Costa Rica

At the farmers market, locally known as la feria, each farmer and his family sell the goods they produce, providing them with the direct proceeds of their hard labor. Each farmer, who has planted, grown and harvested a special crop of the region, operates a “chinamo” or a stand.  It is also common to see the back of a pickup truck used instead of a stand, overflowing with fruits and vegetables.  On improvised wooden displays, you will find the beautiful goods set out to catch the eye of potential buyers. 

As important as the feria is for local farmers, it might be more important to the Costa Rican families who depend on it each week to buy their food.  Their daily diet consists mainly of seasonal fruits and vegetables. Costa Rican families view this open air market as the place to find the best variety of fresh seasonal produce with the cheapest prices in town. Going to the market every Saturday is almost as important as going to church on Sundays, and has become a major part of Tico culture.  In Costa Rica they say, “Aunque llueve y tuene hay que ir a la feria” which means “even if it thunders and rains one must go the market!” 
 
In order to find everything “fresquito” (fresh), locals wake up at dawn to beat the crowds.They buy vegetables to make side dishes that accompany the typical plate of rice and beans like “picadillos”, cut up seasoned vegetables sautéed or fried.  A variety of fruits are needed for each meal to make “fresco”, which is a blended mix of fruit, water and sugar.  At the feria, not only can you buy the usual fruits and vegetables like potatoes, yuca, chayotes, bananas, plantains, watermelon and papayas, but also seasonal fruits like marañon (cashews), caimitos, nances, mamones (lychee), anonas (noni), pejibaye (palm fruit) and many others.

Also expect to see stands selling decorative plants, medical herbs and teas, poultry, meat, fish and eggs, along with dairy products and Costa Rican sausages like chorizo and salchichon.  The local lottery vendors will be there too, and sometimes even the baker arrives with warm breads and pastries. 

The feria is a loud tumult of people, rolling metal carts, and farmers at their stands calling out their wares. Beyond shopping, the market becomes a big social event.  As you walk down the street, it is guaranteed you will run into neighbors, relatives, and friends. Going to the market can take up an entire morning.  There are always stories to hear and tell and people to greet since everyone there is a friend.

The routine at the market is to ask the farmer how much a kilo costs of the item you’re interested in.  The prices are generally set each week, but are never set in stone.  Part of the fun is haggling back and forth until a fair price is agreed upon.  Haggling usually comes with a sample of the goods, so plan on leaving the feria with a full stomach!  After some small talk with the farmer and his family, you continue on to the next stand.  Customers usually buy from the same people every time, establishing a relationship over the years.  If the farmer expects you every week and knows you well, they will save the best of their crop just for you, one of the perks of being a regular at the feria.

La Feria del Agricultor – the Farmers Market – is a wonderful tradition that continues to this day, providing a stable income for local farmers and the best produce to Costa Rican families.