A Caribbean Cornucopia of Fruits and Vegetables

I have a confession to make.  When we decided to move to Mexico, I was a little worried about finding all the different fresh fruits and vegetables I was accustomed to eating as a person on a "plant-based" diet.



Actually, now that I think about it, it wasn't really the fruit I was worried about, it was the vegetables that bothered me.  I have traveled to the Caribbean enough to know that my favorite fruits were there in abundance; pineapples, mango, pears, star fruit, apples, bananas, melons, cantaloupes, dragon fruit, kiwi, strawberries, papaya...and this is just to name a few.  But fresh vegetables, especially green, leafy vegetables like Kale, Collard Greens, Spinach or Bok Choy, I just had not noticed them in the markets.  So once our move was complete, it was time to really explore my vegetable options. 

I looked at all the main grocery stores in Playa del Carmen (PDC); Chedraui, Mega, Walmart, Soriana, and Sam's Club.  They each provide an array of fresh fruits and vegetables.  Some of the stores seem to have a wider and fresher selection than others.  My experience has been that Soriana in PDC and Chedraui in Puerto Aventuras (PA) has the best selections.  In addition, there is also a very popular local fruit and vegetable market called DAC located on 30th Avenue between Constituyentes and Calle 20.  They have a large and excellent assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables along with other food items such as, dry beans, soy milk, meat, cheese, eggs, dry goods, fresh flowers, baskets, etc. Whenever I am in that area, I stop to do a little shopping.  It's absolutely my favorite place to buy fresh fruits and vegetables! SEE VIDEO.

Although I was not able to find fresh Kale or Collard Greens, I did not go lacking in the fresh vegetable department.

Learning about other fruits and vegetables in another county can be a positive culinary experience.  It's an opportunity to try different foods and recipes, broaden our knowledge of the local culture through food, and share a meal with your neighbors.

Enjoy! 
And remember to look at all the wonderful photos below with pricing.  All photos taken while I was shopping in Soriana in PDC.