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Farmer's Markets

post #1 of 50
10/4/10 at 4:21pm
Thread Starter 
So I've been trying to go to the Farmer's Market more often. The biggest one in Baltimore is on Sunday mornings, and it's probably the only one one could attend and have a reasonable shot at doing most of their grocery shopping for the week.

I like the concept and I think there is some great produce and meat to be had, but there are numerous drawbacks. Was wondering in general what thoughts and opinions are out there.

Specifically:

- Damn, it is expensive. I bought a pork shoulder roast, not a particularly big one, and one slab of ribs. $40. This is not exactly do-able on a regular basis for your average working class family.

- I'm skeptical that this is strictly a farmer's market. How much is this stuff inspected or audited for origin? Particularly with coffee roasters and restaurants and boutique hummus makers etc. there serving food, and no website laying out the ground rules, I'm skeptical that all of this is as pure as maybe implied. Who's to say some of these guys aren't just picking stuff up at the railhead and moving it at the market?

- It sure isn't convenient.

Anyways, just random musings. Didn't know if others agreed or disagreed or were fanatics.
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post #2 of 50
10/4/10 at 4:49pm
I go to that market on occasion. In terms of seasonal fruits and veggies, the difference in flavor and quality between the farmers market and Giant or Superfresh is pretty obvious.

I haven't purchased any meants there, but I will tell you that their eggs are no better than the cheap kind you buy at the grocery store. As for "pureness" I dunno, it doesn't seem like it would be worthwhile to play middleman with foodstuffs as profit margins are so slim.

All in all, it's a nice thing to do on Sunday morning and if you haven't yet, try the west indian patties and the fresh ice cream (you usually have to get there before 10am or they'll sell out of the patties).
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post #3 of 50
10/4/10 at 5:03pm
We have a lot here. Some are great, and actually quite inexpensive. Some are OK and super pricey. Others are other things. The most popular, which I never go to and hate with an undying passion, has a lot of good stuff and really high prices, but the people are all douchebags there for roast chicken. Anyway, prices vary because stall fees vary. The one on Sunday in Marin, for those in the area, is head and shoulders above all others I've seen.
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post #4 of 50
10/4/10 at 5:13pm
I go to the Atwater Village farmer's market near my house. Not the best selection as far as FM's in LA go, but I spend significantly less than I would at a store, and if you go to the right stalls, the quality is fantastic. You have to do some research to see which stalls really care about their food, and which are just cashing in on a trend. I buy eggs, but rarely ever buy meat there, because the prices are kind of ridiculous, and there's a fantastic meat market (McCall's) near my house. I'm really curious what foodguy's take on LA Farmer's Markets is.
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post #5 of 50
10/4/10 at 5:30pm
we get many of our fruits and veggies from a particular farmer at the USQ market that we have come to know quite well. The quality is much better than the majority of grocery stores, however any benefit of this is ruined by my poor cooking skills. The prices are fantastic, $20 will get us a big bag of whatever is in season (and this will last us most of the week).
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post #6 of 50
10/4/10 at 6:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by iammatt View Post
We have a lot here. Some are great, and actually quite inexpensive. Some are OK and super pricey. Others are other things. The most popular, which I never go to and hate with an undying passion, has a lot of good stuff and really high prices, but the people are all douchebags there for Hog Island Oysters. Anyway, prices vary because stall fees vary. The one on Sunday in Marin, for those in the area, is head and shoulders above all others I've seen.

FTFY
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post #7 of 50
10/4/10 at 6:55pm
it's important to understand that farmers markets are NOT an open-air equivalent of a supermarket. it's like the difference between a car lot and one of those streets where everybody parks their cars with for-sale signs in the windows. Some farmers do a great job growing and some don't; some charge as much as they possibly can and some try to stay reasonable. i do believe that even at places like Santa Monica and Hollywood, you can do at least as well as at a supermarket if you are willing to shop carefully and buy what's in season. and, of course, that same careful shopping will get you produce with much better flavor.
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post #8 of 50
10/4/10 at 6:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by foodguy View Post
FTFY
OK, we might never agree about politics, but I guarantee you that if stand next to Hog Island and next to the Roli Roti truck, RR is douchier. Not that Hog Island isn't bad, but RR is the worst crowd I've ever seen in San Francisco.
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post #9 of 50
10/4/10 at 7:01pm
I can't think of a single good farmers market in CT.
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post #10 of 50
10/4/10 at 7:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by iammatt View Post
OK, we might never agree about politics, but I guarantee you that if stand next to Hog Island and next to the Roli Roti truck, RR is douchier. Not that Hog Island isn't bad, but RR is the worst crowd I've ever seen in San Francisco.

sorry, i misread. i was thinking about where I would be standing.
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post #11 of 50
10/4/10 at 7:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by foodguy View Post
sorry, i misread. i was thinking about where I would be standing.
Hog Island is best at happy hour when beer and oysters are both half off. The grilled cheese sandwich is great as well.
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post #12 of 50
10/4/10 at 7:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by iammatt View Post
Hog Island is best at happy hour when beer and oysters are both half off. The grilled cheese sandwich is great as well.

the hog island restaurant at ferry plaza is one of my favorite places in sf. forgive me, i'm a tourist. but to to able to sit out on the porch, eating oysters, good clam chowder, with a nice glass of wine or a beer while you're watching the bay ... tha'ts heaven.
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post #13 of 50
10/4/10 at 7:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by foodguy View Post
the hog island restaurant at ferry plaza is one of my favorite places in sf. forgive me, i'm a tourist. but to to able to sit out on the porch, eating oysters, good clam chowder, with a nice glass of wine or a beer while you're watching the bay ... tha'ts heaven.
The Ferry Building is great. I go there all the time. No need for apologies. I won't go on Saturday morning for the market with the baby carriages, the overpriced produce and the annoying hipsters.
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post #14 of 50
10/4/10 at 7:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by iammatt View Post
OK, we might never agree about politics, but I guarantee you that if stand next to Hog Island and next to the Roli Roti truck, RR is douchier. Not that Hog Island isn't bad, but RR is the worst crowd I've ever seen in San Francisco.

The RoliRoti line is for the porchetta, not the roasted chicken.
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post #15 of 50
10/4/10 at 7:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roikins View Post
The RoliRoti line is for the porchetta, not the roasted chicken.
OK, I stand corrected. They are still jackasses in fleece, hipsters and annoying people with baby carriages. No offense to any normal people in that line.
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