Why Farmers Markets are So Great in Berlin

If you know me, you know I love a good farmers market. I can casually stroll through a farmer market, stopping at each vendor as I browse their selection, for hours. It's one of my favorite things to do on the weekend, especially when I have a cup of coffee in hand. When I'm in San Diego, I make a point to go to my favorite farmers market in Little Italy on Saturday to visit my favorite bread and produce spots.

So, naturally, when we were in Berlin I searched for a good farmers market. Being that we rented an Airbnb and were in Berlin for a month, we planned on doing a lot of at-home cooking. This helped me feel more 'at home' in a new country as well as saved money. We were lucky that one of the best farmers markets in Berlin was minutes away from our apartment via foot. Kollwitzmarkt opens Saturday mornings and stays open until mid-afternoon, rain or shine.

Kollwitzmarkt had some of the largest vegetables and most vibrant flowers for sale. The leeks in particular blew my mind as to how large they were! One leek lasted us several mornings of egg scrambles and my ravioli vegetable soup (click here for the recipe). Alongside produce, there were several bakers and butchers with traditional German breads and tasty sausages. There was also a juice stand that served up hot apple cider to fight the cold and several other food vendors that were drool-worthy. One of my favorites was this woman selling hot, out-of-the-oven Zwetschgenkuchen (a German plum cake). She had other cake varieties, but the plum was my favorite.

Why farmers markets are so great in Berlin #1... People aren't scared off by cold temperatures and weather. In fact, it seemed as though the days we went when it was it's coldest or it's wettest, Kollwitzmarkt was the busiest. We strolled through the farmers market every weekend with the other locals, facing Fahrenheit temperatures in the low 30's and often rain. One time there was even a wind advisory with gusts projected in the 30-40 miles per hour range, and vendors were still selling their delicious products and locals were out and about with their canvas shopping bags preparing for the week ahead.

Why farmers markets are so great in Berlin #2... There's a true sense of community at Kollwitzmarkt. It was clear that our weekly visit to the farmers market was the norm for the locals as well. Everyone seemed to know each other. Shoppers and vendors welcomed each other with warm German hellos and shoppers were purchasing 'the usual'. We saw a group of four older locals who sat at the exact same spot each Saturday, with the exact same order, chatting amongst themselves while chatting it up with the vendor about plans for the the week ahead. There was always live music playing too, with locals crowded around and kids dancing up front. It felt like the whole neighborhood came out to enjoy the market.

Why farmers markets are so great in Berlin #3... You can walk around with wine, champagne, beer, and mulled wine as you shop! In fact, there were several beer and wine stands throughout the market. You could either either your drink in their booth, or walk around with it. It was heavenly and clearly popular with the locals. And instead of having all of this plastic waste, drinks were served in the proper cup and then returned once finished to get your deposit back. It was a genius idea. In fact, we noticed this concept many places throughout Europe! For me, having a hot mulled wine to walk around with, after my hot apple ginger cider, was just what I needed to warm up from the inside while in my big jacket. One of our Kollwitzmarkt mornings ended with sitting in one of the wine booths with a glass of champagne as the rain poured down around us. It made for a pretty perfect Saturday.

Why farmers markets are so great in Berlin #4... I could eat the best sausage for 4Euros each week. Now, eating sausage may not be everyone's cup of tea, but when in Germany, you have to try the sausage. There was one stand in Kollwitzmarkt that served up the best sausage that I craved all week until I got my fix on Saturday. Not only was the sausage delicious, but there were roughly 20 different mustard options to top it with. I didn't try a mustard I didn't like. And to top it all off, the sausages were made from a kind man from Italy who hustles each weekend at several locations. We quickly became regulars, not just at Kollwitzmarkt, but his other locations as well.

Farmers markets are beautiful when done right. When the market focuses on bringing local and fresh products, shoppers notice. The vegetables always taste better and the flowers last longer. You can see the pride and hard work behind the products. As a consumer, it allows me to learn more about what I'm eating and who I'm supporting. It makes a difference not only in the product I buy, but the outcome of the meals I make. Shop local, support local.