West Market

By SHAVAUGHN MOSS,Lifestyles Editor,shavaughn@nasguard.com

The scent of lemon basil perfumes the air, and Miss Ena's baked breads catches your eye, the simple, but beautifully packaged Orisha body scrubs beg you to open a jar and take a sniff. The freshness of the fruit, vegetables and herbs on offer "scream" at you to take them home. That's just a few of the things that you encounter at the New Providence Community Center Farmer's Market, on Blake Rd. when you visit on Saturdays.

Into its second year of operation, Selima Hauber, 35, manager and operator of the market, says her aim this season is to bring a greater variety of vendors to the location, and at the same time provide an atmosphere where people can, sit and socialize. "I want them to spend time as well as purchase produce. I want a place where people feel welcome to just . . . hang out."

Hauber has located new growers in Nassau and the Family Islands to bring a greater variety of fruits and vegetables, so in addition to the tomatoes, peppers and salad greens they had last year, she expects to have will have native fruits like sour sop, sugar apples and avocados, sugar apples and other native fruits in season.

Then there's the baked goods. You can pick up breads, and Bahamian pastries and sweets, and if you don't feel like making dessert, you can pick up a cake.

Miss Ida is also present with her traditional Bush teas, and they have added a new aspect on the craft side of it, with Bahamian straw craft vendors, and a vendor selling bath products.

Also new to the NPCC Farmer's Market is the children's gardening workshops for children ages three and up, where they can learn about gardening, with an aim to encouraging them to eat fresh fruits and vegetables. The kids gardening workshop takes place each second Saturday in the month, starting at 9:30 a.m.

The NPCC Farmer's Market is a place where you are encouraged to come and share your ideas. With a variety of herbs, on offer, Hauber says they sometimes don't even know how to use some of them, and they are happy when people come out and give their tips.

NEW PROVIDENCE COMMUNITY

CENTER FARMER'S MARKET

Where: Blake Rd.

When: Saturday mornings

Hours: 8 a.m. - 12 noon

East Market

By SHAVAUGHN MOSS,Lifestyles Editor ,shavaughn@nasguard.com

If there's one thing Carolyn Ratelle believes in, and that's eating local, and supporting Bahamian businesses and farmers, and that was the reason why she initiated a Farmer's Market on East Bay St., in the courtyard at the Shogun Revolver Restaurant.

"We have a few aims — to support local farmers and businesses, healthy eating, and being environmentally friendly," said Ratelle, who says that the people that frequent the eastern market like fresh local produce and organic food, which they can get.

Ratelle said the market idea was initiated by the proprietors of the Green Parrot Bar and Grill a year ago. They invited the vendors to hold it the space. Ratelle, was initiator of the effort in order to promote Bahamian business and farmers.

On any given Saturday, the vendors selling their wares changes, as there are no firm commitments, so you can find stuff to purchase from AC Farms, produce from Andros and Abaco farmers who send their produce to the capital to sell, Le Petit Gourmet artisan breads, For Heavens Cakes, among the many vendors who set up shop from Saturday to Saturday.

"The market itself is not a business of itself. These are individual vendors who have their own licenses, and have their own businesses," said Ratelle.

With a small courtyard space from which to operate, the vendors have sometimes spilled out into the parking lot to sell their wares, as there's no commitment for anyone to come out every week, so who's there on any given week remains to be seen.

Ratelle, a special education teacher at the Hopedale Center for Special Education Children, sells at the market, the potted herbs that the children grow in her school.

And she says people have taken to shopping there, and that they do have a number of regular customers.

Her vision for the eastern market is more vendors bringing their produce out to sell. She also said the market provides people who are bringing out a new product, with a test audience.

FARMER'S

MARKET EAST

Where: East Bay St., Shogun Revolver restaurant courtyard

When: Saturday mornings

Hours: 8 a.m. - 12 noon