Mahalo Chicos,

Farmer’s Markets or in Spanish, ‘Ferrias’ occur just about everyday rain or freezing cold in Montevideo, Uruguay. Montevideo is recognized by locals by ‘Zonas’, where as one can also call it villages, barrios and neighborhoods.

Depending on what zona you live in or are currently temping in, there is a highly probable chance that you’ll also have a ferria some day of the week. It usually starts from 08:00 through 13:00, so if you are a foodie and know a thing or two about catching the best, you’d get there right before they even start unloading their trucks.

When I had my personal chef and catering business, I got up at the crack of dawn, got my lists in order, menus in tact and walked to the nearest ferria. Of course I made friends with all the merchants, enough so they’d reserve what they thought I’d buy and what they knew I’d buy. Preparing menus for 50 different clients not to mention their family members needs can be a bit tough if its just a one man operation in a tiny Spanish kitchen. Anyways, I digress.

I should type up a schedule and maps as to when these ferrias come around in each zone. Just another mini project to add to ‘my mini project lists when I am not doing anything days.’

Of course the set up for each vendor is just about the same; long tables with neatly and messy piles of produce, lists of prices in kilos per Uruguayan pesos, scales and the ‘baggers’ is what I refer to them by.

These ‘bagger guys or gals’ ask you in Spanish what you want to buy, they walk with you and pick out everything for you, weigh it, tag it, hand you a little piece of paper with the listings of prices- in scribble non the less- then you pay for it. The math is of course done so speedily in the bagger’s head that is a bit shameful for one who appreciates mathematics.

Of course you’ll also find stalls where you can serve yourself, but the weighting of the produce is still done by someone there.

So when ever your in the mood for something fresh walk around your ‘hood’ and check out when the ferria comes your way. A hint would be, you’ll see locals with empty grocery straw bags, some old folks pulling small carts, and a bunch of dudes in bikes with a load of produce stocked on their front basket.

Ciao,

Odeliza Jacoba

Odeliza