Introduction

The union square greenmarket in new york city is a little agrarian oasis right in the heart of the city. It's a throwback to how we used to buy our food. The writer john mac fee once spent some time in farmers markets selling peppers and writing about how the natives handled and manhandled all the fresh food. Here's what he wrote: "You people come into the market, the green market, in the open air, under the downpouring sun, and you slit the tomatoes with your finger nails with your thumbs"