Monterey Market: A Place Where Love Conquers Fear

Inspired by the Beauty of Monterey Market's Bell Peppers, circa October 2010.

Being a self-described claustrophobe, Monterey Market is the kind of place that I should hate. The aisles are narrow, each is filled with more produce than seems physically possible, and not surprisingly, the place always seems crowded. It’s nearly impossible to get through an aisle without an awkward experience. Maybe you are frantically trying to maneuver your cart around the crowds to let someone through to get to their precious apricots. Or maybe you are hovering behind a group of literal cherry pickers, trying not to look strange while you wait for them to take their sweet time with their selections. Hell, even their parking lot is overwhelming. For me at least, embarrassing/stressful experiences are everywhere at places like these. So, the obvious question is why don’t I hate a place like this? What does it have to offer that can counterbalance this claustrophobe’s nightmare?

            The answer is simple. Despite all of its faults, Monterey Market is a wonderful place. The sheer amount of produce that fits in that tiny shed of a store is a sight to behold in itself. The vibrant colors of the bell peppers, the strawberries, the flowers in the front of the store…if you’re anything like me, it’s this natural beauty that brings a smile to your face, even as you are battling your way through the aisles.

The outside of Monterey Market. Photo Credit: Jordi Cabana

            But mostly, I love Monterey Market because you get your moneys worth, and for a college student who loves food as much as I do, that’s important. You can buy quality produce, with local and organic options to boot, for cheap. For example, over the weekend, I bought 6 locally grown Santa Rosa plums, 1 pound of Washington cherries, 1 basket of organic strawberries, 2 carrots, 1 head of lettuce and 1 lemon from Monterey Market and I paid $8.26. From what I have eaten so far, everything has been fresh and delicious, and, having shopped there before, I know that this is typical of Monterey Market. So, if you can overcome the hectic atmosphere of Monterey Market, it makes a wonderful place to shop for produce. (And, seriously, if I can do it, you can do it. It's so worth it.)