They rely on people who buy their products to keep local traditions alive.
A lot of the products at the market were artisanal, which means they are made in the traditional way. The knowledge of making these products is passed down from generation to generation. For example, Saint-Felicien cheese is traditionally made in the Rhône-Alps region of France. It originally came from the town of Saint-Felicien. It's made from cow's milk and cream, and then the cheese-makers age it for two to six weeks. During that time, mold is allowed to form on the cheese. Don't worry, though, because this mold is perfectly safe to eat. The mold is what gives the cheese its unique taste and feel. The process has taken hundreds of years to make perfect! Are you hungry yet?
All the fresh food from the Fontainebleau market was produced right here in France. Each product is from one of the country's many regions. Each of these regions has its own culture and environment. It's that culture and environment that makes each item unique.
For example, only some areas have the right temperature and humidity to grow the right kind of mold for cheese. Also, some areas have more goats, so they use goat milk to make the cheese. Other areas might have cows for their milk. Some places even use sheep's milk!
They different fruits also very connected to their environment. The Mirabelle plums, for example, are a specialty of the region of Lorraine. There, the soil and the weather are just the right kind to grow the delicious fruit.
