I don't like the new 'Farmer's Market'
I wanted to like it, but the new "Farmer's Market" at Mayfair isn't a farmer's market. It's sort of a flea market or sidewalk sale.
It's nice, don't get me wrong, but there are only about a dozen booths and only one sells fruits and vegetables. The rest sell junk, i.e. ice cream, hand bags, flowers, knick knacks and things like that.
I was hoping it would alleviate some of the wait time and high prices at the Glaser Organic Farms Market, just up Grand Ave., but there is no comparison. Since Glaser has to vacate their spot soon because of
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posted by Tom Falco at 1:22 PM
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9 Comments:
well that sucks.....is there anyplace in this town to buy cheap produce? any spanish mkts? i cant take any more of the tyranny of publix and paying $1 for a cucumber and $2 for a tomato...its an outrage...
As much as I love having a farmer's markeet in the Grove, I am not losing any sleep over the loss of Glaser Farms. Not only are they ridiculously expensive but they have never allowed other fruit/veggie vendors.
A truly great farmer's market would have a variety of vendors each with their own crops.
Many of the items sold by Glaser they do not even grow! They buy it from a produce wholesaler just like a supermarket. BUT they charge us more because people assume that since it is a "farmer's market" that it has been home grown.
There are many great farmers in South Florida and Glaser does grow some great products too but I'd love to see a true farmers market where each vendor sells only homegrown products and each contributing something special.
a true farmers mkt ought to be cheaper, not more expensive. there is no middle man to absorb profit so produce sold at these mkts shd be a great bargain, not a great ripoff. i was shocked at the prices at this glaser fiasco the first time i went....where are the mkts for real people around here?
OK, if you want the quality of downtown Grove to truly improve, you have to see the glass as half-full. This is, after all, the first Saturday of many to come.
Here was my experience. Delighted to walk across the street and find activity. Met friends, made new ones (the dog even has a playdate!). The produce was very reasonably priced-- better than Glaser Farms-- 2 pineapples for a dollar - which they core a peel on the spot (if you ask them, they will bag the rind and peel, which, I learned when I lived in Mexico, yields a deliciously refreshing drink when you steep in boiling water with a cinammon stick. The scallions (big ones) were 2 bunches for $1. I was relieved to buy fresh bananas (the ones at Milams turn brown while they are still green, and the peaches I bought at Fresh Market last week were all bad). Also the papaya was much better priced than at Glaser.
As for the other stands you described as "junk" -
I got fresh homemade mozzeralla from a stand that sold all kinds of wonderful pastas, cheese and bread sticks
I got fresh honey, as well as very decently priced Chutney (cheaper that Silver Palate at Milams), mango sauce and tapenade.
I got fresh bread. (the bread vendor also had cookies)
I had a fresh papaya juice made to order at the tropical Juice stand,
I purchased 3 ivy plants from the orchid vendor.
The flower stand is terrific-- all flower bunches were $5! (which is what flowers should cost, including tulips, which, when available anywhere else tend to be $10.00). These are"American tulips" in case you want to be patriotic about it, and they are every bit as nice as their Dutch cousins.
The aromatherapy vendor was nice too, and I bought some of that as well.
Those were not "purses" beign sold. They were baskets totes, which are sort of a complement to a "Farmer's Market."
I was glad, too, that Sweetpea had a table outside Hibiscus Hill with items at 75% off- I got quite a few swell holiday gifts, and additional ones inside.
Alas, I failed to see the ice cream vendor (but that is a good thing). As the weeks come, I hope more vendors step up and fill the gaps.
But leave the prices alone! I liked the fact that most things were $5.00. And, for heavens sakes, bring cash. A woman walked up to the tropical juice stand and asked if they took Visa.
It isn't true about Glaser's not allowing others in. Oldtimers will remember across the street when there was a Latino family also selling stuff. Next to them was Glaser's. There were also 2 fritter stands, fresh coconuts, and the massusse that should have worn underware. When the sun came up, the stands were set up to open. I miss those early hours. It's funny, though, that with the constant stream of hippie muffins that have been working there over the years, how come Stan doesn't seem happy?
Glad to see I'm not the only one to see that the farmers markets are a joke (and not just the ones in Coconut Grove). Considering how activist a community the Grove claims to be, it's pathetic to see one farmers market basically sell produce purchased wholesale and another sell almost no produce at all. Do you think this would fly in San Francisco or New York? Heck, this wouldn't even fly in Oklahoma City. Yet people flock to the Glaser farms market either out of stupidity, ignorance or both. There are a few farms in South Dade that would probably kill to sell produce directly; however, the only place making even a remote effort to bring farmer and consumer together is Gardners in Pinecrest.
And again, focusing on the Grove's supposed activism, how come there's someone selling small, baby turtles at the Mayfair market? Aren't there warnings that these animals are not for home pet use and should only be used for educational purposes? Why isn't anyone trying to shut this practice down?
Its sad that there are no low priced produce markets in miami. in tampa where i used to live, we had a great one. i expected the same here. what a disappointment. i am repulsed by publix produce prices, and milams is no better. there is a great opening here for an enterprising mkt with decent prices. people: the produce is grown here in fla. its should be some of the cheapest and best in the whole nation..
Thanks to Lili Dones for the extensive description of the new Farmers Mkt at Mayfair. Im looking forward to checking it out!
Oh, and those baby turtles are actually Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. They mutate into kung-fu fighting heroes after 2 weeks of ownership.
Heroes in a half-shell....TURTLE POWER!
i agree the grove markets are not very good the produce is not fresh sitting in someones trucks all week not refridgerated traveling from market to market. these markets are all run by one group of people who charge you to sell your goods. the markets on the beach the grove south miami and gables are run by the same market company...no deals just stuff for tourist to look at and not buy...i bought a overpriced orchid there and it died in two days buyer beware at these places...
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