Better quality food
Farmer’s markets offer the freshest food around─often only hours from the field─which means you can count on perfectly ripe, beautifully high food quality. That's a nice change from force-ripened produce transported from afar, no? You'll also find amazing colors, flavors, and aromas, and many seasonal items that may be new to you. All this nourishes your connection to fresh, whole, real food.
Many pesticide-free options
Farmer’s markets offer many organic and "transitional" options—that's when farms don't use chemicals, but aren't certified organic. Clean, natural produce is far cheaper at farmer's markets than high-end health food stores, and you'll be protecting your family from antibiotics, pesticides, growth hormones, GMOs, and other toxins. Organic agriculture also improves soil fertility, prevents chemical fertilizers from polluting waterways, and encourages species diversity!
Encourages healthy eating
Many people like to learn about how foods are grown and harvested, and appreciate seasonal produce. What better way to do so than to taste farm-fresh food and connect with growers? Children often enjoy the beautifully displayed produce, and when they can sample and choose what they like, they'll be far more likely to eat their fruits and veggies each day, which helps to optimize their wellness on many levels.
Supports your community
Farmer’s markets are cheerful social venues where you can connect with friends and meet your local farmers and food producers. You may also find local eggs, honey, baked goods, natural beauty products, and more. What's especially important is that farmer’s markets help keep small farms alive and growing. Why not support these sustainable food producers when they offer us so much? As a bonus, many farmer's markets offer special events, like cooking demonstrations, music, festivals, and more.
It’s eco-friendly
If you appreciate green living, you know that being a locavore saves vast amounts of packaging waste, not to mention the energy required to ship food around the globe. It's really almost counterintuitive not to take advantage of what your very own community (or those nearby) can provide. Make it even greener by coming prepared with your own bags or even a box to carry your bounty.
Helps curb climate change
According to the American Farmland Trust, with our support, U.S. agriculture can help reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions by adopting new practices and technologies and by producing low-carbon renewable energy. Studies indicate that changes in agriculture practices could offset up to one fifth of current U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Now, that's impressive!
If you don't have a local farmers market, the National Farmer’s Market search engine can help you discover nearby sites: http://apps.ams.usda.gov/FarmersMarkets/ Indeed, why not live green, eat fresh and local, and enjoy vibrant wellness?
