When my business partners take me to local sites, it's a real treat to learn about the culture, history, and local agriculture. I appreciated my business partners taking me to the Klein Market Halle in Frankfurt, Germany. The market had a building built in the early 19th century, but it World War II destroyed it. Reconstructed in the mid-Fifties, you can now appreciate the European art deco style. With over 1,200 sq m of space and 156 market stalls, you can find a wide variety of fresh produce and flowers including wurst, mustard, dried fruit, and Frankfurt's famous green sauce. The fishmonger resides downstairs and we treated ourselves to fresh oysters upstairs, overlooking the market.
You don't need to fly to Germany to give your kids the experience of buying fresh produce from farmers. Visit your local farmers' market. When you plan a vacation, look up the dates and places of farmers' markets.
As a college student at the University of Wisconsin, I enjoyed beautiful summer and fall days at the Dane County Farmers' Market on the Square. Located on the sidewalks surrounding the State Capitol, the smells, bright colors, and sounds was like a weekly celebration. Instruments played, people laughed and ate on the lawn. Who can resist bread full of melted cheese? I'm not the only one who enjoyed the experience. I met Peter Greenberg, New York Times Bestselling Author and fellow UW-grad, and he included Madison in "Best Places to Visit Food Markets" within his book The Best Places for Everything: "Guess where my favorite farmers' market in the country is located. Napa Valley? New York City? Nope. It's in Madison, Wisconsin. The Dane County Farmers' market is the largest producer-only farmers' market in the United States. The "no resale" rule means that the person behind the tables is the same person who grew or made the product."
I've sold behind the table a few times, invited by my aunts, uncles, and cousin who are the farmers growing the produce. It's healthy to buy local and fresh. If you visit the Quad Cities (Davenport, Bettendorf, Rock Island, Moline), stop by the farmers' market say "hi" to the farmers and purchase vegetables or flower.
The 2014 Fodor "America's 15 Best Farmers' Markets" includes the Dane County Farmers' Market and these 14 other markets:
1. Portland Farmers' Market on Portland State University's campus (WA) - 140 vendors
2. Union Square Greenmarket (NY) - 140 farmers, open year-round
3. Pike Place Market (Seattle,WA) - 80 farmers
4. Santa Fe Farmers (NM) - 150 vendors
5. Charleston Farmer's Market (SC)
6. Davis Farmer's Market (CA)
7. Green City Market (Chicago, IL) near Lincoln Park - 55 vendors
8. Ferry Plaza Farmers Market (San Francisco, CA)
9. Eastern Market at D.C.'s historic Capitol Hill
10. St. Paul Farmers' Market (MN)
11. Santa Monica Farmers' Market (CA)- 75 farmers
12. Sweet Auburn Market near Atlanta (GA) - 20 vendors
13. Crescent City Farmer's Market New Orleans (LA)
14. Burlington Farmers' Market (VT) - 40 vendors, Sat. May to Oct. since 1980
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