The Tortas are on vacation. Please enjoy a previous post.
A large part of moving to Mexico for me was driven by the memory of roaming local mercados brimming with fresh fruits and vegetables. In 1975, as a college student in Mexico, I gorged on whatever was in season, especially relishing avocados and tropical fruits not found in my native New Jersey.
As with everything inthe world, times have changed, and in 2014, asking a merchant in the Bacalar market where their produce is from often results in a blank stare. For this reason, I have thought often of the organic farmer’s market left behind in Austin, Texas. I willingly paid higher prices, which included the privilege of meeting the farmers who grew and brought their culinary wonders to my neighborhood.
On Saturday, the Tortas were excited to take a road-trip to a local organic farm that we’d heard about. After driving 40 km or about 25 miles, we came to what’s otherwise known as Kilometro Cinco (five).
An easy-to-miss wooden roadside stand fronts an amazing farm owned and operated by a husband-wife team. All work is done manually. There is no roto tiller pulled behind a tractor. The rich earth in this soil poor area is the result of twenty years of composted chicken manure. It is obvious that these folks work hard, love what they do and have a green thumb that I can only dream of. We followed them to their fields and were in awe of the crops that were harvested before our eyes. It doesn’t get any fresher than this. There was eggplant, cabbage, kohlrabi, two kinds of espinaca (spinach), red and green lettuce, arugula, chard, bok choy, basil, Serrano peppers, dandelions and probably more that I’m forgetting. It was a Spanish lesson as well. I will have green smoothies for days. Kilometro Cinco is a treasure and well worth the trip. Our huge basket of veggies, farm eggs and oranges cost about $10US. I’m in heaven and no longer dreaming of farmer’s markets.
Rows of lettuce and peppers.
Growing in the jungle.
Harvesting as we go.
Though For The Day
the adventures of dos tortas 
Alex,
I enjoy reading your blog, and I’m super-glad that you found a wonderful farm!
Best wishes, Alisin Genfan
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Lovely to see you. Thanks for the comment. Glad you like the blog. Hope you are well.
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How encouraging and delightful to know this wonderful place is not TOO far from Bacalar – thanks so much for the information. I hope you both enjoy your fresh goodies!
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Hope your packing is going well. I can sympathize. Lots of work. Is your trip to Pehaltun cancelled?
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Alex, you’ve found your Nirvana! Congratulations. I LOVE that you can pick ‘n go. That is perfect! Happy veggie eating! ~Nancy
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Life is good Nancy. Thanks for stopping by. Hope you are well. Sorry I missed you in Austin.
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Nice post, Alex and what a good find, the organic farm, I guess I am afraid to ask where the produce comes from at our market. And very good prices it seems, as well, when you can walk away with a big basket of food for around 120P. Que bueno!
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Well, we need to add on the cost of gas.
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That’s so cool. You gourmets are living the dream!
Sent from my iPhone with a clumsy finger, so please excuse the typos! -:)
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Good to know about Kilometro Cinco – we just returned from our first visit to Bacalar. It will not be our last!
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Sorry we missed you. Let us know when you are back.
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