If you love food and community, the farmers’ market is your place! It can feel pretty dreamy stepping into a farmers’ market and being surrounded by fresh produce, locally made goods, and grass-fed everything. Plus, shopping at the farmers’ market is the easiest way to eat locally and with the seasons!
Eating local, organic, and seasonal foods is not only delicious but also great for your health, beneficial for your bank account, and better for the environment!
Why eat seasonally?
Food grown locally tends to mean seasonal foods at your fingertips. Foods purchased locally and in season may even offer a slight nutritional edge compared with produce that has traveled long distances. It tastes fresher and holds its natural colors.
Eating seasonally also helps balance the earth’s resources. We can forget that food availability naturally changes with the seasons because modern agriculture allows us to have most foods year-round; we see tomatoes even when it isn’t “tomato season.”
Local or big chain: the difference
Typically, local food from the farmers’ market can be bought in bulk at a cheaper price. Buying organically at the grocery store can feel like you’re emptying your wallet by the apple. Fortunately, farmers’ markets regularly offer organic produce at a lower cost. While the fruits and veggies you find at the farmers’ market may not be as aesthetically pleasing as at the grocery store, they still contain the same or more nutrients without any unnatural processes.
Another bonus of the farmers’ market is how it brings your community together over a mutual bond of food. You can meet the actual people who have planted, tended, grown, and harvested your food. It’s a great place to connect with others who share your passion and get to know the farmers behind it all. While you’re creating connection, you’re also supporting local businesses – it’s a win-win!
Ready to grab your reusable shopping bags and head to the farmers’ market?
Here’s what to pick up right now:
Fruits
Apples
Apricots
Avocados
Kiwi
Pineapples
Vegetables
Artichokes
Arugula
Asparagus
Carrots
Potatoes
Rhubarb
Spinach
Share your favorite ways to use spring produce in the comments below!