Among the many things brought to a halt by the coronavirus are farmers’ markets. One only recently set up in Zugló is now branching out – they are planning to keep their new-found community together by delivering their healthy products to people’s homes.
The founders are two local young mums, Eszter Ashlock-Kéthelyi and Adél Csernovitz, who are passionate about putting healthy meals on their dinner tables. As they explain, as people can’t bake bread, smoke sausages, ripen cheese, twirl honey or cold-press oils, there should be availability of these natural and high-quality foods. After meeting Edina Barsabás Sánta, one of the owners of local family bakery Sárika, earlier this year they decided to create a shopping community together.
The opening day of the market was a big success, with close to 150 visitors, product tastings and future loyal customers.
Up until recently, the market was held every Thursday, where additive- and chemical free vegetables, dairy products, jams, syrups, meat, eggs and baked goods were all sold.
Vendors included the Portik family offering jams and spicy chutneys, Thanya selling free-range eggs and walnut products, Szorgos Gazda with additive-free vegetables and vegetable-based products like zacuscă, syrups and veggie pastes, Csöglei Sonka with goose ham, foie gras and goose rillettes, the Mátrai Buffalo Reserve with sausages and hams, A mi szörpünk with homemade syrups, Pusztán Kézműves Sajtműhely with cows’ cheese, sheeps’ cheese and yoghurts – and, of course, the Sárika bakery.
As measures to restrict the spread of the coronavirus closed mass gatherings, the market postponed its Thursday get-togethers, with the exception of the Sárika bakery. Now, organisers are working on creating a network so that the farmers can continue earning a living while providing healthy food for the community. Many will offer the option of delivery or sending products by mail, which will be announced on the market’s Facebook page.
