This farmer’s market takes place every Sunday morning, in front of Igreja do Carmo (Carmo Church). There isn’t a set time for its start and end.
Visiting the farmer’s market it’s one of our favorite things to do in Faro. OK, perhaps the top favorite. We find ourselves going out of our way to visit the market. We love to wander around, observing people, buying quality products, trying flavors and feeling the aromas.
It’s not a big market. Quite the opposite. A few dozen meters and that’s it. But it’s fascinating. Just look at those wrinkled faces and imagine the hard lives most of those sellers had, how many things they saw and experienced, the joys and griefs. Think of all those seasons digging, sowing. Potatoes, carrots, tomatoes. Fruits of the mother land, brought to you by these good people.
And then, notice that some of them are actually young. A few couples. Sons helping their parents. There is hope. Traditions might survive, human farming might go on.
Find in the market all the season fruits. Just a few of the sellers are actually buying their goods and the central market. Most produce what they have in their stalls. If you look carefully you’ll notice that a couple of them only have one or two products for sale. Fruits just picked from the tree in their backyards.
What’s really good here? Olives. Don’t be shy, ask to try a sample. Dried figs. Home baked cakes and brear. Local fruits freshly picked from the trees, like figs or pomegranates. Local strawberries, no chemicals added. Watermelons, all citrines growing in perfect conditions in Algarve. Flowers and shellfish. Vegetables. And even if you don’t need anything, keep the colors in your memory, the sound of the crowd.
Probably you won’t be able speak with people but I am sure you will be able to feel the vibes. It’s specially good once you start knowing the sellers and a connection is established. Enjoy!
