The Farmer’s Market is like church for me. With the ringing of the opening bell, I cue up with my flock of faithful market-goers and step forward to receive my communion of local goodness. I attend rain or shine, but shine is best.
Most Saturdays (and some Wednesdays) from late May until the end of September, I make it a priority to shop the market for fresh vegetables, berries, eggs, and preserves. Despite having a small high tunnel and outdoor garden beds, the Homer Farmer’s Market always has something on offer that will define our meals for the coming week – maybe cauliflower cut into steaks with fresh pesto for dinner, or shredded, seasoned zucchini fried with an egg for lunch. Moreover, I go to catch up with friends, chatting in line with Rika, or Kris, or Marilyn as we wait our turn to select from displays of vegetables, artwork, flowers, and jams that could grace the front cover of a gardening magazine. And I check in with my favorite vendors, like Lori and Christina.
As my canvas bag grows heavy with dill pickles for husband Hal, a colorful trio of carrots, turnips, and beets, an heirloom tomato the size of a softball, pink filly mushrooms, and maybe a savory pastry as a treat, I am supporting our area growers at costs generally comparable to the grocery stores. Additionally, buying local means greater food security for Alaska, and more money circulating in the community, rather than siphoned off to corporate headquarters Outside. And with diesel fuel hitting $6 a gallon, buying local reduces our carbon footprint while ensuring the food we eat is just hours old, not weeks, and retains its peak flavor and nutrition.
I greatly appreciate the farmers and other vendors, many with silver hair, who have chosen a career that arguably requires the most work for the least financial reward. I feel so fortunate to live in a community with a vibrant farming and market scene. Fact is, I’ve scheduled my “outside” travel to the Southwest, Hawaii, Scotland, and France to coincide with market days in the towns we want to visit. What better way to get a feel for a community than to mingle with them while buying the freshest regional food to be had: smoked woodpigeons from a market at the base of Edenborough castle, fragrant, pocket-sized cantaloupe in Le Havre, truly ripe mangos and monster avocados in Kona, and street tacos in Tucson. Makes me hungry just thinking about it.
It’s always a letdown when fall arrives, and the market closes for the year, leaving an empty parking lot behind. But there’s always next year, when the market will once again bring together that magical meld of food, crafts, and sense of community.
The Homer Farmer’s Market will be open through September 26th from 10am – 3pm on Saturdays and from 2pm – 5pm on Wednesdays.