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.

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.

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!