One of my favorite activities is walking to the open-air markets to buy my produce. A real plus for any place I'm looking to rent is if it's in walking distance from a good mercado.
These markets are what I love about Latin countries and what I miss the most in America, where it's all supermarket shopping. One might find the occasional farmer's market during growing season, but usually the prices are ridiculously high compared to deals at the local supermarket. And selection is quite limited. It's a shame, because I'd love to support local growers if it fit my needs and budget.
In Mexico, everyone shops at the mercados. They have their favorites, where they might experience lower prices or better selections. For an American, the wide selection and low prices are unbelievable compared to back home.
I can get fresh pineapple year-round for two or three dollars each. Beautiful avocados for a couple dollars for a kilo. Today I found them for 25 pesos a kilo, or just under $1.50 for four large avocados.
Where I'm living now, this small market is a ten-minute walk from my apartment. There is a much larger one about thirty minutes away, and uphill. I won't likely shop there since this one has everything I buy regularly. And it's so close that I don't even need a taxi home for my shopping bags.
Check out the size of this celery. The broccoli in front is normal sized, outshone by the giant cabbages and celery squeezing it on both sides. I love Mexico!
Delicious looking fresh fruit and vegetables - it's a bonus to have it so close to your home.
ReplyDeleteWonderful! It sounds lovely to have all that fresh produce!
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I saw during our visit to Argentina last year was the prevalence of markets like this. Locals would shop at them quite often because they didn't have (or, frankly, need) supermarkets like Americans do. I would presume Mexico is a lot like that.
ReplyDeleteIt is. Every Latin country I've been to has these open-air markets filled with fresh produce, meat, seafood, and many other items.
DeleteNow *that's* some grocery shopping I could actually enjoy. Looks like a delight to the senses. @samanthabwriter from
ReplyDeleteBalancing Act
It's truly pleasant shopping like this compared to meandering through aisles of expensive, processed junk under fluorescent lights, then long lines to check out.
DeleteA bargain! Not to mention colorful.
ReplyDeleteWow. That's great. And convenient. We lost a lot when as a culture we stopped having markets like this. And local farmers.
ReplyDeleteWe sure did, Liz. You've got food deserts in ghettos where they lack supermarkets. In the suburbs or outside of town, people have to drive to get to a store. Sure, we all love our big supermarkets, they have them in Mexico too, but they also have the local small stores and local open air markets. This gives people options, and there are no food deserts in the poor parts of the large cities.
DeleteI would LOVE living close by a Mercado like that! Yum!!
ReplyDeleteMouthwatering.
ReplyDeleteWould love to live near open air market. I could give up my car and save $$$.
ReplyDeleteSeriously! I save a lot when Iiving in Mexico, another bonus that draws me here.
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