Tags
Boise, Covid-19, Farmers, Farmers Market, Guy Hand, locavore, Pandemic, volunteers
Since the unwelcome arrival of the pandemic in the United States, nearly everything changed. But life must go on.
I have been a supporter of the Boise Farmers Market for many years. It’s fun to visit with local ranchers and farmers who make the trip each Saturday to peddle their wares. But a vibrant open-air marketplace with shoppers crowded elbow to elbow is neither wise nor legal. Our local organization scrambled to provide a new way for local producers to connect with loyal, but cautious customers.
In April, the Boise Farmers Market rolled out a new paradigm in shopping local with an online ordering system followed by a drive-through pickup process. During the ordering process customers select a 15-minute pick-up appointment. Biking and pedestrian pickups are also accommodated. The new process relies heavily on volunteers on market day. Each order must be carefully filled, then bagged, then staged for the customer to pick up.
I log between five and seven miles each Saturday shift. One June Saturday treated us to a morning thunder and lightning display followed by rain showers. The following week it poured the entire morning. That day I came home so wet that even my undies sloshed! But I always feel good when I get home. The volunteers and vendors are a delightful flock of smiles and cheer, despite being trussed up in gloves and masks. And we are always provided with a tasty treat to bring home. Vendors often offer left over product to volunteers. Sometimes we’re even serenaded by barely-employed musicians while we work.
The best part of this experience is the variety and beauty of the produce I encounter. I’ve been exposed to things I had never heard off before, let alone cooked or tasted. Curiosity prompts me to explore some of these delights in dining. Some of my successes have been Chiogga Beets, Cegolaine Lettuce, and garlic scapes.
Chiogga Beets 
Chiogga Beet Salad
I tried fava beans last week. I may not try those again. Or maybe I just need a nice bottle of Chianti to go with them.
We are all trussed up in masks and gloves so I don’t bother taking photos at the market. Instead I’ll leave you with the handy work of master photo and videographer, Guy Hand.
Happy Independence Day.
Rangewriter 
Hi Linda, I love the positivity of your post just as much as the pictures of the rather exotic produce. Having experienced it some years ago myself, I know how good volunteering for a worthy cause can feel. Keep doing the good work!
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Thanks, Sandra! It’s always so good to see you popping up in my comments. I hope you are well and that island life is a lot healthier these days than mainland life. 😮
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I’m afraid to say that, while our COVID-19 situation remains relatively stable, the complete halt of tourism here is a humongous problem for our island where about 80% of all jobs directly or indirectly depend on it. We are facing loss of our business, but others are struggling for food every day now, so we are hoping every day that the borders will be re-opened soon and a vaccine will be found. Stay safe my friend
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Ah geez. I’m sorry to hear that, but actually not surprised. Hopefully the EU will be able to get back into the swing of vacationing soon. Most European countries have dealt with COVID-19 so much more sensibly than the US. You don’t want any of us over there! Did the schools shut down on the Island? Maybe you home school anyway. I can’t remember. Your kiddos must be growing up. Take care and may things turn around in time for your business. 😦
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They did go to school here, thankfully. Running the business I would not have been able to homeschool them 🙂 Well, at least now I know that I could 😀
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Always good to try new foods. I tried baked fennel with parmigiana cheese in olive oil with just pepper, salt and some chilli. It surprised me. Always thought fennel was too much like liquorice.
Happy 4th of Juli!
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I’ll have to try that with fennel, Gerard. They had some lovely fennel yesterday. I avoid it for the same reason as you, however, I’ve lately been dabbling with fennel seed and I have used a little fennel in recipes and been happy with it. Funny how so many food items can appear daunting if we aren’t familiar with them.
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A local farmers market did much the same thing (except no rain showers or thunder 🙂 ). Another one opened up with “social distancing” (in quotes because… well). I’d much rather go through the drive-thru. Not a fan of beets but those sure are pretty!
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Yes, we have one that is doing the “distancing” thing, too. But I question how well that works. And with Idaho’s numbers screaming upward, I like our tactics better. The manager of the BFM had hoped to be able to open a physical distanced marketplace later in the year, but with things going as they are, I think that is looking doubtful. She also declared that from now on, there will always be a pre-order, drive-thru element to the market. We are better able to serve elderly or physically challenged people this way.
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Fava beans with Chianti-I remember that line. Pretty beets. I should get to my local farmer’s market.
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I wondered if anyone would. 😉
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Very impressive – and what pretty beets! Not sure why some photos cover the text, but managed to read most of it. I’m very relieved to see so many people wearing masks and being sensible.
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Gaa! Thanks for letting me know there’s an issue with the text. I tried the new post editor in WordPress. I will have to do some sleuthing. It looks fine on my screen. I hope others will chime in regarding the looks of things. Are you reading from a phone or a computer screen?
Aren’t those beets amazing? I’ve discovered that their beauty is cloaked when they are cooked. But pickling the raw ones retains their candy cane appearance.
The masks are required on the BFM grounds. We occasionally must shoo unmasked observers off the lot because they are not masked. Of course, on Saturday AM the Mayor of Boise ordered everyone to wear masks in public spaces. (Our numbers are spiking–badly!) I was relieved to see a lot more maskers out on the Greenbelt yesterday when I was on my way home. But of course this is ‘murica, and the West, no less, so a band of protesters marched up to the Mayor’s house on Friday night, whining about their rights. 😮 Ach, ya got me started…
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I was reading on my laptop, but I also checked on the iPad, and the beautiful beets cover some text on both. I sometimes turn the air blue with my comments on WordPress’s innovations and “improvements”. Good luck!
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Thanks for that info, Catherine. Sheesh. Another puzzle to solve.
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The new normal is quickly becoming the old normal, if it hasn’t already reached that point. Nothing like fresh-from-the-farm produce.
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Love that beet salad–looks like candy canes!
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Chiogga beets are also referred to as candy cane beets. Easy to see why. That is a really fun salad. And super easy to make.
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Unless attributed to someone else, the photos are mine.
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