Kids Leading the Way

Earlier this year, a mom at one of our markets told her kids who wanted to sample some fruit at Max Tyson’s stand that they did not like blueberries. She said they should forego them and come along with her to the next stall. Max and I both were flabbergasted at that — here we had kids wanting to taste some fresh fruit, and the mom was telling them to move along.

For someone such as myself, who has watched moms and kids shopping at markets now for almost 10 years, this scenario was anathema to everything I believe about kids and farmers markets. Markets can serve as the perfect teaching tool for introducing children to new foods. They can sample just about anything they would like to — including hot peppers (but that’s another story!).

I once managed a market in Vienna for Fairfax County, and there were a set of twins who had a habit of downing an entire box of berries while their mother stood in line. I was often watching over them while they did this and would just call up to her when she reached the front of the line and tell her what to add to her purchases. So often I see kids running ahead of their parents, shouting “Look, Mom, they have peaches, strawberries, broccoli, corn” — take your pick.

I think it must be the vibrant colors, the many shapes, and the fact that they can taste something and pick it up with their own hands — making that decision by themselves. How empowering that must be for children who spend most of their grocery store outings sitting in a cart unable to touch anything.

On the other end of the spectrum from the mother who wanted to decide what her children like to eat is another mother who brings her precious son to market every Tuesday. More often than not, they have a carefully composed and illustrated shopping list like the one included in this post. Her son can also read it to me though he is not yet in school.

No wonder this little boy loves the market so much and knows all of the vendors and what they sell. No wonder he eats all of the foods on the list — and more — as easily as other children eat candy or fast food. And no wonder he is bright-eyed and happy, healthy and full of wonder at the sampling table.

I love it when the teaching tool works! And you can too when you bring your children to market with the same expectations of delight.

See you at the market!

This Week at our Reston market

Once again, we need to remind you to park up the hill while shopping at the market, for your own convenience as well as to express your appreciation to the Hartkes, who host us. Please use one of the other two exits onto Sunrise Valley Drive when you leave. It is much easier than using the light — and at the one at the gas station, you can get out going left with minimal effort. Thank you for helping us stay in this great location.

Peggy Fath and her Catlett Confections is back with us, bringing wonderful chocolate creations and some fine baked goods, too. Doug Linton and Angelic Beef is back from vacation, so fire up the grill — he’s got great steaks to satisfy that craving for tasty and healthy beef that you developed while he was away.

Check out the heirloom tomatoes at Santa Cruz, Montoya’s and Heritage Farm. The prices are reasonable for tomatoes that truly are vine-ripened and such a treat — try them in the uncooked tomato sauce recipe that we will have at the Smart Markets tent.

And look for the first summer apples at Tyson’s - Summer Rambos and maybe even Ginger Golds are ready for harvesting. If we are lucky, a bite of an apple will transport us to fall!