Back in the early 1980s, I would meet a gal pal at 7:30 in the morning (can you believe that was me?) for a market that didn't even open until 8:30. It was conveniently located between where we each lived, and we happily spent an hour wandering the stalls. A huge bouquet of flowers cost about $8. They were gorgeous, fragrant, and colorful, even if they didn't last as long as the store-bought varieties.
I've always been a big believer in keeping money local. I hadn't visited our Lake Oswego Farmers Market since Covid, but local strawberries were calling my name. The market is only about half a mile from our condo, but I drove because I wasn't sure I could carry two heavy bags of produce and a bouquet of flowers all the way home.
It took me 15 minutes just to make the left turn into the park where the market is held. Then another 15 waiting to pull into the parking. Fortunately, someone was leaving the parking structure, and I snagged a spot almost immediately.
Then came the sticker shock.
Strawberries were running $7 to $8 a pint. (After walking the entire market, I finally found a vendor packing up who sold me a pint for $5. Victory!) That bouquet of flowers? Smaller than I remembered and priced at $40.
Despite signs requesting "No Pets, Please," every other person seemed to have a big dog. Add in enormous strollers, children walking beside the strollers, and crowds moving at the speed of continental drift, and navigating the market became an endurance sport.
What surprised me most was how little actual farming seemed to be happening.
There were more craft vendors and artisans than produce growers. More food trucks than vegetable stands. More handmade soaps, jewelry, candles, and cutting boards than tomatoes and lettuce. The food smelled wonderful, but I wasn't quite ready to pay restaurant prices while standing on a patch of grass.
The farm-raised animal products were especially eye-opening. Chicken breasts were $20 a pound. Wagyu hamburger was $30 a pound. I'm sure it was delicious, but at those prices I felt obligated to ask if the cows had gone to private school.
After an hour of browsing, I found a local cheese maker and purchased two small wedges. Then I took my cheapskate self home.
Lunch that day was cheese and crackers, and honestly, it was pretty darn good.
Maybe farmers markets haven't changed as much as I have. Forty years ago, I was looking for bargains, flowers, and a fun outing with a friend. Today, I'm looking for parking, affordable strawberries, and a place to sit down.
But I have to admit, there's still something special about buying food from the people who actually grew or made it. Since I would need a small bank loan to purchase the flowers, sadly I did not buy.
P.S. Max told me If something cost $8 in 1984, it should cost approximately $25.64 in 2026.
I haven't been to a farmer's market since 2023, near by, but the walking was too much for me to go back. Before that I used to go often where I used to live and it was much like you described with the dogs and baby strollers. I used to love those mornings. But oh, the smells, the sunshine and wonderful samples and colorful flowers. Thanks for the memories.
ReplyDeleteIt was a perfect weather day. And everything cooking made me hungry but the lines were just too long and no place to sit and eat. I'm going to try a market in another community next. Through my research, there are some near me on Sundays and others on Wednesdays.
ReplyDeleteI sure did want those flowers ....