Spending Saturday mornings at farmers’ markets is one of my favorite ways to connect with local farmers and the community while stocking up on delicious food. If you haven’t explored one yet, I highly recommend it! I discussed this topic on the Morning Show today, and if you’d rather watch the video than read on, feel free to check it out here.
Here are some advantages of shopping at your local market:
– Food usually travels around 2,500 kilometers to reach your table, which isn’t exactly kind to our planet. Buying locally helps reduce the energy and resources needed for transportation, not to mention it cuts down on excess packaging and waste.
– Once harvested, food starts losing nutrients. A cucumber picked five weeks ago and transported 2,000 kilometers is likely to have far fewer nutrients than one harvested a few days ago just 50 kilometers away. In fact, during shipping and while sitting on store shelves, food can lose 50% or more of its nutrients before it even makes it to your fridge. By shopping at farmers’ markets, you ensure you’re getting the most nutrient-rich produce. (Except in some cases where flash-frozen grocery store items can be just as nutrient-dense as freshly picked ones.)
– Farmers’ markets offer the freshest and tastiest produce, picked at peak ripeness for optimal flavor.
– Shopping at these markets strengthens your connection with nature. I love enjoying summer strawberries, August tomatoes, and winter squash in the fall for hearty soups. Incorporating seasonal food into your meals brings you fresher, more nutritious ingredients.
– Personally, I find visiting farmers’ markets a delightful experience, unlike shopping at large indoor supermarkets, which often feels like a chore.
For tips on making the most of your farmers’ market visits, check out my post from last year: “Top 10 Farmer’s Market Shopping Tips.”
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Comments and Feedback:
“Hi Joy! Great tips and I loved your video segment! I think many people view farmers’ markets as pricey because they focus on specialty items, but you can actually find good deals on seasonal produce!”
“Be sure to thank your local farmers for all they do, especially those growing organic crops!”
“Thanks for sharing, and I’m glad you enjoyed the video.”
“Hi Joy, great post! I love the idea of shopping at farmers’ markets too but haven’t been in a while. Do you find most local farmers grow organically, or do they typically indicate if they don’t? That’s my only concern.”
“Yeah! I love going to the farmers’ market in Austin every Saturday morning. I get fresher, tastier food, spend less on groceries, and feel more motivated to eat the lovely veggies I buy from local farmers. Great article!”
