Fresh From the Market

Even as I'm writing this, I'm licking peanut butter off my fingers and enjoying the organic bananas and blueberries that I've sliced over my peanut butter on whole wheat.  Healthy, fresh and delicious food that I don't have to feel guilty about. Yum!

 For me, coming to the market as a child, it was always about getting a treat.  Now that I've grown older and I enjoy helping out at the family market stand, I look into the eyes of the next generation as they scan the tables, looking for a treat of their own.  It's so much fun watching their faces, some of the children just tall enough to peek over the edges of the tables.  The vendors all know each other and trade bills for change, offering a free lunch now and again, sometimes bartering lettuce and broccoli for a dozen brown eggs. 

I just love the variety of vegetables, fruit, flowers and baked goods that add up to wonderful possibilities for the evening meal.  Many times, chefs will come looking for a particular item, knowing that it will be at its peak and ready to consume.  The vendors cater to the many tastes and requests of their customers, altering the offerings from week to week.  It's even possible to order ahead of time and have everything packaged and ready upon arrival.  

 "Organic" and "local" are two must-have labels when it comes to filling the market basket of our savvy consumers and growers strive to meet that expanding demand.  Farmers have taken to finding alternate methods of fertilizing and spraying for pests to preserve the environment and provide the healthiest produce possible.  The mellow taste of a fresh organic banana digests much easier than its grocery store counterpart and even tastes sweeter, more flavourful.  I speak from experience.  

Ahhhh, the Napoleon.  My favorite sinful dessert.  Stacks of crumbly pastry, a fluffy pale custard and alternating layers of whipped cream all topped with a sweet icing and its traditional chocolate swirl make this a real eye pleaser as well as a memorable gastronomical feast.  Speaking of memorable...This was the first treat my oldest child remembers sharing with me...in the sanctuary of the apple orchard behind the farmhouse where no one could see us and then of course, we'd have to share.  I can still feel the early morning sunshine on our backs, the hot earth beneath our feet and taste the sweet icing as we licked every last bit from our fingertips.  The world's best breakfast. mmm  

 There are many varieties of cookies, cakes and traditional pastries from various countries.  It is difficult to know which to try first.  I have always been happy with my choice and leave with a wandering eye as to what I might like to try on the next weekend.  Just as I'm leaving, a small line forms and I smile in secret satisfaction that I have made it to the baker on time this Saturday.

The apple vendor across the aisle wins over little taste buds to a healthy treat by offering a wedge of crisp, juicy fruit to sample. Grandparents and parents alike smile in satisfaction, seeing a lifetime of good eating habits established.  Another bushel of the fragrant apples travel home to be popped into lunches or grabbed for a quick after-school snack on the way to the skate park or library.

 One of the newest vendors has brought with her a pleasing selection of nuts and seeds to add to the bounty of the overflowing tables.  Here too, samples are offered to cautious buyers and the friendly service is as much a part of the sale as the taste of her stores.  If ever there is a crying toddler nearby, one of the vendors often reaches out with a smile and a little present to be remembered for the next visit, with the parent's permission, of course.  The atmosphere is very much family-friendly as jokes are tossed over the stalls, indicating that the farmers and neighbouring vendors are enjoying the busy morning.

 As part of our spring break fun, I plan on bringing my daughters back here to re-live memories of our jelly making days from a couple of summers past.  Sales of our blueberry/orange and orange/ginger jam were a family project from field to kitchen then on to the market. The girls gained sales experience while learning to inter-act with the public and make new friends with our regular customers.  We still laugh over some of our memories.  One customer had a complaint and started really making her case known. My oldest simply let her go on for a while, then hollered, "Hey, Grampa! Can you come here for a minute?!"  Imagine the look of surprise...

 My youngest amazed us all with how quickly she picked up her sales skills and would often approach buyers who were just looking and ask if they would like a bag for that.  Her shyness evaporated while she joked with her uncle and her math skills improved while she learned to give change without the benefit of a calculator.  The produce is still added up as the customer shops and a grand total announced at the end, surprising the newer customers with both the efficiency and the low price.

 After a good morning's work, my girls and I would pick from vegetable pizza or maybe some doubles with ginger beer and head for the library steps to feast.  The culmination of planting the first seeds to zealously weeding during the hot days of summer and finally, bringing the freshest and the best to be selected to fill the tables of Niagara is a very satisfying job.  This spring, I am happy to have a week to laugh, share and make new memories with my girls while we re-live some poignant moments and renew acquaintances with old friends.  There is just something exhilarating about opening the door of the market in the spring time that makes it seem as though anything is possible and for just a short while, we can dream. Dream of new samples to try, discovering an old tradional favourite, or a familiar face waiting for our usual order. The sun beams down over it all grandly, just as it always has done and promises warmer days to come..

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