While Away...

Hi there!  I was away for a mid-winters break down to The Florida Keys.  While there, I did more than just fishing, frozen drinks, Cuban sandwiches and relaxing.   I had the opportunity to visit their local farmers market!    Full of loads of great local grown produce and flowers, they also had some soaps and candles, breads, teas, jams and prepared foods.  While this market was a bit different than the markets in Maine, it was great to see a community come together to support small businesses.  They were smart and placed the market on the edge of the very busy one-and-only road that runs up and down The Keys, taking advantage of those that were just driving by (tourist) but had it off to the side a bit so locals could find their way there as well.  I did have the feeling that a few vendors were not small business, but were trying to project that image.  I steered clear from a couple commercial looking booths and my husband did ask me if our market was as aggressive as these vendors were (to which I said NO). Many of these vendors were pretty assertive and pushed samples on us, handing us toothpicks with food on it, spoons full of jam or mini cups of tea, when we had yet to even read their booth sign.  Many were eager to upsell and convince us that we didn't want just one bag of this amazing tropical tea blend, but 2!  Or if we used this special soap with their special cream your skin would be soo much better off!  Our vendors don't really do that up here.  We are pretty passive and let the customer decide what they want.  I did chat with some of the vendors, asking them if THEY were the one that grew these berries or made this tea blend.  Yes, they were but often they came down from the Miami area to sell at this market (which is not a short trip). I did see a cheese vendor, but all the cheese had commercial plastic wrap and labels on them, some of which I did recognize as national brands.  Not many real local vendors at this market from The Keys themselves.   Surprisingly, I did not see a single vendor selling seafood or a slice of Key Lime Pie, but we could have missed them.  My husband was searching for their well advertised wood fired pizza but we couldn't find it.  They have a great Facebook page and are very enthusiastic about the market with about 40 vendors.  Check out the pictures below.  And here is the link to their Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/islamoradamarketplace90

Bright colors from fresh produce...

 

Lychee fruit!

 

Loads of fresh berries....

 

beautiful warm weather flowers....

 

of course they had Plantains!

 

Jams, jellies and nut butters...

 

 

Prepared and ready to eat or take home, Paella!

 

Of course I checked out the soaps....

 

and soy candles too!