Sunday @ the "Farmer's Market"

2017-12-04

Yesterday, I went shopping at our local farmer’s market. It is located underneath a high speed freeway bridge about 2 km from me. It is just under 3 acres and it happens every Sunday. Nearly all the food for sale is produced in country and is seasonal. Just recently "Iranian" pistachios came on to the market but I am not yet convinced they really are from Iran. 

In Turkish, it is called a “pazar” which meaning shopping. What is for sale includes is seasonal fresh fruit and veggies, cheese, eggs, bread and butter, recently caught fresh fish, spices, nuts, and sweets. Chicken (Some are still walking around as well as the parts and pieces one sees in a supermarket) is also for sale but not beef. Of course pork is no where to be found, though the country dos have about 880,000 hogs in country, if you believe the newspapers. 

On one side of the shopping area are people that sell clothing, shoes, hardware, housewares and tobacco products.

In 2 places, there are people who will shine your shoes, sharpen your knives, and repair your appliances.

Lastly, there are two areas where locally prepared food is available. If you want something fresh, there is a thin, round bread stuffed, in my case, with two eggs and melting cheese, cooked over a gas fired hot plate, and serve on recycle newsprint paper. Yum Yum! (BTW this is called a gozleme.) Other stuffings included greens, potatoes, and white (aka “feta”) cheese. 

The most popular appears to be the one stuffed with greens, followed by the potato version. It is not unusual to have someone buy 6 or more remade ones to take home to have later.

So, the attached pictures is a feeble attempt to give someone a “taste” of the pazar.

For an idea of what the currency rate is, see 

https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/USDTRY:CUR

If you have any questions, please ask!

Lee and Zehra Licata

MV LeeZe @ Levent Marina

Haydar Aliyev Bulvarı No:4 / R6

Bahçelerarasi Mah.

35140 Fahrettinaltay / Balçova

Izmir Turkey

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Home made pastry mostly stuffed with greens, though some have potato inside. These are ready to eat now or take home.

The lady is making my breakfast using two eggs and some white melting cheese

The stuffed dough is place on this gas fired hot plate and is cooked for about 3 minutes.

Beans and tomatoes

Nuts and popcorn with citrus in the background.

Eggs. These are commercially produced but they are not refrigerated and were probably picked in the last day or two. They have been inspected, and one can keep them out of the refrigerator for up to three weeks. Sold USUALLY in lots of 15. Some also sell local eggs, which have not been inspected and are bought individually. Have had both and the local ones are always smaller, but tend to last the longest. Since eggs on the Greek islands are so expensive, we tend to take 30 of the commercial ones and 15 of the local ones. 

Banans, Kiwis, and citrus. Peppers, eggplants and cucumbers in the background.

All types of olives!

Various made breads made in the local villages next to a potato seller.

Citrus sellers

Here the celery root is highly prized and not the stalks.

Cheese, Cheese, Cheese! And "homemade" butter!

Greens for sale!

"Homemade" butter next to cheese with a sweet called Helva behind the cheese.