This is the time of year when the
farmer’s markets start popping up and depending on where you are, you may have
access to quite a variety of produce and locally produced foods. And while sometimes it’s much easier to
run into the grocery store for the items you need, there are some real benefits
to visiting a local farmer or an outdoor market:
1. Freshness - since
the produce is locally grown, you can bet that it’s not only fresh, but picked
at its peak so that it has the greatest abundance of nutrients possible. Much of the produce found in the large
grocery stores is picked long before it’s ripe and then travels long
distances. Sometimes they’re also
treated with chemicals to ripen them on the trip.
2. Seasonal Eating - These days, we have
access to everything around the globe, which means it’s easy to make a tropical
fruit salad in winter, or even have access to quinoa from South America. When we eat locally produced, seasonal
foods, though, we live in harmony with nature and give our bodies what they
need naturally. Here in New
England, spring and summer are the times to eat early greens and berries, and
they’re naturally detoxifying and cooling, which is exactly what our bodies
need in the hot weather. Root
vegetables that are in season in the fall and winter naturally add more warmth
to the body.
3. Getting to Know Your Farmer - Buying
your produce at a farmer’s market give you an opportunity to get to know your
farmers and their farming practices.
For example, I’ve spoken to several farmers about pesticide
treatment. Most have told me that
they practice integrative pest management, which means that their fields are
inspected regularly and then only treated for a specific bug or disease if and
when necessary. One farmer in
Boston explained to me that they must often treat their apple trees after the
greenhouses in Canada open up, because they release spores into the air that
travel hundreds of miles and infect their trees. When you understand how and why a farmer is raising their
produce, you can make more educated decisions about the food you spend your
money on and eat.
4. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) -
Many farms now offer CSAs, meaning that members of the community can pay a
one-time fee to receive a basket of produce and locally crafted foods on a
weekly basis. The nice thing about
this is that you’ll be given what’s fresh and coming up at the time. In addition, you’re investing in the
success of the farm, which is a win-win situation for everyone. The more support the farms can get, the
more likely they’ll survive and be there to offer the best quality produce you
can get.
5. Reducing Your Carbon
Footprint - Produce that is grown and sold locally on smaller farms
requires less fuel for transportation and potentially less petrochemical
fertilizers that are often required for large-scale growth. This helps us all reduce energy
consumption in a way that has a direct benefit on our health.
6. Fostering a Sense of
Community - By supporting your farmers, you help strengthen the local
community and meet like-minded people in the process. We all want to belong to something and supporting local
farms isn’t limited to farmer’s markets or CSAs. Today, many farms team with local and popular restaurants to
host “chef-to-table” or “farm-to-table” dinners that feature the farm’s ripe
produce as well as other local fare.
I attended one at Starlight Garden Farms in Durham, CT that offered a
seven-course meal and was set out in the open field of tomato plants. The food, the atmosphere, the
conversation, all made for a memorable event.
To find farmer’s markets in your
area, visit Local Harvest, where you can also find farms and their offerings
as well as purchase farm-produced products from their online store.
No comments:
Post a Comment