Fragrant cantaloupes as big as bowling balls. Baskets brimming with okra and tomatoes. Tempting watermelons sliced to show juicy centers as bright as valentines. Take a deep breath. Inhale the wonderful aromas. It's Saturday morning at the farmers market.
Regional Markets:
"It's a gathering place for everyone to shop, visit, and talk," says John E. Matthews, manager of Sarasota's Downtown Farmers' Market, a Saturday morning happening that draws about 8,000 people to the Florida coastal city each weekend.
Shoppers find everything from local honey ($9 a quart) to fresh shrimp ($9.50 a pound for jumbos). Gail Jeffrey sells homemade jams and jellies. Chris Keesecker brews steaming cups of his own microroasted coffee for customers and vendors who arrive as early as 4 a.m. "Starbucks is our main competition," he says modestly.
From small-town courthouse lawns to cities as big as Dallas, farmers markets thrive across the South. Part block party, part food court, part festival, many offer much more than produce. In Sarasota, musicians entertain shoppers. "We offer music most Saturdays," says John. "I try to make it look as informal as possible."
Sarasota's market opens from 7 a.m. until noon on Saturdays on Lemon Avenue from First Street to Pineapple Avenue; (941) 587-4985 or www.downtownsarasota.com.
