Five-star food on your doorstep

• Source: Global Times
• [10:00 May 20 2010]
• Comments

A young shopper at the Farmer's Market. Photo: Shen Sijia

By Shen Sijia

One of the hidden treasures in town for Shanghai's gourmands is the Farmers' Market at the Shanghai Center, held on the third Sunday of each month (except July and August and January and February).

Every Farmers' Market brings together many of Shanghai's gourmet suppliers, offering freshly baked specialty breads, pastries, cakes, home made chocolates, yogurt, meat pies, organic Yunnanese coffee, fresh cut flowers and more. The Global Times paid a visit to the last Farmer's Market to see what was on offer.

A fruit stand set up by the Shanghai Junhua Food Company, Ltd, a supplier of fruit for five star hotels such as the Portman Ritz-Carlton, the Shangri-la Shanghai, and the JC Mandarin displayed a wide variety. "We've been in the industry for more than two decades, but we only do business- to-business transactions. We don't come here to sell products. It's really just for fun," said Zhu Hao, General Manager at Shanghai Junhua Food Company, Ltd. Strawberries cost 10 yuan ($1.50) for a punnet of about 12 strawberries. A punnet of the same size full of cherries is 30 yuan. Avocados are 30 yuan for two.

Zhu wasn't the only one participating in the market "just for fun." Daniel Smith, the factory manager of the Ambrosia Dairy Company, spoke to us as he unpacked a big box of cheese with a friend. "Originally, I worked for a big cheese manufacturer in New Zealand, but later on I decided to open my own cheese factory in Shanghai. My friend here is in the wine business. We mostly come here to meet new friends and see our old friends."

Kurt Sigouin, a businessman who lives close to the Shanghai Center told the Global Times that he comes to the food fair regularly. "I don't mind paying a high price for good quality food. Some of the stuff is organic and Abendbrot my favorite German bakery is always here. Usually I'll buy a couple of loaves of bread and some pastries. There are some really healthy breads that you can't get outside of the market. Be sure to bring a big bag because there are lots of things to check out."

Abendbrot, one of the first traditional German bakeries in Shanghai, was among the more popular stands. When going to the market, be sure to grab your bread and pastries first as many of them sell out quickly. Healthy choices range from the 65 yuan Vollkorn Schwarzbrot whole grain bread to the 5 yuan fruit fiber bar. There's also the 6 yuan traditional pretzel, the 25 yuan almond crescent, and the 12 yuan plum cake all recommended by the stand vendor.

Information

Add: Motor Court, Level A, Shanghai Centre, 1376 Nanjing Road West

Tel: 021 6279 8600

The next Farmer's Market is on June 20, (10 am to 12:30 pm)