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Our farmers' market opened again a few weeks ago when cafes and tavernas re-opened. Stalls are supposed to be further apart. Our market has distanced the stallls but it's a tiny operation, ten at the most in mid-summer when they are piled high with watermelon (karpuzi), zucchini, vlita (greens) and of course tomatoes, tomatoes which last year appeared for the first time in a variety of colours and sizes.
This is an inbetween season now. There are still oranges for sale but not much other fruit
This is an inbetween season now. There are still oranges for sale but not much other fruit
One of the producers is an Indian who along with his wife has the best set out, the cheapest and the most enticing fruit and vegetables.
He had some very early melon. We bought two, a bit of a gamble at this time of the year. One of them was full of flavour, the other almost tasteless but still refreshing when chilled
'Tis the oregano season. Everyone had huge bunches of dried oregano. These ones came from near the village of Methana just down the road on the mainland.
I had been hearing for years, from my mother-in-law and all the old aunts that the best rigani (oregano) came from Methana. And it still does. I asked K's cousin where it was from and he immediately asserted 'Methana'.
Down one end the honey sellers.
They sell beeswax (edible, not the furniture wax), and small jars of a healing balm made from olive oil and honey
I had forgotten our jar of honey was getting very low. We will have to buy some next week. K prefers the thyme honey, 14euros a kilo, I prefer the orange blossom honey, 8 euros a kilo
And the rest of the market
I would love fresh watermelon. Not much chance of growing them here.
ReplyDeleteYour mention of oranges reminded of our stay in Nafplio last spring. There were always mounds of oranges for squeezing next to the juicer at the breakfast table, and homemade orange cake, all with oranges from their own gardens. Gorgeous.
Nafplio must have a dozen citrus trees for every resident. They used to dump them, thanks to the EU, but I think they're mostly juiced now
DeleteInbetween season made me smile. I know exactly what you mean when it goes from nothing or very little to a glut. You're very lucky to live where you live.
ReplyDeleteCertainly is the land of plenty. Loads of market gardens opposite, some tiny, some huge. Plenty of fresh fruit and vege
ReplyDeleteMelon.....cantaloupe and honeydew....has got to be one of my favourite fruits next to mandarins :)
ReplyDeleteThey used to sell them per each - now it's per kilo. Makes them not cheap.
Not cheap?? I meant to say expensive!
DeleteOurs are sold by the kilo but are cheap,less expensive in midsummer
DeleteMy sort of place with lots of fruit and vegies. It looks nice and warm as well. A chilly wind here today - snow in the South Island.
ReplyDeleteWarm enough to enjoy the day. We should have a couple more weeks before the heat digs in
DeleteOur tiny market still has only 3 stalls. Wine, vegs, and bio vegs. Not very enticing.
ReplyDeleteThere's not a huge variety here but it's all fresh and local
DeleteThe melon almost looks like a type of Rockmelon which is my favourite fruit and here markets are allowed to continue but I think they have a limit of 100 people.
ReplyDeleteWhen they are really in season they are so sweet, delicious.
DeleteNo limits here though we still should be keeping our distance
That beautiful rigani - we can only get it here in packets - which goes to show that maybe somethings are still 'local' about local markets. We feel a visit to Methana coming on.... Give the world a blog about Methana, what it has given its name to and the hot springs there. It's a volcano isn't it? Sailing past it last year we noticed the terraces on the hillsides. Is that some sort of farming modification? It must have taken generations to build/complete.
ReplyDeleteGenerations indeed. My m in law was brought up in Megalohori, the little village on the other side of the hill. They had loads of terraced land with vines, walnut and almond trees, fig trees and of course oregano.
DeleteMy kids and grandkids have all been up the volcano. My youngest went on a school trip there.
There's a taverna down the bottom which is very popular and so are the fish tavernas in the picturesque little harbour of Vathi.
Well worth a trip and a blog!!
Oh forgot the hot springs too. 40 years ago they were very very popular as a summer watering place for the elderly. There loads of small hotels, just rooms with a bathroom on every floor. Affordable for all. Now the spa is closed and all the rooms in ruin. Such a shame.
DeleteThere was a rumour that the govt spa would reopen. Don't know if it will now. It was never open to the public. You got a reference from your gp to 'take the bath'
I went to the Armenian kebab shop this afternoon. I was so fed up with lockdown. I ordered and then asked if they wanted me to wait outside, tiny shop. He looked puzzled. Why would he want that, of course not. I could have hugged him. The Armenians were enjoying life as usual, great kebabs and no news on about riots, just a shrug and get on, business as usual. What else should I have expected? xx
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, be happy. Same attitude here now. Kebab and a beer. The best of life .
DeleteGuess what? Today, the Gov. (Cuomo) of our state, is allowing Places of Worship, to open, with 25% capacity.
ReplyDeleteBut the huge protests, can/do continue, day and night, all over the state. Including here, today.
And Gov. wants the Protestors to consider themselves infected, especially around other people, after.
And wants them to get tested.
Any IRONY here?!?
My head hurts!!!!
Our churches opened up a few weeks ago to about 25per cent too. No worry, they put chairs outside.
DeleteYou can't beat them and no use beating yourself. Just look after yourself and your family. Keep it simple.
Love the market but somehow markets here have become trendy and upmarket so everything is really expensive
ReplyDeleteSo for the price and convenience I just go to th supermarket
It’s open everyday, it’s open early and it’s all undercover
And they wonder why markets are finding it hard to keep going all year round
I noticed that has happened in some places. You go the farmers market riding your bike, carrying your trug and only buy the certified organic.
DeleteActually our market might be local and fresh but I can just imagine what sprays they use on it to grow enough to make a living. Shhh, we don't mention that, specially when it's family
I've not tried orange blossom honey, it sounds nice. Thyme honey was a bit too medicinal tasting for me! My favourite is rewarewa honey as it has flavour without being too strong.
ReplyDeleteOrange blossom is a lighter flavour, more delicate. Traditional Greeks everywhere prefer the thyme. They're welcome and they can pay double price too!
ReplyDelete