fruit for two

One of the best things about a bosnian spring and summer is the sheer abundance of fruit and vegetables that fill all of the market stands. The produce is almost all grown locally. Some of it comes from Bosnia's north and northwest (the Posavina and Krajina regions) and from central Bosnia. The cherries in the photo above are the first cherries of this year from a small town in Central Bosnia. But most of the delicious and sweetest possible fruits come from the Herzegovina region - a region both hot and dry where fruit ripens on the vine or tree. The Mediterranean climate in Herzegovina is extremely different from the rest of the country, and ideal for almost any agricultural venture. Almost all of the fruits in Sarajevo come from Herzegovina, and the city is dependent on transports of fresh produce every day. At Markale in Sarajevo, (where we buy our food everyday) virtually all the produce come from Herzegovina. If the name 'Markale' sounds familiar to you, it is probably because of the infamous massacre during the siege of Sarajevo which occurred at the market on February 5th, 1994. 68 people were killed and over 150 wounded by the artillery attacks from the surrounding hills. Today at Markale, a simple memorial stands on the back wall of the marketplace with the names of those who died printed. It is a simple memorial, but one which, during the everyday act of buying food, constantly reminds of of those who lost their lives.



In the photo of Markale, you can see the memorial wall in the background - the simple red strip.