I’ve been doing the Sandy Springs Farmers Market for the past six Saturdays, setting up a tent, selling Purpose bars. The city of Sandy Springs, just north of Atlanta, has built a really nice facility there, an amphitheater for live music and shows, with a pleasant flat greenspace to park your chair. Or kick a soccer ball around with the kids. Easy walk to multiple good restaurants.
Saturday mornings brightly colored tents pop up around the the green and people gather to share the day, buying and selling, walking their dogs, pushing baby strollers.
And it’s all these people that make it happen. Erin, the market manager, runs a tight ship with a ready smile. Always happy to help. And the vendors are friendly and diverse, selling everything from crepes (yummy) to candles, macaroons to margarita mix. Meeting nice folks, around fresh products, is a pleasant way to spend a Saturday morning. Last week I bought some beautiful oyster mushrooms, asparagus, and spring Vidalia onions. Sauteed it all up with quinoa for dinner. Tasty.
Over the winter we moved the baking operation into a shared commercial kitchen close by, and hired our first employee, Glenda. From Guatemala, she’s really helping out with production and is a pleasure to work with. She doesn’t mess around. When pans go in the oven, she’s at the dish station washing pots. When they’re out to cool she’s got a broom in her hand sweeping up. We’re a good team. I make the protein bar dough and she sheets it out, uniform and precise. I portion it, clean cuts with a sharp knife, and she packages, her small dexterous fingers making quick work of the task. As a bonus, my Spanish is improving.
Me and Glenda
In my own eating habits I’m a healthy omnivore. But working with plant based proteins and ingredients my diet is just naturally trending that way. There’s no doubt I’m eating less red meat, less animal protein of any sort. And when I do I pay attention to how it is raised, fed, and processed. Grass fed, free range, sustainable, organic. No antibiotics or steroids. It costs a little more but is completely worth it. Tastes better and better for the planet. All good things.
Been working on a savory bar to compliment our protein bars. Based on the Mediterranean diet, they’re full of greens and vegetables. A healthy mid day snack. Easy way to add some veggies to your diet. I’ll keep you posted. Until then, drop me a comment and I’ll see you at the market Saturday.
