There is a world outside happy-hour specials and end-of-the-week naps on Friday afternoons.
Every Friday from 3 to 6 p.m., tucked behind the Thornebrook Village shops, there is a quaint farmers market where you can find local, organic produce, homemade pastries, vegetarian Indian food and organic English marmalade that puts to shame anything on the shelves of big, chain grocery stores.
"I love the homey atmosphere, yummy, free samples and the friendly people of this farmers market," said Genni Rubin, a UF freshman and frequent visitor of the Thornebrook Village Farmers Market.
Pete Turner, owner of Pete's Preserves, a line of organic, English-style marmalade, enjoys selling at this farmers market because of its intimate setting.
It takes a lot of self-control not to buy everything you see.
It's not unusual for a single costumer to buy more than $40 worth of vegetarian Indian food from Nalini Pandey.
She owns the Green Mango, a Gainesville restaurant that also sells its food in local farmers markets.
Turner and Pandey agree that the appeal of farmers markets has to do with the quality of the food they sell.
Pandey smiled as she spoke about her first experiences in the kitchen, as she was taught by her mother, father and grandmother in India.
"I've been cooking since I was 10," she said. "Cooking is an art. It's not just a combination of ingredients you throw together."
After working in genetic and microbiology labs for 33 years, Turner, the Cambridge graduate and former UF research assistant professor decided to dedicate his time to his longtime passion: cooking.
"I've been making marmalade for years and years," Turner said.
He holds his food to high standards. "The food is fresh and has never seen any pesticides or artificial fertilizers," he said.
"I've had people tell me [my marmalade] reminds them of something their grandmother would make."
The Thornebrook Village Farmers Market is in the courtyards of Thornebrook Village shopping center on 2441 NW 43rd St. every Friday from 3 to 6 p.m.
For more information about farmers markets around Gainesville, visit gainesvillefarmfresh.com.
Craving homemade marmalade or freshly baked honey wheat berry bread? Look for Peter Turner's stand at the Thornebrook Village Farmers Market on Friday afternoons.
