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The Sunday Morning Farmers’ Market
Every Sunday morning, the Bouquerie district in the town of Condom comes alive with the colors and flavors of the Gers countryside. On Boulevard Saint-Jacques (32100 Condom), the covered market and its esplanade welcome local producers who set up their stalls filled with the aromas of freshly baked bread, ripe fruit, aged cheeses, and typical South-Western charcuterie.
In Gers, markets are much more than a place to shop: they are true gatherings of conviviality. Here, people chat as much as they buy. The farmer, winemaker, or beekeeper are the best ambassadors of the “short supply chain”: they speak passionately about their work, share cooking tips, and tell the story behind their products. Shopping at the Condom market means nourishing yourself as much with encounters as with flavors.
A lively and bustling market hall
La Bouquerie is an emblematic place: once occupied by a supermarket, local producers and travelling merchants reclaimed the site after the renovation of the market hall. Some chose to stay all year round, enjoying the shelter and charm of the covered structure, while others set up around it and in the car park. The result is a warm atmosphere where visitors wander from stall to stall, guided by conversations, tastings, and laughter.
Under the market hall, the bakery "La Maison Magneron" attracts food lovers with its organic, crusty breads, now safe from the humidity that once forced it to keep loaves in the van. Don’t arrive too late if you want to taste a real “chocolatine.” For something sweet, try the famous Gascon croustade, a local apple pastry flavored with armagnac ("Accents du Sud Ouest" from Gondrin), cousin to the Ariège croustade I mentioned in the article about the Saint-Girons market.
Outside, you’ll find a passionate beekeeper, market gardeners with overflowing baskets, and a bar-caravan offering coffee, fresh juices, homemade pastries, crêpes, waffles, and even ice cream in the summer months. Only a butcher and fishmonger are missing to complete the scene, but the selection is already rich and appetizing.
Producers to discover
Wine: an independent and resilient winemaker
Stéphane Picarelli, from the Domaine de Pouypardin, cultivates 6.5 hectares of vines completely independently. Without certification but with strong conviction, he practices sustainable viticulture: no tillage, no chemical treatments, and natural ground cover that gives his vineyard a lush, almost English look. His vines are mulched with elephant grass (miscanthus zebrinus), which limits weeds and protects the soil. His small-production wines reflect this demanding terroir and the determination of a winemaker who stands firm against climate challenges.
Goat cheeses
It’s impossible to leave without tasting the farm-made goat cheeses, often offered for sampling. Fresh, creamy, or aged… each piece tells a story of craftsmanship and authenticity.
Flavors of the South-West
In Gers, tradition comes in a jar: foie gras, confits, pâtés, and rillettes adorn the stalls. In Condom, for example, you can find the artisanal creations of La Ferme Fleurie in Caussens. These are the kinds of products that turn a simple slice of bread into a feast. Since 2025, TAPAS shop has begun selling artisanal preserves from Quercy (pâtés, rillettes, terrines); it was while looking for small, talented producers that I returned to the Bouquerie market.
Fruits, vegetables, and sweets
The market gardeners offer heritage vegetables and forgotten varieties, as well as timeless classics with an unmatched flavor. In the summer of 2025, I rediscovered the taste of a truly “homegrown” tomato — sweet and fragrant like those from my childhood. I also found grey shallots, crisp green beans, and a sun-soaked melon — a basket full of summer. Born from a beautiful initiative during lockdown, La Micro ferme d’eau et d’argile was created by a couple and now offers extraordinary varieties of aromatic herbs and vegetables.
Flowers and plants
A cheerful florist passionately advises on bouquets and local plants. Her seasonal arrangements bring color and freshness to homes and showcase the horticultural expertise of Gers.
A market with character
What makes the Bouquerie market so special is its atmosphere. Regulars come to greet the producers, travelers discover the generosity of Gers, and families fill their baskets with authentic products. Between a slice of sausage, a piece of cheese, and some summer fruit, everything comes together to create a convivial, typically Gascon meal.
La Bouquerie and its history
La Bouquerie is more than just a market: it’s a place full of history. A stop along the route of Saint James’ Way, its Saint-Jacques-de-la-Bouquerie church once depended on a hospital founded before 1380.
The nearby Baïse River, a fickle neighbor, long imposed its will. After the devastating floods of 1855, residents built a levee connecting the Carmes Theater to the foot of the Teste hill. This levee, with its ramps and stairways, allowed the many washerwomen to reach the washhouses near the church. It still stretches today between the roads to Eauze and Montréal, a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of the locals.
In summary
The Bouquerie market in Condom is not just a place to shop — it’s a true experience. You come to fill your basket, of course, but above all to share a moment of Gascon life, to savor human warmth, and to leave with the taste of the land still lingering on your tongue.
Gers & Lot: a gourmet kinship
As I stroll among the stalls of Gers, I think of the products from Lot — such as those from Hameau des Saveurs: generous pâtés and terrines, silky foie gras, and duck preserves full of character. In Lot, you find the same depth of flavor, the same craftsmanship blending tradition and authenticity. There, as here, the texture of the terrines is dense yet light, and the rich duck fat flavor pairs beautifully with the corn or hazelnut now common in these regions.
The difference? The influence of the terroir. Foie gras from Lot tends to be softer, sometimes more aromatic, while that from Gers draws its strength from rusticity. The preserves benefit from the Gers sunshine, heat-rich corn, and sometimes a herbal note (green peppercorn, prunes, armagnac).
But in the end, whether in Quercy or in Condom, the pleasure is the same: opening a terrine, a pâté, or foie gras, inhaling its aroma, then tasting it with a piece of fresh, crusty bread… These simple yet rich moments are the very soul of these Occitan lands.
