Why Buying Locally Grown Food Is Good for Everyone: The Farmers Market
The local Farmers Market is a tapestry of sights, smells, sounds and tastes that tease the senses. Your local Farmers Market also plays an important part in your local economy, supports endangered family farms, contributes to your family’s health, and aids in the protection of the environment. A Farmers Market may be just a gathering of local farmers with their produce in the town park or vacant lot or it may be a special building designed for the showcase of fresh farm produce. The first known Farmers Market in the United States was in 1634 under the auspices of Gov. John Winthrope of Boston and was modeled after similar markets in Europe. There is was common for farmers to bring their produce to town to sell their wares and the town folk to purchase the just harvested bounty. In that regard, Farmers Markets haven’t changed at all. Today, Farmers Markets still provide that experience of fresh picked flavor but they contribute to the quality of life in several other ways as well.
When you buy locally grown produce you are helping your local economy. The purchase of a pint of strawberries sweetens the economy in your community by circulating the dollars. And when you buy from the farmer/vendor in a face to face transaction, it helps to build strong community relationships. Of course, buying from your local farmer also supports an endangered species, the small farm operation. It means that more of the money spent on food actually gets to the guy who has been out in the field. The US Department of Agriculture (www.ams.usda.gov) reports that there are a little over 4,600 small farm operations as of 2008 and that is an increase of 6.8% from 1994 when there were 1,755. However, it is often a struggle for the small farm to compete with the mega-farm operations so the direct access of the farmers market is a boon to them.
Some of the produce available at Farmers Markets is grown organically which means no chemicals, hormones, antibiotics, or pesticides have been used. Many people believe that organically grown food is much safer to consume. Even if the produce you buy does not say organic, you have the opportunity at the Farmers Market to have a conversation with the farmer one-to-one to find out was used in the growing process. Can’t do that at the supermarket!
Shopping at the Farmers Market helps to keep our planet “green”. By having the food travel the shorter distance to the local Farmers Market instead of across the country for sale, there is a large savings on the carbon footprint calculation. Include in that figure the decrease in packing material necessary.
Best of all, when you buy at your local Farmers Market you are giving yourself the gift of food that tastes, looks, and smells wonderful. There can be a world of difference between eating a tomato bought at a supermarket and one that was picked from the farmer’s field less than 24 hours ago. Why is that? Most produce in the supermarket was bred for withstanding the industrial harvesting equipment and for longer shelf life, necessary because of the long travel time involved. What has been lost is the taste. According to FoodRoutes.org, from 1903 to 1983 we lost almost 93% of lettuce varieties, over 96% of sweet corn varieties, more than 95% of tomato varieties and almost 98% asparagus. Small farm operations are more likely to plant and grow what are often called heirloom varieties (those varieties that taste like they came out of your grandmother’s garden) and bring them to your local Farmers Market since the travel distance is minimal. You, as the consumer, get to reap the taste benefit.
To learn about the healthy skin benefits of eating fresh produce, check out the podcast on www.twentysomethingyak.com entitled Foods to Make Your Skin Glow. To find a Farmers Market near you, go to LocalHarvest.org.
August 2 – 8, 2009 has been designated as the 10th Annual National Farmers Market Week. Go support your local market and farmers, fill your basket with nutritious and delightful tasting food, and enjoy your day. A Farmers Market is a vibrant, fun place to spend some time.
