Farmers Market

Life is full of rituals. One of our favorites is the Pine Grove Farmers Market. It's held every Wednesday afternoon from mid-June through mid-October, when we often get our first frost. It starts off slowly as the growing season upcountry is very short. On the best day mid-summer there are only about a dozen vendors: half selling produce, one old lady who has an olive orchard and sells her olive oil, a local baker selling breads and other baked goods, a couple of crafters (they vary from week to week...one sells hand-made soaps, another hand-made cards, and another hand-sewn items, and occasionally a vendor selling plants. Almost always there is entertainment...typically, a local, country-western singer (of the old school - Hank Williams or George Jones type music) singing and playing his guitar (if no guitar, then singing to a CD).

Yesterday was the first market of the season. Although we had a commitment in town and were in a hurry, we stopped and walked the market. Thankfully, we made time for this ritual that has become so important to us. We saw familiar faces, bought something from each of the produce vendors, and left with the same warm-fuzzy, satisfying feeling we have every week from mid-June through mid-October when we attend the Pine Grove Farmers Market. It's small and I'm sure laughable to people who've been to the Saturday market at the Ferry Building in San Francisco or the markets held in other large cities or even the Thursday evening Lodi Street Fair. But, it's ours and it's a ritual we've grown to love.

Here's a picture of one of our favorite vendors, Wendy Hunter...

She sells honey and the best plums I've ever eaten! Last year she tried to sell my market totes (pictured in the foreground), but they were too pricey for upcountry folk. Oh well, we tried. This fall I'm going to take them to a craft fair in Santa Barbara, mark them up by 25%, and they'll probably sell like hot cakes!