Farmer's Market Report: Berkeley Farmer's Market

It was time for a trip to the Tuesday Berkeley Farmer’s Market.  Little did I know that it would provide an insight into Berkeley’s state of mind in the 21^st century.  My relationship to Berkeley:  I lived in Berkeley while I attended the University.  I love Berkeley and always look forward to driving across the bridge to enjoy lunch at Chez Panisse, Fat Apples for a great burger, The Cheese Board for wonderful pizza and shortbread cookies and The French Hotel for the best cappuccinos anywhere.  There is no other city more beautiful in March when the tulip trees are blooming.  Here we go….

The Berkeley Farmer’s Market differs from the SF Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market in a few ways.  The prices are lower in Berkeley for comparable quality produce.  There are fewer vendors but how many kale vendors does one market really need?  The BIGGEST difference is this:  When a photographer is shooting a pile of grapefruits in San Francisco, he will be ignored.  In Berkeley, he will be asked, not just once but twice, if he is ‘working for the government’.  We thought it was kind of funny the first time.  We even asked if we looked like we worked for the government.  “Well, you never know.” was the guy’s reply.  By the second time I was beginning to feel a little paranoid myself.  What did these Berkeleyites know that I didn’t?  After all, could the recent increase in the number of farmer’s markets really be a CIA plot?  OR is ‘organic’ really code for ‘commie’?  Am I getting too jaded or too old to find Berkeley’s quaint ‘nuclear-free-zone’ concerns nothing more that the ravings of aged hippies?  Have they lost their sense of humor?  The second time the photographer was asked if he worked for the government he replied “Sir, if the government wants your picture you will not even know they are taking it”…