I remember going to the farm market at least every couple of weeks as a little girl.
My mom and our neighbor would take turns going every week to get fresh eggs. They had to take their own cartons, and I loved to help pick out the eggs and place them in the well-used cartons.
She would also pick up fruits and vegetables that we either did not grow or did not grow enough of to can, pickle, or freeze. I remember watching the farmers back their trucks up to the loading dock and unload their cucumbers, tomatoes, peaches, and so much more. Their goods would be checked in by the people working at the market. Once they unloaded, the farmers often left.
The produce was sold by lots in boxes or baskets that contained a white ticket on top. The ticket had the farmers lot number, weight and price of the item. You took the tickets to the cashier to pay. . .
Today, I still love to go to farm markets. However, the ones I frequent today are very different. The farmer’s are usually at the market, answering questions, and selling their goods directly.
Many of them are organic farmers.
Most sell their produce by the piece,cup, quart, or pound. Rarely, do they sell them by the peck or bushel.
There are more items than just fruits, veggies, and plants. They sell bread, jellies, salsas, meat, crafts, photos, and more.
One of the markets I frequent has artisans, musicians and many food vendors as well.
Despite them being different than the market of my childhood, I love going to a farmer’s market.
My daughter holding a blackberry from the farm market.
I love the fruits and veggies even more than going to the market.
I only wish they sold the produce in bigger quantities and that they sold eggs. I really miss picking out fresh eggs. However, I have been around chickens enough to know that I do not miss fresh eggs enough to get chickens of my own.
