Visiting a Farm Market

 

The plum teapot is of the helpful sort. She cheerfully tagged along on a trip to the market where she played an active role in promoting tea and friendship. 

 

She's discovered that she is visiting wide open spaces in the midst of agricultural country. Her stopping spot is in a place where the corners of three counties meet. Altogether those three contain counties more than 3,450 commercial farms that produce food for the nation. Washington state may not get the attention for agriculture that some other US states do, but it does its share in producing. It is first in the nation for growing apples and pears. And the traveling teapot has discovered that she is staying right down the road from the largest apple orchard in the state (6,000 acres). This orchard is known for having the largest contiguous orchard in the United States, covering more than 4,300 acres that stretch for nearly 10 miles along the Snake River with several smaller orchards not far away.

Traveling teapot is also amidst vast fields that produce wheat, potatoes, hay, cherries, asparagus and grapes. 


June is the month when crops are starting to produce and Farmer's Markets are open for service. Bins of asparagus provide colorful contrast for the traveling teapot as she models her gracious spout.

 

Local strawberries are ripe and ready for short-cake!

Washington state is known for growing 7,500 varieties of apples and they are shipped worldwide. Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Red and Gold Delicious, Braeburn, Cripps Pink, and Cameo are the top nine varieties grown in the state.

It is common to find Tazo as the tea choice for packaged teas in markets and restaurants in our locale. I am sure its partially because it's the neighborly thing to do, as Tazo was manufactured and developed by a tea guru in Oregon. Tazo was recently sold to a famous coffee company and is now a Washington state brand of tea. The traveling teapot seemed right at home on the tea shelf.

I've discovered that the traveling teapot has a real sweet tooth! 

 

Here she is, posing at the fudge counter!

 

And among some of those beautiful Washington state apples made into gourmet candied apples with caramel, chocolate, and nuts!

 

A friendly candy-maker made sure we saw the display of truffles...as she thought they would be a great addition to afternoon tea.

 

 And traveling teapot was allowed to sit at the sample table for awhile. Yummy!

 

In the prepared foods section of the market a stranger came up to us and said "Is that a traveling teapot?" Interesting, how she seemed to sense it was so. The teapot seems to open doors to conversation and friendship so easily!

 

A side-trip to the gift area was fun and the teapot seemed to fit perfectly into every display!

 

Here she is, resting on a decorative bench.

 

And look! She found a teacup that is larger than she is! She is a very good model.

 

She's enjoying her adventures and is keeping up with them much more efficiently than her hostess is in writing about them! Please check back another day for more details of her visit.