I was aware of the Turkish market, held on Tuesdays and Fridays along the Landwehrkanal, before I arrived in Berlin, and was very excited to be living nearby. They are a genuine market, chaotic, crowded, and a little overwhelming. After the novelty wore off however, my desire to fight the crowds, be trolly-rammed by unapologetic Turkish women, and get elbowed in the face by frustrated shoppers, diminished somewhat. The produce was as cheap as chips but more often than not, overwhelmed by choice, I'd come home with something I didn't need or of questionable quality. But, I gradually made my way back. Now I have my regular fruit and veg stall, hummus, cheese and bread stalls. I spend 3-4 euros max and am loaded with goods. It is best to go early, just as the market is opening, particularly if you want to browse. In the warmer months it is a great place to pick up some dips, olives and fruit for a picnic by the canal.
I'm not sure what they do with them, but every week I see crowds of people leaving the market with bags full to the brim with limes.
A lot of what is on offer has travelled a fair distance, bananas from Costa Rica, avocados from Peru, garlic from China. A good chunk comes from Spain, ostensibly the food bowl of Western Europe. But a couple of stores stock mostly German produce, one exclusively, direct from the farm. A lot of snide comments are made about German fruit and veg, but I have been consistently impressed by the seasonal offerings. Asparagus and strawberries in Spring, Plums in late summer. Autumn is an especially prolific period with delicious walnuts, apples, brussel sprouts, potatoes and pumpkins on offer for next to nothing.
The quantity of imported produce does make for a very colourful market.
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