Music and Cats

My life would be much poorer without Seattle’s wonderful farmers’ markets. Is it any surprise that farmers’ markets across the country are having a pronounced impact on the lives of many other people, and, in fact, on the economy as a whole?

U.S. economy rebounds thanks to huge growth of farmers markets

WASHINGTON– In a surprising turn of events, new financial data from the Federal Reserve brought jubilation to both Main Street and Wall Street yesterday as the economic picture for job growth, new business starts and overall household income markedly improved since last month. But financial analysts were bewildered about the source of this sudden economic rebound: farmers markets reopening for spring with fresh produce.

“The looming economic recession that kept Americans on the edge of their seats for the past months has been entirely and unexpectedly averted by an infusion of revenue generated at local farmers markets,” said a grinning Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve, at an appearance with President Bush at a farmers market in suburban Reston, Virginia. “We should never have underestimated the economic prowess of public markets simply because of their small size, lack of business experience, or previously tiny share of the commodity system.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and President Bush announce positive economic news in a surprise press conference at a D.C. area farmers market whose vegetables had been carefully screened beforehand.

The outlook is even rosier for April and May, as farmer’s markets reopen in many states outside the Sun Belt. Concerns were raised by many economists about what happens late next fall when local farmers markets shut down at the end of harvest season, but Congress was busy all day yesterday drafting emergency legislation to construct thousands of indoor year-round public markets.

The Clinton-McCain-Obama Act, named for its chief sponsors, passed unanimously in both the House and Senate yesterday and was signed by President Bush in a special ceremony at Washington’s Eastern Market this morning. It appropriates more than $37 billion dollars to construct and manage indoor public markets in every county seat and community of more than 2500 people across America.

“Obviously, these sources of local food, public gathering places, and intra-neighborhood commerce are the engine that will drive the economy of the United States,” Bush said as several members of the White House press corps fainted in shock.

While this marks a sudden and fundamental shift in the Bush Administration’s policy, press secretary Dana Perino reminded reporters, “George Bush and Dick Cheney have always been true believers in market economics.”

Read more on this exciting news at PPS.

On the way to the Ballard farmers’ market yesterday, I ran into a bit of a delay.

(I love Seattle’s drawbridges. They make me slow down.)

All this hoopla for a little tugboat?

(It was the only ship in sight. Isn’t it cute?)

While we waited for the bridge, we watched each other.

(Is that a dog or a toy? Our little girl cat is twice that size.)

At the market, the sun shone on produce and people.

(Radishes are so pretty! I wish I liked eating them as much as I like photographing them.)

Old-time musicians filled the air with rhythm and song.

(The only instruments that make me happier than banjos are bagpipes.)

Those farmers sure know how to tip the musicians!

(What would you do if someone tipped you with a beautiful savoy cabbage? If your first thought is cooking, and you have a recipe in mind, go tell Shauna about it. Really, she’s asking. Of course, you could tell me, too.)

The farmer’s market on Saturday seemed just more of the same — more roots, more greens, more, well, February. I’d seen it all before. Then I turned a corner, and discovered, glowing brightly in the sunshine, a jar filled with orbs of fresh mozzarella. At River Valley Ranch, mozzarella is made each day from the morning’s milking of their buffalo, cows and goats. The cow’s milk mozzarella on sale at the market was yesterday morning’s milk.

This cheese was so fresh that it squeaked under the knife, and between the teeth. It was so milky and sweet and tangy that I could have eaten the entire ball all on its own. I was tempted, but the cheese was asking for something more. As it’s February, there were no vine-ripened tomatoes, no fresh basil to be had. But there was good, crusty bread for toasting, and balsamic vinegar for drizzling, and those rounds of soft cheese… and one late February day that was not just more of the same.

Last week, I received an email from a local farmer who was one of my favorites at the Queen Anne market this summer. She wrote that she hoped I was surviving the winter’s meager produce selection. Reading this, I smiled. The local produce available this time of year may not be as varied or abundant as in the summer, but I’m quite happy with what I’m able to find at the winter farmers’ markets. Brussels sprouts and beets, leeks and kale, carrots and cauliflower; I love them all.

My sister has told me that, left to his own devices, her 4-year-old son Reed will eat an entire head of roasted cauliflower. That’s my nephew! I’ve recently taken to roasting cauliflower florets sliced thin (more edges to turn brown and crispy) and drizzled with a sauce of mustard, lemon juice and butter and/or olive oil. The last time I made this dish, one head of cauliflower wasn’t enough for me and Paul. Had Paul not been home, I would’ve finished the entire head myself. When I went to the market today, I planned to pick up another. The cauliflowers were so pretty that I bought three.

A couple of weeks ago, I arrived home from work to find Paul cooking a pot of curried carrot soup. Warmed with freshly grated ginger and curry powder, and swirled with wasabi-spiked sour cream, this soup is the best thing to happen to carrots in our house this winter. In a bit of serendipity, the recipe comes from Jesse Ziff Cool, owner of the Flea Street Cafe, where Paul and I had our rehearsal dinner.

The first tulips and hyacinths of the season are already here! Spring is coming, but winter is far from over. Today, at least, I’m in no hurry for the first tender bites of spring. Winter’s pleasures are enough.

When traveling, some people visit museums and restaurants; I seek out farmers’ markets. Seattle’s markets are part of my daily life, and I’ve been involved in starting one in our neighborhood. When I travel, I want to see not only what local foods are available to people in the areas we’re visiting, but how well the local farmers’ markets seem to be doing.

When I left Houston 12 years ago, there was no farmers’ market in the city. Now there are several, but I’d never been to one. This morning, before Paul and I caught our flight back to Seattle, we went with my mother to the Bayou City Farmers’ Market. I’d been warned that Houston’s markets are small compared to Seattle’s, so I didn’t know quite what to expect. (After all, our year-round markets shrink considerably in size and variety during the winter months.) I was pleasantly surprised today to see a well-attended market with a nice selection of products: Greens, root vegetables, cauliflower and cabbage. Tomatoes! Eggs, cheese, beef and shrimp. Oranges, satsumas, Meyer lemons, kumquats, ujikitsus, grapefruit. Bread and pastries. Prepared Indian food and sushi. Orchids and citrus trees.

One of the questions I ask myself when wandering through a farmers’ market for the first time is: Could I do most of my grocery shopping here? At the Bayou City market today, my answer to that question was a definite yes.

Do you have a farmers’ market in your city/town/neighborhood? If so, do you shop there?