By admin 
It’s Labor Day weekend and for many people that means enjoying the last moments of summer before autumn comes around. What better way to celebrate the holiday and the end of summer than with a picnic?
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I checked out KP International Market in Rancho Cordova to see which picnic supplies I could pick up within a budget.
The market on 10971 Olson Drive is surrounded by the stores Ross, Target and Michaels. Just look for the green and red sign and the crowd of customers.
I tried KP International Market as part of The Bee’s On a Budget series, which helps readers find fun and affordable ways to connect and explore the community.
Here’s what I discovered.
What is KP International Market in Rancho Cordova like?
I visited one Saturday afternoon. Inside, it was a bit overwhelming in all the best ways with a produce section filled with fruits and vegetables from all over the world, including dragon fruit and several different types of bananas.
The market is split into three sections. The first section includes produce, frozen Asian foods, ramen, seasonings and snacks.
The second section includes a variety of European cheeses, meats, Hispanic foods and plenty of pasta.
The last section is behind the cash registers and is a large food court that includes cuisine from China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Mexico.
The food court also has a small liquor store, jewelry store and performance stage.
It’s hard to say what my favorite part of the store was because of the impressive variety, but I did love the bakery with its dozens of treats and breads from different areas of Asia and Europe.
Overall, this is a market that seems to pride itself on being a cultural melting pot.
What $25 got me at this international market
I spent a total of $23.49 before tax at the market, and I was shocked by the amount of food I was able to buy for that amount.
My largest item was a seedless watermelon on sale for $2.99.
I also bought less than a pound of Longans, otherwise known as dragon’s eye, for $3. The small, sweet tropical fruits are similar to lychees and native to Southeast Asia.
It’s not a proper picnic without cheese, so I headed to the European cheese aisle where I bought pre-sliced deli Lavada Holland Cheese for $1.70.
To go with the cheese, I strolled through the snack aisle and snagged a bag of mini garlic baguettes for $2.29.
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For drinks, I purchased Mogu Mogu mango drink, a Thai fruit juice that has chewy cubes of nata de coco (fermented coconut water), for $1.39.
I also picked up a lychee-flavored Brafco Basil Seed Drink for $1.39.
Then, I headed to the bakery where I picked up a gorgeous strawberry and cream Japanese fruit sandwich, that I’ve seen trending online, for $5.
I also ordered a farmers cheese piroshki, a traditional Eastern European hand pie for $3.75.
Lastly, two mini French macarons for 99 cents each.
After picking up all my supplies, I headed toward the Lower Sunrise Recreational Area along the American River. It was less than a 10-minute drive from the market and the spot where I set up my picnic was gorgeous, calm and perfect for bird watching.
My goal for this picnic was to try as many new foods and brands as I could and I certainly succeeded.
The Japanese sandwich was light, if a bit messy. It was the perfect amount of sweet for someone who doesn’t have a sweet tooth, and I was happy to finally try something I had seen online so many times.
The farmer cheese piroshki had great bread and was interestingly sweet.
The Longans were refreshing and juicy. If you are looking for a milder taste to a lychee I would recommend this fruit.
The Lavada Holland cheese and garlic baguettes paired wonderfully and were addictive.
The Mogu Mogu mango drink was sweet, and the coco was fun to chew on. My favorite though was the Brafco Basil Seed Drink. I have never tasted a basil seed drink before, now I’m hooked.
The two mini macrons were outstanding. I had one raspberry and the other was a pandan macaron with a coconut filling.
Finally, I ended my picnic with the crisp ripened watermelon.
It was the best picnic I ever had.
Is KP International Market affordable?
Yes. It was surprising how much I was able to get for $25.
KP International Market changes its sale items depending on which fruit or vegetables are in season and how quickly they ripen. If you are looking for food to eat that same day then this market is for you.
My favorite part of visiting the store was the opportunity to try new foods, from the sweet cheese bread to the strawberry cream sandwich.
For people looking to upgrade their picnics, a visit to KP International Market is well worth the visit.
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KP International Market is open on holidays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.