Here on Kauai, we have several farmers markets to choose from, so you can always find fresh produce. I personally enjoy visiting the Kapaa market, which is open every Wednesday from 3-4:30. It meets in the Kapaa New Town Park, and there is always a ton of people there from farmers selling their goods to visitors looking to browse or to buy.

Today I needed some fresh, organic vegetables for a dinner I’m making for my boyfriend. I try to buy organic whenever I can, as I’ve been trying to live healthier and eat well. Anyway, the farmers markets are a great place for organic produce, especially the market in Kilauea. Unfortunately, the market in Kilauea is open on Thursdays and I needed the veggies for tonight. So it was off to Kapaa!

While I didn’t find everything I needed in the organic department, I did find much more than I was looking for. I purchased the organic vegetables that I wanted as well as some non-organic ones to complete the dish. Then I saw a stand of coconuts fresh from the growers and couldn’t resist. While I’d had other plans for dessert, suddenly coconut pudding sounded wonderful. So I purchased a couple of coconuts and some bananas to use as garnish.

All in all, my trip went well. I met some interesting people, had a wonderful afternoon perusing the market stalls, and bought exactly what I needed. Plus, the fruit and veggies here are much fresher than in the grocery store. So if you are coming to our little island as a tourist and are staying in a vacation rental, keep the farmers markets in mind. You, unlike the tourists in hotels, have a kitchen where you can cook fun and fabulous dishes, and fresh fruits and vegetables from our tropical gardens are the best ingredients.