This past weekend while in the Twin Cities, we took the opportunity to visit the St. Paul Farmer’s Market. I was rather excited to visit, since it will be a few weeks before there are any markets open around here. (Although, our small town will be getting its very own farmer’s market this summer- can’t wait for that!) We weren’t exactly sure what we would find, or what would be there, but just being in that atmosphere would be very welcome after the long snowy winter, and the rather unusual hot-then-cold spring we’ve had. We weren’t disappointed.
The market itself is right in downtown St. Paul, and while we had to drive around a little bit to find a parking spot, it wasn’t too difficult to find one nearby. The market is under awning, but still open-air, and while it wasn’t bright and sunny when we were there, I couldn’t help but think how wonderful those awnings must be in the heat of summer. One thing that makes the St. Paul Market unique from all the others in the area is with how it selects its vendors- all the product offered for sale at the market must be local. They prefer a 50-mile radius, but the do permit a few from a little farther out to provide a better variety at the market. I suspect they are very, very choosy with who they permit to sell their wares.
As we suspected, there were plenty of plants at the market. Lots of bedding flowers- both annuals and perennials, and plenty of herbs as well, in all stages of growth. There were people there with fruit trees and berry bushes, and also several vendors with well-established tomato plants. Then there were the local meat vendors, showcasing their homemade sausages and cuts of lamb, pork, beef and poultry. There were local cheesemakers, beekeepers, bakers, and a few balloon artists for the children. To our delight, there was also fresh produce available. Many vendors had coaxed tender lettuces out of the ground, along with fresh radishes, spring onions, and plenty of chives and garlic chives. One vendor had parsnips that appeared to have wintered over in the ground. There was also asparagus, but since we’ve been enjoying asparagus from my mom’s garden, which costs us nothing, I just couldn’t see paying $4.oo a pound for fresh gus. Overall, the market had something for everybody, one vendor even had plenty of fresh tomatoes on display. They obviously had to be greenhouse grown, given the cool spring, but they were a lovely sight to see.
We walked away from the market with lunch. We snagged a few baguettes, cheeses, radishes, spring onions, kettle corn and honey sticks for the kids. My brother and his wife bought a few blueberry bushes to plant in their yard, and the folks who sold them to them were a treasure trove of blueberry knowledge. Overall, the market was thoroughly enjoyable, and we’re already trying to figure out how to squeeze a trip in this fall when the produce is overly abundant.
Upon our arrival back at the house, we split the baguettes and topped them with our cheeses, a Tilcet and a Tomato-Basil Gouda. They were then slid under the broiler to get all melty and gooey, and then we topped the cheesy bread with slices of fresh, crisp radishes. The open faced sandwiches were absolutely delightful. They made a perfect light lunch, and these cheeses were clearly in their element being run under the broiler. The kids gobbled up the breads made with the Tomato-Basil Gouda, delighting the pizza-like flavor.
I have to say, it felt really good knowing that all that we were eating had grown up nearby. Sure, we could have bought all of these very ingredients at the grocery store, any time of the year in fact. But the fact that someone nearby had put care and attention into producing what we were consuming just made the meal all the more delicious to us. We felt that with our purchases, we were telling that person that we cared, that we were wishing them much success so that we could see them again the next time we visited. I’m looking forward to bestowing the same wishes on our local Wisconsin farmers, as the market season is gearing up here, I’ll be watching and waiting impatiently, because after one taste of local, I’m hungry for more.
I love markets this sounds like a great one.
I miss the markets in the Cities and Madison, WI. I first learned to love farmers’ markets in Madison when I was in college. The farmers’ market there is INCREDIBLE – check it out sometime if you have never been 🙂
Helene, there is something really unique about the atmosphere at a farmer’s market, isn’t there?
Josie, we have a weekend tentatively planned in Madison this summer, and the market is on my list of things to do!