When it comes to fresh produce, there’s nothing quite like heading to your local farmers market. Not only will you find an incredible selection of seasonal fruits and vegetables, but you’ll also be supporting your community and the environment. Here are just a few of the many reasons to shop at a farmers market:
Shopping at your local farmers market helps the environment.
It’s no secret that many of the foods we eat are grown using harmful pesticides and chemical fertilizers. These chemicals can leach into the soil and groundwater, polluting our environment. When you buy from a farmers market, you can be sure that your food is grown organically, without harmful chemicals.
Most of the produce sold in grocery stores travels by truck over long distances. Buying locally grown produce from a farmers market cuts down on transport emissions and the use of fossil fuels. Self high five for reducing that carbon footprint; thank you very much!
What are the benefits of shopping at a farmers market for your health?
When it comes to produce, freshness is key. The food sold at farmers markets is fresher than food sold at a conventional grocery store. Food loses its nutritional value the longer it travels from the spot where it was grown, so the shorter the time from the vine, tree, or ground to your table, the more nutrients your food will have. At a farmers market, most fruits and vegetables are picked within 24 hours of being sold, so you know you’re getting the absolute best quality produce available.
What are the economic benefits of shopping at a farmers market?
You support local farmers and businesses when you shop at a farmers market. This helps to keep money in the local economy, which benefits the community as a whole.
In addition, buying locally grown food often costs less than buying food shipped from elsewhere.
By shopping at a farmers market, you’re supporting family farms, local growers, and businesses. Buying locally helps to create jobs in the community too!
What are the social benefits of a farmers market?
Shopping at a farmers market is a great way to meet your neighbors and support your local community. Farmers markets often have a festive atmosphere, making them enjoyable places to shop. In addition, many markets offer entertainment or educational opportunities for children.
Taste the difference.
Freshly picked fruits and vegetables taste better than those that have been sitting around in a supermarket for days (or even weeks). Once you’ve tasted truly fresh produce, you’ll never go back! (Take a big ole bite of a farmers market tomato like you would an apple and thank me later).
Farmers are knowledgeable.
Not only do farmers grow the food we eat, but they also know a lot about it! When you buy fresh fruits and vegetables from farmers markets, you can ask the growers questions about how the food was grown, what variety it is, and when it was picked. This information can be helpful for both cooking and storage. Don’t know how best to prepare something? Ask! You can get wonderful dos and don’ts from your farmer that will help you make amazing dishes.
Become a frequent customer and reap the benefits.
After shopping at a farmers market for a while, you will get to know the people behind these small family farms. They can tell you the best time of day to get there for the produce you like or when to come by for a bargain (they may need to offload some of the unsold goodies they still have at the end of the day). 5lbs of blueberries for a steal? Don’t mind if I do!
So head over to google and type in “local farmers market near me,” and enjoy all the fantastic benefits shopping locally has to offer.
What should you do with your farmers market haul once you get home? Check out this post on tips for saving time in the kitchen!
