Though the crops in our village are simple, they grow LOTS of pretty yummy stuff in our region, since within an hour of here we have some jungle areas with really fertile soil and hot climates. Check out the stuff we bought at the market on Sunday (clockwise from top left): oranges, cucumbers, strawberries, romaine lettuce, radishes, avocado, limes, mangoes*, carrots, mandarin oranges, and broccoli. Also not pictured, that we bought the same day: green beans, potatoes, onions, green (raw) coffee, whole wheat, and ginger root. Add to that a hunk of beef that the dude cut right off the cow carcass hanging in front of me in his shop, and we’re set for the week.

*Mangoes are my favorite, and they have several varieties here that I still haven’t sorted out. They have big ones, small ones, ones that you eat green with chili pepper. And look how ripe those are! You NEVER see them like that in states.