The Farmers Market. Do things smell sweeter here?

The farmers market is one of my favorite things to do in Costa Rica. Every Saturday a dizzying display of the freshest fruit and vegetables are piled high atop vendors’ tables.

You are likely to see one man take out a spray bottle to mist his produce while another gives out free slices of pineapples to entice buyers. There is no better way to shop.




I walk past the delicious arrangements and take in the odors. Do things smell sweeter here? This food renaissance is one of the many things that make Costa Rica so special. Subsequently, it encourages one to eat healthier food. It is more often here that the most economical choice is also the healthiest.




Many foreigners can’t identify some of the colorful fruit sold here…myself included. What is that? A red, Koosh ball? A farmer may smile, break it open, and hand you the clear fruit. These tastes like plums and I buy a bag full.







I pass towering displays of papayas, mangoes, star fruit, and avocados; all giving me cravings that I never had while living in the states. It’s surprising to me that I can get so excited about food again.




There is no reason to buy processed food anymore. I don’t feel compelled to grab a bunch of frozen dinners and pile them in my cart. I am encouraged to make my meals from scratch, like my mother did, and her mother did before her.




It is easy to take advantage of these fresh fruits and vegetables. I can get a week’s worth of produce for less than $25. These prices help to offset the higher costs of the imported goods in the grocery store. If you try to eat exactly what you did in the states, it can be very expensive.




I once reached for a jar of olives and became catatonic when I realized it was twice as much as what I was used to. It can all but make you want to pack your bags and move back home. However, I quickly realized that the purpose of this move was not to replicate my previous life but to open up to new experiences.




If that means taking out a mortgage for my favorite American mustard, then so be it. Or, maybe I really don’t need it.







The basics are here and as fresh and sweet as one can ask for. I can choose or not choose to buy the expensive mustard that week. Sometimes it turns out the Costa Rica brand is just fine and may even be a better alternative.




There is always a give and take. Today’s choice was between packaged cookies or a star fruit; a high price for a piece of my old life or a chance to try something new and less expensive. The choices I need to make today have become much easier.




They lead me back to nature–back to the healthier foods my grandmother used to buy.









I glance to my right and see someone selling freshly ground coffee. I buy a kilogram and anxiously wait for the morning to brew it.




If you ever doubt the allure for Costa Rican coffee, try sitting on a plane returning to the states; the fuselage smells like Monday morning in Starbucks. It’s the perfect ending to a great day.




There are many extraordinary experiences in this country, some grand like the volcanoes and others as simple as buying coffee. I’m learning to appreciate both equally.

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Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.