Wow, Captain Jane has really made a find here!!! What an incredible Florida Keys resource to stock the galley with the freshest of fruits and vegetables!

You’d think I was hired by the City of Marathon Public Relations Department, but the full disclosure is no, I’m not, there’s just a lot of really good things happening in Marathon here in the Middle Keys. Today’s prime example, which I type just as the First Annual Keys Traditional Music Festival opens for its second day a mile or so away and a week before the Pigeon Key Art Festival, is the weekly Farmers Market.
Location: One mile walk from City Marina — turn right, walking past the Marathon Community Park, cross over the main road when you see a traffic signal, keep on walking. Starting at 10 AM (across the main road from K Mart) you’ll see cars pulling over to the side and a big truck dispensing free key limes and your box top that will serve as your shopping basket. On our visit this morning, egg plants, water chestnuts, water melons, exotic carrots in multi colors in ziploc bags (good for snacking and really fine!), kirby pickling size cucumbers, zucchini, sweet red peppers, bok choy and I’m sure I’m missing plenty in this recital…
I spoke to Pete, one of the organizers who said the proceeds benefit the community in a variety of ways. The leaflet he gave me says the sponsor is the Educational Coalition for Monroe County (ECMC) and it supports Marathon Sk* Association, Collegiate Arts Magnet Program & Careers, Project Green environmental project, Youth leadership workshops and Dancing Classrooms. For more information, to volunteer, or give a donation, call (305) 743-6215.
Why the free key limes? A volunteer said: Because we love you. Pete elaborated: After Hurricane Wilma, the fourth Cat 5 hurricane of the 2005 season and, from what I’ve read, the most intense, the key lime crops were destroyed and folks really missed this quintessential Florida Keys symbol and fruit. So, the Incredible Fruit Stand found a supplier and gave the limes away to make people feel good. The feel good continues to the tune of — I think he said 70 bushels a week.
Get there early for best selection, advises Tina Belotti of the ECMC. Tina says the Incredible Fruit Stand gets about 250 customers every Saturday. Take a look at our haul and you’ll see why.
Captain Jane
S/V Lady Jane