Farmer's markets have become all the rage all over the country in recent years. I'm not sure what brought it on, but something tells me it has something to do with the cultural shift we have experienced in terms of finding local foods that are, according to someone, healthier than those shipped across country in large, refrigerated trucks. We also like to support our local farmers and food growers.I think it might have something to do with some lady I saw on the Food Network who owns a restaurant down in the Bay Area of California (Oakland, San Francisco) who may have started the whole thing when she began featuring local produce in her menu items. People flocked to her restuarant.
Whatever it was that started the whole thing, I'm happy about it. I just wish the local farmers could compete just a little better with those in grocery chain stores. You know, those pink tomatoes with little flavor are cheaper than those big, juicy, lush tomatoes your farmer brought to market; but not by much.
I love how your sketch captures how busy the market is with people in motion. Your colors are so vibrant and fun.
ReplyDeleteJim your sketches always delight me. But I'm afraid you're many decades off as to the source of farmer's markets. I've been around since Heck was a pup, and farmers used to come into our little town in Texas on Saturdays with their horse drawn wagons loaded down with produce they had grown. Their wagons were almost always nearly empty on the trip back to the farm.
ReplyDeleteI love the way you have sketched all those people at the market.
ReplyDeleteFood prices, air miles, food security - all current issues. I remember a story last year about one of our English pubs letting customers pay for their beer with homegrown produce - so many eggs for so many pints etc etc. They then used the produce in the pub resturant. I thought it a great idea!
Great sketch, love all the different people!
ReplyDeleteChez Panisse in Berkley, CA. Really started the craze for home grown organic produce. Alice Waters is the woman behind this movement.
ReplyDeleteLove your sketches and the vibrant colors.
Lovely sketch . . . these bring back sweet memories from my hometown.
ReplyDeletePeople do come in all shapes and sizes =) And colorful too! Very well illustrated Jim
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