Go Local for National Farmer’s Market Week

This year August 3^rd – 9^th marks the USDA’s 15^th annual National Farmer’s Market Week as we celebrate the hard working farmers and communities that make fresh locally grown produce available to the public.  There is something about locally grown fruits and vegetables that set them apart from those you find in your supermarket.  Nowadays, people are hopping on the organic bandwagon and while there is a lot of evidence to support the benefits of eating organic produce, locally grown fruits and vegetables might be a better choice for a couple of reasons.

When you go to a farmer’s market, you are getting up close and personal with exactly where your food is coming from and who is growing it.  At the market, you are free to talk with the farmer and ask him or her how they grow their produce.  More often than not, you will find that though the farmer’s produce may not be certified organic, they do not use pesticides anyway.

Another thing to be said about locally grown produce is their nutrient quality.  Let it first be noted that no single fruit or vegetable has the exact same amount of nutrients as the one next to it, which is why variety is key!  The nutrients in a fruit or vegetable are established as they are in the sun, being watered and on the vine growing.  Fruits and vegetables max out on their nutrient quality as soon as they are picked off the vine.  That being said, the organically grown peaches you purchase at the supermarket likely come from farms down south or in Mexico, where they are picked prematurely so that by the time they have sat in a truck for a few days and reached your supermarket, they are just about ripe.  Though they may not have used pesticides, they do not always offer you the most in terms of nutrients.  Locally grown produce on the other hand, is picked that same morning you purchase it from your farmer’s market, when it is at its peak in terms of ripeness and nutrient content.

If you have ever purchased fresh produce from a local farmer’s market there is a good chance you won’t return to supermarket produce.  The quality of locally grown produce is better than all the rest in terms of flavor and freshness.  You are sure to notice the difference when you eat a slice of fresh tomato from your farmer’s market compared to your supermarket, they just don’t compare!

I have to admit, there is a local farmers market just minutes from my home, and in the 20 plus years I am leaving in my community, I have only visited this market a handful of times. Writing this blog has given me the incentive to head on over to my local farmers market, which I plan to do this week.

So take a drive out to your community’s farmer’s market and support your local farmers by purchasing the most reasonably priced, delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables you will find.  Not only is it beneficial to your health, but you are doing a good deed by encouraging local farmers to keep up the good work!

Your turn to take action: Tell me about your favorite farmer’s market experience?

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