If you have a craving for fresh fruits and vegetables, dining at the Fresh Food Caf8e and Third at Thirty-Third will hardly satisfy you.
The Farmers' Market on the corner of E. 32nd and Waverly Streets, however, will bring you the freshest produce from Maryland farms every Saturday.
More than the perfect place to get your week's share of fresh food, the Farmers' Market is a refreshing social gathering for Charles Village residents. Around 35 vendors set up their booths every Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon.
You'll find people browsing the booths and greeting familiar vendors and neighbors -- it's a big deal. On a nice summer day, you might even find a street performer or two in a crowded corner of the market.
Whether you're looking for ingredients for a healthy diet or are concerned about use of pesticides on farm produce that is sold in chain supermarkets, the Farmers' Market will probably allow you to find every item on your weekly grocery list.
The prices at the market are extremely affordable, ranging from $1 to $5. You can easily buy your week's share of food for under $20.
The produce comes directly from Maryland's farms and is highly seasonal -- apples in fall and peaches in summer. This does not rob the Farmers' Market of its variety. On a typical fall Saturday, you'll have at least five different kinds of apples ranging from Golden Delicious to Jonagold. Blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupes, watermelons and nectarines are all on seasonsal demand.
At first look, fruit produce may seem to be the big thing at the Farmers' Market. However when it comes to vegetables, the market offers an extensive selection. Eggplants, squashes, green peppers and celery are all sold at an affordable price. Those of you who can't consume the bulk amount sold at supermarkets needn't worry because the fresh vegetable produce is typically sold piece by piece.
The Farmers' Market doesn't end with fruits and vegetables. Bakeries come to the market and sell their share of sourdough, multigrain, harvest wheat, focaccia and ciabatta breads ranging from $1 to $5.
You will also not want to miss the booths selling tasty pastries and Greek pizzas each week.
Aside from fruits, vegetables and bread, you will be able to find spices, preserved meat and large variety of diary products.
The Farmers' Market isn't just a grocery shopping adventure. It's actually the Saturday excursion you can take to start your week well.
With hot food sizzling on grills and stoves, you will not want to miss the cooked food stands where you can grab a delicious brunch with samosas, pad Thai and grilled mushroom sandwiches.
The bed might seem extraordinarily comfortable on a Saturday morning after a night of partying, but trust me, you won't want to miss the awakening atmosphere at the Farmers' Market.
Especially since the Farmers' Market provides everything you need to cook a completely satisfying and extremely healthy meal on your own, which is a nice change of pace from the food offered at any of the school's cafeterias.
So if you have some time to kill this Saturday, check out the Farmer's Market.
