Targul Taranului simply means farmer's market in Romanian. It might seem an uninspiring name. But like most European cities, Bucharest has a mass of fake markets where the local products have in fact travelled across frontiers and stallholders answer with a shrug of the shoulders if you ask for details about what are they selling and its traceability.
Targul Taranului represents a desire by small producers to reclaim the right to sell their own products at an honest price, and the wish of consumers (or coproducers) to really know what they are eating. The market is held every weekend in the area around ARK - Bursa Marfurilor building, the old site of the Bucharest Stock Exchange, which a group of designers has recently converted into the Creative Stock Exchange: it is entirely dedicated to design, architecture and contemporary art. The opportunity to encounter the best of Romanian gastronomic traditions and artistic creativity in the same place makes a visit to this market a truly unique experience.
PHOTOGALLERY
The number of stalls at the market varies between 20 and 25, but a total of about 50 attend on different occasions. The two Romanian Presidia, Branza de Burduf and Saxon Valleys Preserves, are there of course, as are many other small-scale producers of amazing quality, selling products such as pastrav afumat (smoked trout preserved in pine branches), pastrami, raw milk cheeses, fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables, traditional pastries and artisan syrups. Due to the quality of its products and relaxed, authentic atmosphere, the Bucharest Targul Taranului has become a regular fixture for many people.
Each weekend it attracts a rising number of customers seeking genuine products at an affordable price. This varied and representative market has been made possible through the efforts and assistance of a wide range of bodiesfrom local Slow Food Convivia to other civil society actors (such the Adept Foundation and the NGO Grupul de Initiativa Radu Anton Roman), institutions (Rural Life Museum) and private organizations (DC Communication, the owner of the building). Recently Slow Food Bucuresti Valahia Gusturilor convivium was created for the specific purpose of managing the market, and to discover select and new producers.
The new convivium has established a Slow Food information point within the Creative Stock Exchange to share the Slow Food philosophy and information about the activities of the many Romanian convivia with the public.
In addition, the market Management Committee has recently opened a small bistro where visitors can sample street food prepared with products from the market.
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Bucharest Earth Market
ARK-Bursa Marfurilor
Calea Rahovei 196 A, sector 5 - Bucharest
Saturday from 9am to 5pm
Sunday from 9am to 2pm
Contact:
Tiberiu Cazacioc, +4021-3123835, +40742 111 119
Daniela Bacanu
http://www.targultaranului.ro
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