Pretoria Farmer's Market

After adopting the Mother City as my hometown more than a decade ago, I think I can safely proclaim myself as a full-blooded Capetonian. Whether you’re a hipster, emo, hippie or an ex-pat Free-State boer, no one can deny the allure of Cape Town’s beauty and its people. The result of such a fortunate state of affairs? Voluntary, and usually permanent, amnesia or ignorance of any life whatsoever outside this idyllic, mountainous, seaside utopia. I myself, have been a victim of this contagious sur-reality. After all, what more could a food lover like me want, than an abundance of world-class wines, cheeses and food festivals?

Well, I am here to announce that there is life outside Cape Town…and it’s not too shabby either! During a recent impromptu visit to my parents in Pretoria, I was told that I simply had to visit their weekend farmer’s market, or “boeremark” as we call it in Afrikaans. After gladly accepting the invite, I also unknowingly agreed to an early Saturday morning wake-up call of 5:30am. Anyone who has ever met me, know that I love to sleep…almost to a degree of chronic narcolepsy. My rude awakening led to an unsuccessful attempt at making myself look presentable, but surely no one would even be there at such an ungodly hour, right? Wrong! As we approached the large, rough terrain that is home to the farmer’s market, we were met with a sight reminiscent of a 4 x 4 vehicle convention. Thousands of individuals, young and old, stormed the entrance of the farmer’s market with little trolleys trailing behind them, ready to receive the fruits of their retailing labour. (Oh boy, my large sunglasses would have to be enough to hide the horrors of my early-morning façade!).

Walking through the maze of stalls, one can choose from a rich selection of homemade treats, produce and curios. I can honestly say that I have never seen so many large fruits and vegetables displayed in such a concentrated area. (Must be something in the ground there). The best of all is the scent of ripe and ready fruits, available at a fraction of the price of its convenience store counterparts. 

The early morning hunger pangs are quickly eliminated with a cup of freshly brewed coffee and delicious pastries. As we sit among the towering trees and riffraff of stalls, one can see why this “boeremark” is so successful. It is a fantastic place for families to come and spend some quality time with one another, while supporting and learning more about the local producers and farmers that are such an essential part of our country. While the adults indulge in some serious retail therapy, there are plenty of activities to keep the kids busy and happy. (There are even a handful of well-fed turkeys rummaging around watchfully on the terrain, acutely aware of the impending approach of Christmas and the popular tradition of roast turkey!).

The moral of the story is this…like Neo, I have chosen to take the red pill and diminish the fabricated reality of the Matrix, or in this case, ebb my belief in Cape Town’s superior foodie scene. The food-culture in South Africa is alive and well, and I can’t wait to explore the rest of its culinary offerings!

I'm really not that fat...it's the feathers I tell you!