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Local markets are a MUST DO, at least once a week or even if you’re just visiting.  It’s such an adventure, watching the local vendors catching up on the latest goss over cups of tea, while selling their produce to a talkative shopper. There’s so much to see and do….the colours, the variety, the constant chatter and the mingling off hundreds of people under one roof especially on a Saturday.  If you enjoy photography you’ll be in heaven trying to catch people’s personalities on film as they interact noisily.

Usual scene at the food & fruit markets

The markets feature a variety of locally grown and imported high-quality fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry and every other conceivable household item you can think of. "European vegetables" such as tomatoes, green onions, and potatoes are plentiful, especially in season.

Mutton, pork, chicken and beef are in abundance, everywhere.  Imported, canned goods are available but can be costly.  Try the fine locally produced cheese, milk, eggs and other dairy products, and locally grown fruits like pawpaw (papaya), bananas, pineapples, watermelons, lime, cumquat, guavas, oranges, mangos, mandarins, kavikas, avocados and much much more.  Did you know that you can even get seeds from any one of these vendors for all these wonderful things?  Unreal!

Remember to wash your fruits and veggies before you indulge as you would everywhere else. There are a plethora of nasty tropical micro-organisms that may not agree with your belly, so take general safety precautions like giving everything a good wash first so these organisms don’t have a chance to develop.  Peeling the skins off the produce first is also a good idea to help minimise that risk.  

You’ll also find coke and whiskey (to name a few) bottles displayed in an array atop many shelves with very affordable price tags. Don’t worry, bootlegging isn’t encouraged in the markets, and you’ll soon discover that these bottles contain the renown Fijian coconut oils, home made at that which explains the 2^nd hand use of bottles!  These oils come in a variety of flavored scents and make great moisturizers and lotions. The locals have, in centuries made use of these oils, for massages as well new-born baby treatments.  The markets also feature woven goods that have special authentic feels to them. And the seafood!  There are mud crabs, local mussels and wonderful fish and more.  Local flowers will catch your eye no matter where you are in the market areas.  They’re very rich in colour and scent and are just gorgeous to have around the house, the office or any environment they’re placed in.

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