A Surprising Absence of Biodiversity
The region of Veracruz is very fertile, with lots of water and sun, and has a wide range of temperatures within a small circumference because of the ocean and mountains and all that goodness. So I thought there would be a dazzling variety of produce at the markets for me to explore. But ah, no. There are so many produce stands and they all have the same selection, the only variance being the quantity they offer. All the onions are white. All the apples are red and golden delicious, with the occasional Braeburn. All the tomatoes are Romas. Lettuce is either this cabbage-y looking Iceburgy stuff or, at supermercados, they also have Romaine. All oranges are navel. Pumpkin seeds are very popular but the only squash you can find is a variety of zucchini. To me the most upsetting example is the potato–you can only get “white” potatoes. A freaking Russet would be considered exotic here.