Markets and U-picks make it fun—and educational, too
by Don Genova
When I was a kid, my mom made me go shopping with her every Thursday morning during the summer. I’d carry her Styrofoam cooler loaded with a few blue plastic ice packs down to the car and carefully wedge it into the trunk so it wouldn’t tumble over when we hit a bump. It was always Thursday because the Wednesday newspaper had the weekly specials for the grocery stores, and Mom would carefully go through each ad, clipping coupons and making her list, store by store. This wasn’t just shopping; this was an excursion: we had to hit all the right spots to get all the right prices.
My job was to push the shopping cart, and I took my responsibility very seriously. I made sure I didn’t get one with a wobbly or sticky wheel or with leftover flyers cluttering the bottom of the basket, and I really tried not to bash into any other shoppers. I watched Mom carefully choose every piece of fresh produce she bought. It all had to be good, because we already had some great veggies growing in our garden at home. Bell peppers had to be smooth and not wrinkled, cucumbers without any black spots, cantaloupe had to smell ripe when she sniffed the spot where the stem used to be. I would carefully stack the purchases in the cart, separating them into categories so the cashier would bag them in the proper order, because of course we had to take the meats and milk and eggs out of the bags and put them in the cooler.
I didn’t realize the kind of education this gave me until many years later when I first shopped on my own. There I was, standing in the produce aisle, carefully scrutinizing peppers and apples and cucumbers and thinking, “Mom wouldn’t like that one.”
Now, my quest for quality is firmly rooted in Mom’s tutelage in both the grocery store and the garden. Lots of people I know say they hate shopping, but I see it both as a challenge and a continuous learning experience, especially throughout the summer and fall when I have a chance to go to farmers’ markets, farms, roadside stands, and U-picks. I can talk with the farmers and the producers to find out how their year is going, what they consider their tastiest product of the moment, and how they like to cook and eat it.
Those who dislike shopping might consider my kind of shopping an inconvenient, time-consuming hassle. Call me crazy, but I think it’s a fun and educational event for the whole family. The fishers I’ve met on the docks at Granville Island and Steveston, for instance, are always happy to talk about what they do and how they do it, and if your kids are hooked on electronic games, they might find it cool if a few questions about radar, GPS, and fish-finders result in a quick peek at the bridge of the boat.
In a U-pick orchard, kids can learn about different varieties of apples, grafting techniques, good and bad bugs, and more. Similarly, a visit to any of the Greater Vancouver farmers’ markets is much more illuminating than a textbook or TV show. You might want to visit at a less busy time of the day to make sure the vendors have a chance to answer questions, and please remind your kids to be polite and courteous when it comes to asking for the samples offered at a table. (And if you’re taking Fido along for the walk, a short leash is well advised at outdoor markets; you should check with U-pick operations to see if dogs are welcome on their land.)
Speaking as someone who has been on the other side of the table selling a product, I can’t tell you how rewarding it was to see a regular customer come back and talk about how they used my product, and discuss new ideas. It’s all part of developing healthy relationships and healthy communities.
My mother can’t do her own shopping these days: she’s been in a nursing home for years now. When I visit her though, I still tell her about my shopping excursions and bring her fresh treats of the season. I like to think I am carrying on her good habits, as well as passing them along to anyone who needs convincing that shopping can be a good thing.
Don Genova is a freelance food journalist based
in Vancouver. You can visit his website at dongenova.com.
