10 Good Reasons to Shop at Your Local Farmers Market
Farmers markets are popping up all over the country. More and more people are enjoying the fresh produce, homemade baked goods and other items for sale at local farmers markets. Farmers benefit from enjoying a spot to sell their goods to loyal customers who come back year after year.
10 Good Reasons to Shop at the Local Farmers Market
Food recalls and scares are becoming increasingly common.
Locally grown food is safer, fresher and better tasting. If you’ve never bitten into a home grown tomato, you are missing out on a delightful experience.
There usually is a wide variety of vegetables and fruits to choose from and many times they offer varieties you rarely see in a grocery store.
Each season brings new choices. The cool crops like peas, radishes and lettuce are available in the spring. Summer brings tomatoes, carrots, cauliflower, beans, corn, berries, and melons to mention a few. Pumpkins, squash and ornamental gourds are popular in the fall.
Many farmers use organic farming methods – no chemicals.
One big plus of a farmers market is the opportunity to visit with the farmer who grew the food. You may find out their farming methods and when they harvested the produce. They are all willing to answer your questions about their products.
And who can resist the homemade baked goods? Enjoy homemade goodness without all of the preservatives. These usually go fast so you need to get there early!
Some markets even have vendors who sell plants so you can grow your own. Vegetable plants and perennial flowers are the most common plants propagated to sell at the market.
The same vendors usually return to the farmers market every year so you may establish a relationship with the farmer. You may even be able to talk them into growing a certain variety you’ve wanted to try.
The produce is available as soon as it is picked. No middleman involved. No damages due to transportation.
Eat Healthy!
Farmers markets are a great place to purchase nutritious vegetables and fruits that are safe, fresh and taste great. It makes it easy to get those vegetable and fruit portions into your diet. It is mutually beneficial to the farmer and the customers. That’s why local farmers markets are popping up all over the country and continuing to prosper year after year. Explore the farmers markets in your area!
- A Brief History of Some of our Favorite Garden Vegetables
Ever wonder where all the great vegetables we eat everyday came from? Only a few are native to North America. So where did they originate and how did they get here? Corn (Zea mays) Corn is native to... - The Amazing World of Flowers-Smallest, Largest, Tallest, Smelliest and Ugliest Flowers
Which flower has the honor of being the largest flower in the world? Or at the opposite end of the measuring tape, the smallest flower in the world? Which flowers are considered the smelliest or the ugliest...
Comments
- AUTHOR
I think mnore of them will eventually switch, especially if we consumers demand it. Thanks for reading and commenting, Jaye.
I found three booths at my local farmers market that have wonderful chemical-free produce. I go nearly every Saturday morning. I have to get there by 8:00 a.m. or the best is already gone. I hope more farmers in my state will change to organic, pesticide-free methods.
Jaye
- AUTHOR
And you know your produce is fresh. Thanks for stopping by Kay.
I agree. I like to support local growers.
- AUTHOR
Thank you suziecat7 and D.A.L. I grow some of my own vegetables but my plot is small so I love to go to the markets to get the rest of those great veggies. Some of them offer some really interesting varieties to try! Thank you both for stopping by.
Rose, you are so right to promote fresh organic farm food. Not only is this much better food,but many farmers rely on markets to supplement their income.Thank you for sharing this hub.
Enjoyed this Hub also. We have a great farmers' market here and several tailgate markets. I try to buy there when I can.
- AUTHOR
Thank you, chirls. Where I live, the farmers are just planting but I can't wait! Thanks again for reading and commenting.
Good hub! I'm so glad that my farmer's market is full of lovely local vegetables again.
9