Bonpland Mercado Bien

If you are a more permanent member of Buenos Aires, then the city might be just like any other city where you might live. A space to conduct your life and to engage in your interests and ideologies. When it comes to food consumption, everyone knows where Buenos Aires stands; I am a vegetarian, needless to say, I have not been to an Asado. Aside from the website, www.happycow.com which lists vegetarian resteraunts all around the world (including a quite comprehensive list of Buenos Aires fooderies) there are a number of vegetable markets around the city. I would like to focus on one market for the time being, and also the notion of markets in general. Although it is great to have a resource to eating out with mushrooms and zuchini in this otherworldly land of thick, bloody, steak stacks (which if is your preference I am in no way denouncing your choices), the idea of the market place is quite a bit different. First off, markets are of course, to buy goods for cooking. Secondly markets are an important step in the process of community exchange. As a foreigner it is difficult to engage actively in the sort of value structures you might at home. If supporting local farmers or alternative products, or if you have allergies or shy from certain food groups for whatever reason, Bonpland Mercado Bein might be a space for you to check out.

The market is located at Bonpland 1660 and operates 10-22 Saturdays. Inside it is not a produce market, but rather consists of vendors selling various grains, breads, alternative and organic processed products, such as vegan mayonnaise or organic olive oil. Here you can find hummus, and pan de mijo (mijo is a birdseed, the peel of the seed is used for the bread). Information is offered on the health benefits of the different grains. Cooperativa La Agambleria Economia Solidario operates from the market space and sells many products produced in cooperative businesses. There is a book vendor selling spanish literature on political theory, social organization, and the like, and in the back there is a display of local artists work. The enviornment is quite pleasent and friendly, and if nothing else you might learn how to say some strange foods you did not know existed, in spanish.

If you are hip to the now, as far as local markets, slow foods, and alternative food consumption goes, Bonpland Mercado Bien will sooth your brain. If you are not, go check it out, and learn just how relevant a market such as this is, and more, the differences between food choices and food culture here versus the U.S. or Europe where green living and organic purchasing is generally for an upper-middle class that can afford its value structure. That is a vast difference to Buenos Aires, where people purchase produce at local corner markets, and everything is inherently a little seperated from the grand agrobusiness that exists back home.