Some farmers markets can be drab and lackluster, but the farmers market in Boulder was what dreams were made of. After taking a stroll through the market, I was ready to pack my bags up and move to Colorado. Residents in Boulder had it made and I was yearning to take everything home with me but I only had a carry-on and a limited budget. (I still weep over the jar of olives I couldn’t purchase.)
Of course there was fresh produce and a food truck/stand area, but what really caught my eye were the vendors selling things like natural homestead beef or bean-to-bar chocolate.
Il Porcellino Salumi is a Denver based company that makes small batch, artisan style salumi using heritage breed hogs (or cattle) from local farms. They also make specialty sandwiches, party platters, and own their own store front.
Bloombox is a Boulder company that create lettuce specific dressings that are incredibly tasty and worth the hype. The kale dressing is a honey-sherry vinaigrette, whereas the arugula dressing is a cumin-coriander vinaigrette. Another interesting vendor was Highland Honey, because they sell raw “herbal honey”. They’re infused with herbs and each jar has a different purpose; one is labeled ‘nervous relief’ while another is labeled ‘tummy soother’ but what thye have in common is that they all tasted delicious!
Healthy Harvest is another small company selling organic olive oils and olives. As I tried various samples of olives handed to me on a small piece of paper, I awkwardly spilled olive juice on their display table and all over my leg. Thankfully, she didn’t notice and neither did my partner, so I casually moved on to the next booth.
Of course no market would be complete without sauerkraut, but I honestly wasn’t that impressed because I am such a loyal devotee to OlyKraut back home.
As I neared the end of the long stretch of vendors, I was impressed to see delicious looking bread baked with 100% organic heirloom wheat (Turkey Red). This farmers market truly had everything and I felt my experience there was wholesome albeit twinged with jealousy for not having a market this perfect back home.