Well, it is for me, at any rate. I like to walk down from the rectory to Stage Fort Park for the Farmer’s Market, and stop off in a store or two on Main Street along the way. Here is today’s catch:
First, went to The Cave to get some “Manchego” cheese (front and center in the photo). It’s a Spanish cheese made from goat’s milk. I bought it at the recommendation of the proprietor, Laura Cramer, to accompany a jar of Alexander Thompson’s tomato marmelade. I got to try it in the store (with two other pairing options) and this one is a winner!
From there I headed down to the market. I went looking for two of the other items in the photo above: Ma’s Brand bread and butter pickles, and maple syrup (from Northwoods Sugarworks in New Hampshire). Thanks to the generosity of a couple at whose wedding I presided recently, I also had some extra cash to buy a beautiful hand-blown glass vase (on the left in the photo). It’s the work of Aron Leaman, a Gloucester native who has a shop down in Boston where he creates his glass art.
As I mentioned the last time I posted about the Farmer’s Market, I really enjoy buying there, because it supports small businesses and the local economy, and the enthusiasm of the sellers is (dangerously) contagious… I love to see their pride in their products. Not the sort of experience you can have buying on-line, or even at local outlets of big chain stores. They can offer great service and sometimes lower prices, but when possible, I like the direct interaction with people more closely involved with the actual production of whatever I’m buying.
P. S. I also picked up my customized “fire-breathing pickle-riding rainbow-jumping liger” teeshirt, which the folks at the G33K store were kind enough to make for me! I’ll post a photo soon…
Good Morning Gloucester 
Reblogged this on Perpetual Learner.
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you should try michael ciarrametaro”s (spelling??) sausage…Cc
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Sounds good!
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Charlene is talking about the best sausage, Trupiano’s sausage… from Mike Ciaramitaro.. loved this post
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Aha! He was there at the market two weeks ago, but I didn’t buy any. I didn’t see him yesterday, but I was in a bit of a rush, and went more or less straight to what I wanted to buy. Maybe next week… Thanks!
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Everything looks and sounds wonderful, thanks for sharing! I always miss the Farmer’s Market as I work out of town on Thursdays, but might just need to take a vacation day one of these Thursdays to catch it.
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I thought I recognized that blue vase. Gloucester’s Aron Leaman is a very creative and skilled artist, and only 26 years old! I’m so thrilled to have a glass blower in the gallery. We have a display of his work at Bodin Historic Photo, 82 Main Street, Gloucester. His clear glass paperweights incorporate Good Harbor Beach sand, and we sell a lot of them. If that’s not enough, Aron is a talented guitarist and singer. I’m hoping to have him play at a gallery event in the near future. http://www.facebook.com/BodinHistoricPhoto
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