Organic Farmers' Market at Kakkanad #KochiGems

After the rush hour

While you could go to any supermarket for all your vegetable and fruit requirements, you should try heading over to the Govt LP school located right at the centre of  Kakkanad. Over the past couple of years, this school has been hosting a large number of farmers and their home-grown, organic produce.

What started out with a small number of farmers (both young and old) that was organised by the Naattunanma Organic Farmers Society, grew to be a huge community of farmers and customers alike, allowing city folks such as ourselves to experience local organic produce. The society ensures the organic tag of its products by regular home visits to the farms from where the produce comes in. Customers can also join in for these visits to appreciate where their food comes from and to see the intricacies of maintaining such organic practices.  

The market runs every Sunday between 8 am and 11 am. The earlier you get there the better, as it does get pretty busy in the first hour and many items are sold out. There’s sufficient parking space within the school compound as well.  Depending on the season,  you’ll also see jackfruit, kadachakka, delicious ripe mangoes and muringa leaves make an appearance.  Most customers are greeted by Hariram who introduces himself as an IT engineer before excitedly talking about Naattunanma. Customers can be added to a WhatsApp community which will let you know about the varied produce that will be brought in the following Sunday. This list is updated every Saturday evening for the customers’ perusal. 

We have been regular visitors to the market and every time there is something unique we come back with; this could be the basil stalks (which is great for a pesto pasta we made) and arugula leaves we get from Koikkara Agro farms or the freshly pressed coconut oils and the deliciously fragrant rasam powder from Alphonsa farms or the oyster mushrooms brought in from Angamaly by Sainty Antony and fam. There is one chettan selling microgreens and should you bring back the plastic container which you initially purchased, you get back your 10 rupees. There are people selling homemade snacks and many others selling vegetables, fruits and everything in between.

There is a ‘family feel’ to the place as people help each other out and chit-chat. You can also witness some sustainable practices as most people come with their own bags, just like in the old days, and drink tea in steel tumblers. I think the farmers don’t give out plastic bags as well, not sure though. The only downfall is now throngs of customers come by and the market is always packed, which is great for the farmers, so really it's fine :D