Growers' Markets: Great Food from a Farmer Near You!

Growers' Markets: Great Food from a Farmer Near You!

by Eric Garretson, Manager Downtown Growers' Market

The Albuquerque Area Growers' Markets are open and ready for business. But what exactly is a Growers' Market?

Traditionally called Farmers' Markets, the Albuquerque markets provide seasonal fruits and vegetables raised within the state of New Mexico, and grown by the vendor or the vendor's family.

The markets also include many other wonderful New Mexico products such as meats (organic beef, lamb and chicken), eggs, mushrooms, fresh goat cheese, garlic, honey, gourds, flowers, herbs, plants (native and exotic), baked goods, coffee, herbal soaps, and handmade crafts.

A good place to be if you desire fresh and local products.

The average vegetable travels 1,500 miles to the supermarket without earning any frequent flyer miles. Most Albuquerque Growers' Market produce travels between 1 and 60 miles on average.

There are exceptions, such as Robin-son's raspberries from Apache Creek (190 miles away), and Jake West's melons from Clovis (215 miles).

But, you can guarantee the produce has been picked within the previous 24 hours and it is in season.

Every summer, after whetting my appetite on spring greens, I look forward to cherry tomatoes bursting with unsurpassed flavor, raspberries that completely transform the smoothie, the pungent aroma of cilantro, the anticipation of biting into that first ear of sweet corn, the smell of roasting chile, and honey so fresh you can taste the path of the bee. Seasonal products direct form the farm.

It is a time to test your senses. A time, too, to try new items that you have never tasted.

Old varieties of apples not found in the supermarket, heirloom tomatoes that your grandmother used to grow, local farm fresh goat cheese, unusual and extremely hot peppers, rainbow corn, strange and beautiful looking eggplant, purple beans, red okra, sunflower sprouts, Armenian cucumbers, and you may even find some edible flowers to color your salad. You never know what you may discover at your local Growers' Market.

Imagine the delectable possibilities.
The Albuquerque Area Markets are:

1) The South Valley Growers' Market, 3907 Isleta Blvd. S.W., Saturdays from 8 am to noon;
2) The Village of Los Ranchos Growers' Market, 6718 Rio Grande N.W., Saturdays, 7 to 11 am;
3) The Corrales Growers' Market, Village Center, Wednesdays, 3:30 to 7 pm at the Rec Center, and Sundays, 9 am to 1 pm;
4) The Downtown Growers' Market, Robinson Park, 8th and Central N.E., Saturdays, 7 to 11 am (opening July 7th); and
5) The Albuquerque Growers' Market, Caravan East Parking Lot, 7605 Central N.E., Tuesdays, 7 to 11:30 am, and Saturdays, 6 to 11:30 am (opening July 7th).

So, come out and join your neighbors and friends. Celebrate the bounty of the high desert harvest. Meet the people who grow the food and enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Eric Garretson is an organic farmer in Povladera, N.M., and the manager of the Downtown Growers' Market.

He welcomes you to another summer of fresh produce in New Mexico.