Just in case you think selling peaches at the farmers' market would be a really boring job; haggling with people over the price of furry fruit or barking about perfect pears, waking up before light and standing in one place for hours on end without a break from weighing, adding, giving change and answering questions about soil, sun, trees, color, levels of acidity and sugar, or just being surrounded by fruit, fruit, and more fruit, think about how if you had been standing where I was last Thursday you would have had the giddy fun of spotting Michael Pollan among on of the many Berkeley customers!
I couldn't believe it. Our Modern Hero, Standing Right There, Buying Peaches, From Me.
First I said softly, "do you know who that is?" to everyone around me. Blank stares. I could not believe it. Apparition?
He walked to the end of the booth. I mouthed the words, ::m i c h a e l p o l l a n:: Blank stares. Well, except from Aaron, who mouthed, ::no way!::
I looked around. No one was going to do anything! So I said, under my breath, 'well I am going to prove it.' And I walked to meet him and, respectively, addressed him, "Are you Mr. Pollan?" Sheepishly he said, still fondling peaches, "Yes."
Two years ago, while working for Short Night selling okra and the best watermelons ever, I talked to Frances McDormand, who, of course was flanked by two matching handsome men, the Coen Brothers.
{Looking for a good job Thursday evenings selling some of the best fruit in Northern California, until @ October 11? Get in touch with Carl Rosato-- he could use a few good people!}
I emailed Michael Pollen last year to invite him dumpster diving. He was very sweet - he wrote back right away and although he was busy touring for his book and couldn't come, he encouraged me to write my own article on the topic. Very nice guy.
Posted by: Felix | 27 August 2007 at 02:29 AM
Too bad my Thursdays area otherwise spoken for. Carl seems like a fun boss and his peaches are unbelievable. (Thanks for picking such good ones for us. They were the highlight of an otherwise crappy Sunday.)
Posted by: Anita | 27 August 2007 at 02:50 AM
Holy crap. Since I am the ultimate groupie I don't know what I would have done. Giggled, I'm sure. And tried very hard to not talk so that I would blather on and on about how he changed my life (he really, really did). Wow. So cool.
Wish I could help with peaches. The commute would kill me, I'm afraid.
Posted by: Katherine Gray | 28 August 2007 at 05:01 PM
i once sold flowers to Neil Young. i don't think he's as cool as Pollen unfortunately.
Posted by: Kung Foodie Kat | 28 August 2007 at 07:21 PM