People ask me about fruits and vegetables here. We’re very lucky to live in Chiriqui Province where most of the produce is grown. We have fresh fruits and vegetables available every day, and it’s very inexpensive if you buy it from one of the produce markets or a street vendor. We are lucky to have a market just down the street, and we enjoy visiting our friends who work there.
I went Saturday and this is what I brought back
A head of broccoli, two small heads of cauliflower, 4 cucumbers, 8 bananas, small bag of carrots, good size bag of roma tomatoes, a head of cabbage, a papaya, a watermelon, a green pepper, a bunch of celery, 4 chayote (a delicious squash like vegetable) and 2 pineapples – $19.00.
Food here is grown for taste, not looks or shelf life so it tastes really good. I feel better here and I really believe the fresh produce at every meal is a big part of that. One day we realized we had no idea what happened to our can opener or how long it had been missing because we use it so rarely.
So, short answer, yes, we have great produce in this area.
The Panama Adventure 
I’m hungry. Our produce here in Colorado is all the same looking and not sure if it has been irradiated or just what. Hence, I have a garden in the summer. Looking forward to out trip. What are you cooking up with the yummy food.
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Are you coming to Panama? Maybe you can enjoy some of the good fruits and veggies too 🙂
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Kris, I am hungry now. What are you going to cook up with the yummy produce? Our produce here in Colorado all looks the same and lacking in flavor sometimes. Now sure how it is processed.
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I know what you mean about flavor, and not being sure what goes on with your food before it gets to you. Tonight… chicken with Lizano salsa, chayote, cucumber/tomato salad, and patacones (a friend gave me some plantains – patacones are fried smashed green plantains). Breakfast is usually eggs scrambled with veggies, and fruit on the side. Our meals are usually fairly simple but very good.
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Looks Delicious, fruits and vegetables are so expensive here unless you grow your own, which we do in the Spring/Summer. Adding the bananas, pineapples and other tropical fruit is a major plus. I think 12 was the High temp for the day with Below Zero for tonight. Brrr
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Oh no, That’s way too cold! Where do you live? I remember how much we paid for produce in the US, one reason I’m thankful to be here.
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Indiana, where it has been rather Mild in the Winter for the last 15+ years. The occasional 12 inch snow but then warm to the High 30’s and then poof, the Snow is gone for awhile. This Winter 12+” of snow followed with weeks of below average temps, then another 12+” snow – Brutal.
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We’re in Boquete visiting and go to the produce market every other day. The flavor of the fruits and veggies is incredible. Like we grew them in our backyard but without the work. Very inexpensive and the Rafie the produce seller and I (and hubby) exchange a new word each time, English/Spanish. We’ve also been using our pedometer since we walk everywhere. It’s easier than driving. We’re averaging 2.5 to 4 miles a day. We are avid hikers but back in Wisconsin it’s way too cold and snowy/icy to hike outside. The coffee here is also amazing!
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How wonderful that you are having a good time! Actually the produce is grown in your backyard, just on the other side of Volcan Baru. If you have a chance go visit Cerro Punta. It’s really beautiful and so interesting to see the farms on the sides of the mountains. Hiking is great around Boquete too. It’s such a beautiful area and I agree, the coffee is really good.
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We love it here and are going hiking tomorrow on the Quetzale trail. We are avid hikers and our hiking boots were one of the first things we packed.
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We’re at the Boquete Tree Trek for the first time, and I think it’s higher up than we’ve been before. I’m looking forward to the morning and hiking around here with my camera. We’re getting more interested in hiking and outdoor activities since moving here. There are just so many wonderful places to explore.
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Have a great hike! Now I want to try chayote. I’ve seen it in the market but wasn’t sure what it was. My Spanish isn’t good enough yet to understand an answer, but I’m working on it. Have a great time tomorrow!
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Thanks 🙂 Yes, try the chayote. The closest thing I can think of is those patty pan squash that look like little flying saucers. I usually peel the chayote, take out the seed and center white part, slice it, and microwave it for around 4 minutes with a splash of water. You can also eat it raw, or add it to soups and all sorts of recipes.
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Ooh yummy I can’t wait to try it. If I see you out and about I will be sure to say hola!
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Yes, please do! 🙂
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Oh my yes, your area is having a miserable winter. It seems to be everywhere, so much snow and brutal cold. I wish I could send you some of this sun which would warm you right up.
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Now you really have me missing the fruit in Panama. The bananas are so sweet and flavorful not like the bland stuff we get here in in the US of A.
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I know what you mean. If I leave I miss the fruits and veggies too.
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Kris, this post seems to have really struck a chord — especially during this time of year. I too remember when a tomato actually tasted like a tomato —- Ahhhh, the good old days, huh? I had never even heard of red bananas until we visited in October and you guys introduced them to us. They were so sweet — better than any banana I had ever tasted. We are counting the days and preparing our paperwork for our move there in June. Also, I remember going to the vegie stand — bananas – 5 for a quarter — amazing.
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Yes, sometimes you have to grow your own to get the really yummy veggies but here we are really fortunate.
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That’s why you gotta love South/Cental America =)
Greetings from Mexico!!
http://www.mexalex.com
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Yes indeed! And, I hope one day soon to explore your beautiful country. 🙂
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You definitely should, it’s amazing!
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I’m looking forward to it very much
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My husband and I are in Boquete right now fir a visit to see how we like it, and we went to the lical mercado. The fruits and vegetables are so fresh and delicious we eat some with every meal. This morning we bought a papaya, a cantaloupe, two tomatoes, four bananas, a pineapple and one avocado all for $5. Not all foods are less but produce is and tastes so much better. Thanks for sharing your experience Kris. It has really helped us a lot!
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I’m glad you are having a good time and enjoying the produce. We’re actually headed to Boquete this afternoon because we bought an ofertasimple.com at the Boquete Tree Trek for a couple nights. Avocados are expensive and out of season down here but I think they are just at the tail end up there so maybe we’ll find a few. Thanks for your comments, glad you enjoy the blog 🙂
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Interesting, similar to Groupon here. We love avocados so are they always expensive or only when off season? Fresh avocado as a sandwich garnish, sliced for breakfast and or for Guacamole. Have fun on your Boquete mini vay cay.
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I just moved into a new house (three doors away from my old house) and there’s a big avocado tree in the back yard and one at the fence line in the adjoining yard. They’re in full bloom right now and raising havoc with my sinuses but I can’t wait for the fruit to start coming. Lots of guacamole in the future…
The story of when an avocado is ripe and ready to eat…nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, too late.
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If I run short of avocados I know who to come visit! We can practice catching them at the magic moment 😀
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Yes it is, and they have groupon here too.
My neighbor has an avocado tree and if she doesn’t load me up with more than I can eat, there are other trees in the neighborhood so I never have to buy them when they are in season. Have you tried avocados in your scrambled eggs? It’s surprisingly good.
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In Cajun country chayotte is known as Merliton, and when baked with a stuffing of bread crumbs and crawfish tails it’s incredibly delicious.
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Really? Hmmm, I could try something like that, maybe with shrimp or other seafood. They are mild enough you can do pretty much anything with them and not go wrong.
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