Costa Rican food’s freshness is one of the first things that comes into my mind when I reflect on my experience thus far. It’s so intertwined with Costa Rican culture, values, and traditions. I found this to be true when I asked Tamara (my ten-year-old tico sister) about access to fresh fruits and vegetables and chocolate in Costa Rica. In order to get the freshest fruits (at reasonable prices) my family typically shops at Más por Menos. It’s my mom’s favorite, though sometimes she’ll shop at WalMart or specialized shops (fruteras) as well. She said that on Wednesdays in Más por Menos there’s the freshest foods for the best prices. Sometimes they’ll go to the Fería, the farmers market in Zapote. The goal is always the same, the freshest and best quality foods. They shop every two or three days, as needed, though it’s not uncommon for more often if she’s cooking a lot. As far as chocolate, it is seen as a delicacy, only for special occasions. I didn’t find any “secret” uses of chocolate that differed from the US, only that it’s a lot more rare. Chocolate is eaten in ice cream, candies, coffee drinks, hot chocolate, and basically other desserts like the US. It’s also used by choice and affordability, like the US. It seems like Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, birthdays, and other special occasions are the only times that chocolate is eaten. Once again, it all depends on the choices and priorities of chocolate consumption, it’s a lot more expensive than in the US. This means that it’s a conscious choice and QUITE the delicacy.
I think fresh fruit plays a large role in Costa Rica, it’s an essential part of the country’s identity. It is impossible to miss this when examining cultural values of eating fresh food at home, going to the supermarket every two or three days to get fresh food, and the importance of making enough delicious exports to send all over the world. I do not see the same trends in chocolate. Although chocolate has a new presence here in its accessibility it’s only been in the last maybe thirty years, with the US influence and globalization really taking off, that it’s been the case.
The pictures I have are from the farmers market in Zapote. I was impressed and surprised with how large it was! There were SO many vendors, options, and things I never would have even thought of! There was some art vendors, meat, fish, a mariachi band, The reason this was so different to me probably had something to do with my Southern Maryland experiences with local produce. It is always the small local farmers who are on the side of the road, or at their own farms, instead of one large gathering. I also was impressed with the juice vendor. She was really nice and let me have a sample of the guyanabana juice. I loved it SO much that I bought a bottle of it. She told me that I could have a cup for a gift (as in, free of charge). It was a different environment than the United States, the goal is always to sell the most and make the most money, not to first build a relationship with your customer. You could tell there was a vibe of respect and bonds between the vendor and the customer, I could easily return to my juice lady or pineapple man… these connections are what drives this economy, and the freshness of the delicious fruits and vegetables! YUM! I love how our goals were not to need to buy anything, yet the majority, if not everyone, walked away with either a meal for the week or a sample for the road. It’s hard to deny the deliciousness of fresh fruits! J
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| Yucca (EW!) potatoes, and spices- which is something you wouldn't see in the US- the variety and the spices! |
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| This is the highlight of my adventure in Zapote, the juice. My guanabana juice was DELICIOUS and I got a free cup of it, a gift, just because she liked me! :) |
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| PLUS I got a sketchy bottle, I mean... this would NEVER happen in the US, right?!? A water bottle filled with juice, no no! We'd have our own individually wrapped, new bottles... not water botles that were questionably washed and are obviously re-used... yes, sketchy, no, I don't regret it... best juice EVER!!!! :) :) :) SO FRESH!!! :D |
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