There is an excitement that you get when you shop at an open air (farmer’s) market that you do not get when you shop in a supermarket. Think about it.
There is so much to see and experience at a market. The freshness of the produce, fruits, herbs, vegetables, seafood, poultry and meat. All of it puts you in the mindset of wanting to cook. You imagine the things you can make. You smile at the rosiness of your favourites and giggle like a child when you find something you have not seen or had in ages. There are times when you feel that you want to buy a little bit of everything in sight because it is just so good. An abundance of riches so to speak.
It’s not only the fruits, veggies, fish, shrimp and meat that draw you in, there are homemade condiments made fresh the day before or the week of, in time for the weekend market rush. There are sweets and treats that vendors make specially for the weekend market outing. All of this adds to the excitement of shopping at the market.
The aisles of supermarkets are carefully curated and structured, packed neatly and orderly. There is quietness, maybe some low-volume background music. People move about silently with their trolleys. It’s a lone shop. Even those shopping together, discuss choices and options in hushed tones. In a market, things are free flowing; stalls are all around, large and small, and sometimes it’s a vendor with a large basket or some passing by with things in their hands. There is a liveliness and energy that is unmatched. There is noise. There is commerce happening all around, bargains being struck, negotiations and haggling. As you move around, the buzz and busyness adds to the excitement of shopping at the market.
There is also the “unique” way in which Caribbean men call out to you – swar as we would say – to get your attention to come buy their produce. It’s all part of the theatre of shopping at a market. Mangoes can be sweet like you… the flesh of pears can be smooth like your skin. Then there are reminders such as the carrots for your coleslaw, the sweet potato for the pie, the mint for your tea and herbs for green seasoning.
You set out to the market armed with a list but you leave the market with a whole lot more. At home you unpack the bags, smiling at all the goodies you got. Before you know it, plans change. Instead of soup, you are now going to make boil ‘n fry with duff. Instead of Chow mein, it’s now going to be a hot fish curry. Instead of dhal and rice, it’s now going to be Cook-up (rice). You’re making drink; there were guavas and cherries at the market. You’re gonna boil breadnut because you unexpectedly found some at the market. There was a guy selling ackee, you bought some and will cook it with salt fish tomorrow for a leisurely breakfast. The butcher had lamb this week so you bought it to make a stew or a curry.
The holidays are approaching. You see fresh local ginger, you buy it because you’re gonna make ginger beer and candy some for holiday baking. The spice lady has fresh cinnamon bark, cloves and cocoa sticks from St Lucia and Grenada, you stock up. Somebody’s mango tree had a second bearing; you buy even though you have green mangoes peeled and frozen and puree from ripe mangoes, frozen. You don’t need or even want, but you buy because it’s there and it’s so fresh. It’s the same thing with the soursop. You have, but you are still buying more.
I’ve suggested this before – take a trip to a market out of town or away from your usual market. You would be in for a treat. You’ll see things you haven’t seen in ages or have never seen before and only heard of – fruits, vegetables, produce, poultry, meat and seafood. And yeah, sweets and treats too. I remember, years ago, being gobsmacked seeing Badam lacha (spun sugar candy) that I had not seen since I was a young child, about 10 years old. My late and favourite uncle, Freddy, always would buy and bring for us kids whenever he went to the market. It may seem silly but seeing that the Badam lacha that day flooded me with warm loving memories. I bought it because I could. I didn’t want to eat it, just to have it.
When last have you been to the market?
Cynthia
