Marketplace of Freshness

After watching Food Inc. this past summer, I began to respect independent food producers more than I had ever done before.  Within this fast paced industrialized world we live in, franchises like McDonald's and Taco Bell seem to dominate the food market.  This quick fix-corporate-food phenomena has complicated the American economy and our health simultaneously. Food Inc. also highlights the discouraging  fact that many government employed regulators whom work in agencies such as the FDA, tend to have ties with the same corporations they should be monitoring to ensure healthy practices and safe food.

Think about it for a second.  Our national news is dominant over local news.  Commercials are from nationally recognized entities.  We're tuned into national politics rather than attending town hall meetings.  Lastly, we tend to shop at franchises over locally owned Mom & Pop stores.  There is this national/state vs. local dichotomy present in different aspects of American life. 

But withstanding all the national competition remains an endangered shrine of locality: The Farmer's Market

On Wednesday's from 3-8 on S. Main St. (Between Sam B's and Mesmerized) you can find all types of vendors selling herbs, fruit, veggies, fudge, cookies and more.  After my visit today, I felt refreshed.  I conversed and ate with Willy who owns Willy's Salsa (amazing), Tony who owns Antone's Hummos (tasty), and Bob the fudge man (delicious) about entrepreneurship and Bill O'Reilly, whom they said i'll debate with one day.  I also bought some natural hand sanitizer from Elizabeth, who is a chemist, made from from olives and sage.

It was a breath of fresh air.