I checked out the Prospect Park Farmers’ Market when I was in NYC this past weekend. I was so impressed - it was huge! There was so much room to walk around and browse. I didn’t buy anything because that meant I would have had to haul the food all the way from NY on a 45 min subway ride + 1.5 hour bus ride and I was just too tired. Most of the produce and other products (maple syrup, yogurts) that were being sold at Prospect Park’s market was available at the Philly one, but I did notice the hydrophonically grown tomatoes. They were huge! And were $3.50/lb…about $0.44 less than the greenhouse grown ones currently available at Kauffman’s stand at Reading Terminal in Philly. I was a bit bothered by the amount of plastic packaging both in Prospect Park and at the Headhouse market in Philly…I was very conscious about the eco throwdown challenge.

When buying eggs at the market at $4.00/dozen I asked the woman if she would take the plastic containers back. She laughed said I could bring it if I wanted to but wasn’t necessary. Does this mean she will not use it? I was too nervous to ask. I am hoping to run into the guy we bought eggs from last year because he was always asking for his egg cartons back and I have 5 months worth of egg cartons sitting in our kitchen waiting to be reused.

I spent $100 at the market yesterday mainly buying meat. I’ve decided to eat meat again…last time I decided to go back to eating meat it was after I read Animal, Vegetable, Mineral. This time, I am in the midst of Plenty by Alisa Smith and J.B. Mackinnon. I got goat meat as well as beef. I have never eaten goat meat before and I wonder what it will taste like.  My husband bought supplies to make beef pho.

Edit: I don’t recall any lousy music at the Prospect Park farmers’ market. But there was lousy music at the Headhouse that wasn’t just lousy…but also loud.