Oakland Farmers Market

We had a beautiful, warm, and sunny weekend out here in California.  Unfortunately, John was out on the East Coast.  I got to tag along with Natalie and Mitch to occupy myself and on Saturday morning we went to the Oakland Farmers Market.  Clearly I'm always up for trying a new FM.

Since I wasn't planning on buying any produce, I was free to snap pictures of the mandarin oranges and scallions.  A few years ago these type of pictures wouldn't interest me, but I guess your view of beauty can change.

These were baby carrots, and not the kind ground up by a huge machine (did you know that's how they make baby carrots - by sawing off and rounding their edges in a machine?).

I can't imagine ever buying an orange when there are mandarins you could buy instead...but maybe when I have a juicer I'll feel differently.  John, can I have a juicer yet?  Thanks!

So far I've never had a reason to buy leeks, but at least I know what they look like.  That's an accomplishment.  I always think of the scene in Bridget Jones where she makes leek soup and ties it with blue string.  Good one, Bridge!

Can't say I've had a reason to buy radishes either.  These type of vegetables go for bargain-basement prices I've noticed.  Things like tomatoes cost three times as much because you don't have to rack your brain trying to come up with a reason to use them.

I'm not sure if this is called rainbow chard when the ends are just yellow.  I'm guessing it has some other cute name like lemon chard.  Sunshine chard.    Golden chard.  Let's just say that's it.

I bought a head of butter lettuce the other week and I think I'm going to stick to the baby mixes I usually buy. The heads are so dirty.  And you have to go through the trouble of cutting them.  I'll spend 3 hours cooking dinner, but I'll be damned if I have to spend an extra minute cutting lettuce!

No dogs allowed in the farmers market, so this hipster dude sat on the sidelines rubbing his pup's back watching everyone in the market.  Maybe if he was lucky his girlfriend was inside buying leeks and radishes.