Farmers’ market signals German Thanksgiving

***image1***For the 11th consecutive year, the Rheinland-Pfalz Agricultural Chamber, in cooperation with the city of Ramstein-Miesenbach, sponsors the Ramstein Farmers’ Market Sunday, which in Germany is observed as Thanksgiving Day.
Under the auspices of Mayor Klaus Layes, more than 30 Palatinate farmers and vendors offer their products.

The market also features an entertaining program and information stands on agriculture and agricultural products in the center of town.

The listing of fresh products which farms from the area have to offer is long. It includes beef, lamb and pork meat, meat from game, potatoes, potato pancakes, potato soup, fish specialties, dairy products such as yoghurt, cheese and butter, honey, honey wine, honey liquor, wurst, eggs, pasta and baking goods.

Also available are pumpkins in all sizes, decoration pumpkins, pumpkin champagne, corn and a variety of apples. Visitors also have a choice of schnaps, liquors and wine.

The farmers’ market shows off traditional craftsmanship skills including pottery, basket weaving and woodcarving as well as the shoeing of horses and sheep.

***image2***The animal show features sheep, lambs, calves, ponies and donkeys. The poultry-farming club presents chickens and pigeons and the rabbit keeping club shows its animals. Historical tractors are on display as well.

The Education and Testing Facility Münchweiler, the Farmers’ and Vintners’ Association of Rheinland-Pfalz Süd, the Rheinland-Pfalz Agriculural Chamber and the Otterberg forestry office present their work.

A special exhibition in the foyer of the Ramstein town hall takes visitors on a “Culinary time trip to the kitchen of the Romans.” People learn that many spices, herbs, fruit and garden vegetables have been introduced to this area by the Romans. The Romans also were good at beekeeping and fish farming, and they brought viniculture to this region.

A lot of Roman cooking and baking recipes have been passed down as well.

The farmers’ market officially opens at 10 a.m. in the Haus des Bürgers, where a Thanksgiving worship service will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Stores are open 2 to 6 p.m.