Nourish
3 Reasons Why You Should Hit the Farmers Market
Shopping at the farmers market is a great way to support local businesses, get fresh produce, and have an authentic experience.
The Benefits of Shopping Locally
Since moving to the Fleurieu Penninsula, I've begun the Saturday morning ritual of hitting my local farmers' market. I grab a couple of reusable bags, my member's card, which discounts produce at the stalls, and try to drag one of the kids or my hubby along, then off I go.
Shopping locally is a great way to support the local economy, save money and get quality produce. Shopping locally helps to reduce unemployment rates and keep jobs in your community.
Frequenting my local farmers' market has transformed how I think about and enjoy food.
Reason 1 - Fresh Produce
There are a lot of benefits to buying fresh produce from a local market if you have one in your area.
Buying fresh produce from your market helps reduce the environmental impact of food production because it requires less packaging and transportation. The produce doesn't require long-term cold storage or nor dispose of good product based on its appearance. You get the ugly stuff too!
Another benefit is that you get quality products often at a lower price than what you would find at a big box store or online retailer. But this isn't always the case. Sometimes foods like meat that are locally produced are more expensive. I've found that you tend to buy less, sticking to what you need.
You can also talk to the farmers who produced it, getting tips and tricks for including it in your cooking.
Reason 2 - Delicious Food Items
Food is one of the most important things in our lives. We all need it to survive. It is also a source of happiness and enjoyment for many people.
Sometimes, just buying a couple of ingredients from your local farmers' market like garlic, for example, for a few dollars, it oozes in flavor, which can bring your meals to life.
Reason 3- Animal-Friendly Products and Services
Today, more and more people are becoming conscious of the environment. They want to make sure that they are not contributing to pollution with their everyday decisions. This is why we see more and more good products considering their environmental impact.
At your local farmers, there'll be a fantastic array of products you can choose from that match your values! And if you don't have access to a local market, many grocery stores now offer products from sustainable sources. Some have a specific section dedicated to animal-friendly groceries. You can find foods certified organic, by PETA or vegan-certified, for example, which is great to see these items becoming more accessible.
Alternatives if you don't have a local farmers market
If you don't have access to a local farmers market, there are other ways you might be able to access local produce. Some supermarkets display labels for locally grown produce. Also, there may be farmers in the local area who deliver produce on particular days of the week.
We used to get a box of apples delivered from a farmer doing the rounds in Melbourne.
Teaming up with some neighbors might also be a good way to get access to locally produced food in bulk, making it more cost-effective because you're buying more.
Image credit: Ryan Bruce
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