Yes, they are grown all over the world, but the country of provenance is always marked on the price sign -- that's a law. "Kenya" "Chile" "Morocco" "South Africa"

Don't think of the outdoor markets in Paris as being "farmer's markets." The market people are professionals who go and buy their produce at the central market in Rungis around 2 or 3 a.m. and bring it to the market location for opening time.

can't wait to get some of those strawberries in May and they should be in season....none like them in the US. can you post if you see cherries in season also? Oh and the asparagus...will eat it every day while we are there!!

Kerouac - thanks for the info, that makes sense. I have seen the provenance signs in the supermarket but didn't pay attention at the outdoor market.

Cornelius - When we were here in late May last year strawberries were in EVERYTHING at the restaurants, it was wonderful! .

I did notice that a lot of the strawberries now on sale do indeed come from France -- but they are of course hothouse strawberries. Field strawberries will be on sale in a few weeks.

Kerouac, you are such a great source of information, thank you!!! And I imagine field strawberries will be cheaper...

Field strawberries will cost less and taste infinitely better. I live in the South and as a kid we got all our strawberries from Arkansas and Louisiana in May when they were in season. I lived off strawberry everything for weeks and we made preserves (confiture) and froze some berries, as well. We didn't get them any other time of year.

I still despise hothouse strawberries from FL and CA... they just don't have the flavor!,

One of my favorite Paris things is a perfectly simple strawberry tart! Throw in macarons, ice cream, sorbet and all the other wonderful desserts the French can make with strawberries and you are gonna be very happy in a few weeks!

Sharbear: so happy to find this report. Many thanks for taking the time. And another vicarious trip for all of the rest of us.

we'll be in Paris in two weeks, my mouth is already watering. Why does everything taste so much better in Europe? (rhetorical, folks)

Well our baby strawberries from the other day tasted so good, it's hard to imagine anything tasting better..maybe they were field ones already? I can't wait for all the strawberry treats!!

Eating the CA strawberries now and flavor just is not there but at least they are organic.

I'm another who will be reading your posts for the vicarious thrill of it all.

Thank you! I will keep checking your blog. My sister and I are going to Paris for the 1st time in May.

Great first day. I'm excited to read the next 29.

I'm hooked already and looking forward to getting my Paris fix! Keep it coming.

Thanks ExpatP! We love wine and that sounds like so much fun, will have to contact them and see how expensive it is...but we are trying to be very good with our budget right now so hopefully we will have some money leftover for fun treats like that!

I will be in Paris this Friday for a week with my 17 year old daughter and a good friend. I am wondering if many places will be closed on Sunday and Monday for Easter. My friend wants to go to the flea markets and wondering what their schedules will be. Anyway, how's the weather, by the way?

Hello - the weather has been really nice, in the upper 50s/low 60s with sun, although right now it looks like it might rain soon. This will be my first time here during Easter but from what I read most things are closed on Sunday and Monday, but I don't know details about the markets...if anyone does I would like to know. I'm kind of bummed that we will miss a weekend day because that is when my husband is not working and we can really see stuff!

Ok having just poked around a bit more...it seems shops will be closed, so I'm guessing no markets, but tourist attractions like museums, etc will be open if they are normally open on sunday/monday. Do check schedules for the museums, I stupidly went to the L'Orangerie museum yesterday forgetting it is closed on Tuesdays.

But would love for someone who actually has lived here longer than a week to let us know about Easter, thanks!

Here's my latest post, on Canal Saint-Martin: http://www.eatdreamtravel.com/2012/0...-and-more.html