Market Day
I had a gameplan for going to the Farmer's Market on Saturday. I bundled up and packed up some paper bags and some ziploc bags (just in case). I figure the Farmer's Market has hosted a fair share of hippie shoppers. Either they were as unsuccessful as I was, or they just aren't that committed. Purchase number one: 5 lbs. of potatoes (for $1.00)! The older gentleman reluctantly took my paper bag and filled it up. At first, that made me grumpy, then I overheard a woman yelling (because that's what you do when someone--the old man--doesn't speak English as a first language), "I PAID YOU!" To which he replied, yelling, "Yes, you pay!" This went on for awhile until the woman's husband interjected, "Honey, he's agreeing with you. He's just not using the past tense."
Megan, who was my shopping companion, pointed out that we wouldn't be able to use the same bag for any other produce that would have to be weighed. People would have trouble subtracting the 5 lbs. of potatoes. So we decided that we'd buy something that was priced per item. So I added 3 limes (for $0.50).
Potatoes and limes!
Then we were off in search of chicken. For a vegetarian, Megan does pretty well around raw dead animal parts. So we found a butcher shop where some jovial butchers were working. I asked for chicken breasts and eventually I figured out how to ask him to measure it out (in pounds or, um, breasts?). I got four breasts (about 2 lbs.) and tried to get the guy to dump 'em in my ziploc. It didn't go over that great. "Well, we have bags."
"Yes, so do I."
Megan: "You could just reuse the bag he gives you."
"Are you supposed to do that? Salmonella?"
"Ok, how is that different than washing out salmonella-contaminated tupperware?"
"um, ok." And the man left holding 2 lbs. of breasts finally handed us a bag-o-chicken which is a lot grosser looking than it sounds.
[Side note: Not nearly as gross as the time I had to buy chicken in the market in Guatemala, wherein I had to request "dead, unfeathered."]
Here is Megan looking sad about the bag(s) of chicken. (They double-bagged it! Gah!)
After that disappointing set-back, we went back to produce and pay-per-item stuff. Victory with broccoli and asparagus. Apples were looking good even though I got a bag (to be reused). Then I picked up a couple salmon steaks (it's Lent after all, and you can never have too much fish). Same story for the fish as with the chicken but the bag will be reused.
So here is Megan looking happy and succesful. This was right before I pointed out that I suckered her into carrying my groceries all morning. She said something about me being a gimp, and then demanded that I buy her a cookie from the "hot" anarchist baker, who even admitted to burning an entire batch and advised us to "steer clear of the cranberry oatmeal ones."
The Soulard Farmer's Market: moderately Earth Friendly, questionably "local" products (I know for a fact that Dole does not have a pineapple plantation in the greater St. Louis area), HOT anarchist bakers.
Fun Tips:
Did you know that paper bags aren't much better than plastic bags? Both can be recycled most places now. But new paper bags are made from virgin tree pulp. New plastic bags are petroleum-based, take FOREVER to degrade and are made in a process that releases a lot of toxins into the air. If you can, use big ole canvas bags (Europe's several steps ahead of us on this one) or remember to take your own paper or plastic bags from home until you can't use them anymore. And if you've only got one or two small items, try skipping the bag. Unexpected bummer: you still get a receipt, I guess for proof that you did buy that apple after all.
Megan, who was my shopping companion, pointed out that we wouldn't be able to use the same bag for any other produce that would have to be weighed. People would have trouble subtracting the 5 lbs. of potatoes. So we decided that we'd buy something that was priced per item. So I added 3 limes (for $0.50).
Potatoes and limes!
Then we were off in search of chicken. For a vegetarian, Megan does pretty well around raw dead animal parts. So we found a butcher shop where some jovial butchers were working. I asked for chicken breasts and eventually I figured out how to ask him to measure it out (in pounds or, um, breasts?). I got four breasts (about 2 lbs.) and tried to get the guy to dump 'em in my ziploc. It didn't go over that great. "Well, we have bags."
"Yes, so do I."
Megan: "You could just reuse the bag he gives you."
"Are you supposed to do that? Salmonella?"
"Ok, how is that different than washing out salmonella-contaminated tupperware?"
"um, ok." And the man left holding 2 lbs. of breasts finally handed us a bag-o-chicken which is a lot grosser looking than it sounds.
[Side note: Not nearly as gross as the time I had to buy chicken in the market in Guatemala, wherein I had to request "dead, unfeathered."]
Here is Megan looking sad about the bag(s) of chicken. (They double-bagged it! Gah!)
After that disappointing set-back, we went back to produce and pay-per-item stuff. Victory with broccoli and asparagus. Apples were looking good even though I got a bag (to be reused). Then I picked up a couple salmon steaks (it's Lent after all, and you can never have too much fish). Same story for the fish as with the chicken but the bag will be reused.
So here is Megan looking happy and succesful. This was right before I pointed out that I suckered her into carrying my groceries all morning. She said something about me being a gimp, and then demanded that I buy her a cookie from the "hot" anarchist baker, who even admitted to burning an entire batch and advised us to "steer clear of the cranberry oatmeal ones."
The Soulard Farmer's Market: moderately Earth Friendly, questionably "local" products (I know for a fact that Dole does not have a pineapple plantation in the greater St. Louis area), HOT anarchist bakers.
Fun Tips:
Did you know that paper bags aren't much better than plastic bags? Both can be recycled most places now. But new paper bags are made from virgin tree pulp. New plastic bags are petroleum-based, take FOREVER to degrade and are made in a process that releases a lot of toxins into the air. If you can, use big ole canvas bags (Europe's several steps ahead of us on this one) or remember to take your own paper or plastic bags from home until you can't use them anymore. And if you've only got one or two small items, try skipping the bag. Unexpected bummer: you still get a receipt, I guess for proof that you did buy that apple after all.