I've always been enamored with farmers markets. I'm captivated by the bustling activity, tantalizing aromas and vibrant colors.

I love perusing the stalls and picking out the freshest, ripest fruit and vegetables on offer, and could make a morning out of wandering around and sampling cheese, dry cured sausages and olives.

In Seattle I enjoyed nothing more than waking up early on a Saturday morning and going to Pike Place Market to do my shopping. Then I would find a table at Café Campagne, have a cappuccino and watch the world go by.

New Orleans, too, has the wonderful Crescent City Farmer's Market every Saturday morning in the Warehouse District. I would put a big basket on my bike and pedal on over to buy enormous Gulf shrimp, baked goods, fresh eggs and all kinds of produce.




Here in France, we have a big, weekly market just a few minutes away where I do some shopping almost every week. I can buy fresh fish, Asian take away, roasted chicken and potatoes, all kinds of fruit, vegetables, poultry and other meats, cheese, bread and wine.

Farmers markets are an important part of life and community all over the world.
If you have one, what do you buy at your local market?