There are the usual locals who do a good rendition of all the old songs and do them so well that I honestly think that they should be discovered. Then there are guest musicians. Some resemble Karoake Night at the nearby resorts and some are pretty darn good that you have to do a double and triple take to make sure it's not the
actual singer or a cd playing.
Florida's farmer's markets will definitely save you money. Take the foods back to your hotel room and enjoy. Purchase gifts to take back as souvenirs and presents. Buy things that you've been wanting and needing but can't find anywhere else other than online yet at very low, low prices. Be sure to bring your cameras because I'm not joking when I say it's an event. Some people – local and tourists- make it an all day and even an all weekend event. I've been told by many that when friends and family come to town, they end up at the farmers' markets all weekend and forgo the beaches and other attractions!
