This is NOT your Nana and Tata's Farmer's Market!

Say Farmer’s Market and the vision I have in my mind is going to Wahiawa Park with my mom as a kid to buy fruits and vegetables.  I remember lots of nanas and tatas with their wheeled metal bags that they’d stuff full of fresh produce (by the way...I'm suppsed to be designing a DIVA version of this--we'll see if I get to it--who wants one?).  I don't remember it being a leisurely social thing...just a lot of people grabbing vegetables and stuffing them in brown paper bags.  I hated going.  Not sure why--maybe because I hated vegetables back then and my mom was known as, "Aunty Vegetables."

Fast forward to 2011 and I am up early and dressed really cute with Farmer’s Market purse , dollar bills, ballet flats, and Envirosax bags ready heading to the Mililani Sunday Farmer's Market.

Farmer’s Market shopping is relatively new to me.  What hooked me in is the fact that Bale Bakery represents at my local Market every Sunday.  Their fresh bread and vegetables are fresh and priced pretty reasonably.  Nalo farms is also another one of my favorites because their produce is fresh and lasts a long time in the fridge.  For example, I used to by my Cilantro at Safeway for somewhere around 3 dollars a bunch for wilted leaves that would be inedible if not eaten within three days--if it weren't crushed by everything else in the crisper.  To my surprise, I once bought a $2 bag from Nalo, used half and forgot about the rest.  Two weeks later the leaves were still green, still crisp, and still ready to flavor my dish!!  Their watercress is also amazingly robust with strong sturdy stalks and thick leaves.

But Nalo and Bale are not the only vendors.  There are a number of stalls selling fresh produce half the price that you'd find at Safeway (and ten times fresher) as well as stalls that sell plate lunches (brunches), a cool sea salad that my kids love, plants, flowers, and herbs to plant in your garden!!   There was a time when I was journeying into China Town to buy my produce but the drive was long, the parking expensive, the smells and sights a little intimidating, and in all honesty, the produce at the Farmer's Market just looks fresher, cleaner, and more appealing!

For this morning's trip I set out to get ingredients for one of my favorite Sunday family meals:  Vietnamese Roasted Chicken Sandwiches and Spring Rolls.  Bale sells their picked vegetables for just $3 a tub and their rolls for just $3 for a bag of 4.  Can't go wrong!  I picked up these as well as some other fresh produce for meals later this week including Manoa lettuce, Japanese cucumbers, cilantro, and Watercress at Nalo Farms (the cashier loved my Pink Piggy Envirosax tote).  Although I usually see someone I know to chat with today it was not to be so I took my goodies and grabbed an iced coffee across the street before going home.

If you're gonna Farmer's Market here's some tips:

1. Bring dollar bills--makes the check out so much faster.
2. Bring your recyclable bags--the vendors provide plastic but it's way more hip to bring your own bag--everyone, and I mean everyone does!
3. Shop around--prices vary as does produce--the long lines at some tenants are a hint!
4. Wear comfy shoes.  I feel like it's the PC thing to say, but as you probably guessed I've gone in very high heels. 
5. Have your game face on--I say this because you are sure to see someone you know and you don't want to have to run and hide.
6. Ask questions and take risks!  There's a lot of cool veggies to be bought and if you ask the workers or even the people standing in line they'll give you some tips for cooking.
7. Take your time and enjoy.  It's a fabulous way to spend a Sunday morning and you'll learn a lot!

Now that you're hooked, get out there and find one close to you:

Click here to find the FM closest to you!

Remember, that it's always good to go green and to support Hawaii.  See the kanuhawaii.org website to learn more about supporting local businesses and caring for the environment (and go ahead and make a commitment to shop local, I did!).  Also, buying fresh is good for your family and it's almost impossible not to cook healthy if you get sucked in by all the fresh fruits and vegetables!!!

By the way, if you want the recipes for my meal tonight I found them online here:

Vietnamese Roasted Chicken

Spring Rolls

I get the rice noodles, wrappers, fish sauce, and other sauce items at Foodland or Safeway in the Asian aisle.  Just a tip, tonight I was lazy and didn't buy fresh limes.  We used the green lime squeezy thing instead and it was GROSS.  I was kicking myself for not picking up 3 limes for a buck at the Farmer's Market.  My family loves this meal and I know you will too!!  You can try and find me at lunch tomorrow for a sample.

This is my plate. I am on a diet so no Spring Roll or Sandwich for me.  Had to do salad.
Didn't feel comfy asking the fam, "Hey can I take a pic of your food for my Blog?"

Farmer’s Market Fashionista out!