Here’s Why You Should Support Local Farmers:
I think it is more important than ever to focus on ways to support local farmers. As inflation is kicking us right in the ****, we need to find ways to save more, help the local economy, and also eat healthily.
What a hustle, right? Well, from savoring produce at its peak freshness to meeting all kinds of interesting people, many of us forget to rely on local farmers!
But I’ve decided to change this, so I enlisted all the reasons why you should start buying from your local farmers. Needless to say, I’m waiting for you to come back and tell us how your local shopping experience was!
Taste real flavors.
The fruits and vegetables you would buy at the farmer’s market are by far the freshest and tastiest out there. Fruits are allowed to ripen fully in the field, and they are carefully transported right to you.
There’s no such thing as long-distance shipping, no gassing that would simulate the ripening process (which is so toxic!), and definitely no sitting for weeks in storage. What you see is what you get: fresh from the farm. This is one of the best reasons to support local farmers: they provide the best thing out there.
Enjoy the season.
The food you buy at the farmers market is seasonal, as you might know already. Well, that’s probably one of the reasons why it is always so fresh and delicious: it reflects its truest flavors. Shopping and cooking food bought from the farmer’s market will help you reconnect with the various social circles and natural cycles in your region.
As you look forward to asparagus in spring, try the sweet and tasty corn in summer, and, of course, bake pumpkins when fall comes, magic happens. Why? Well, that’s how you reconnect with the earth, the weather, and also the turning of the year.
Support family farmers.
Family farmers might need your support, especially now that large agribusiness dominates the majority of food production in the United States.
Well, small family farms have a rather hard time competing in the food marketplace. However, buying directly from farmers gives them a better return for their own work and also gives them the right to fight for their business in a globalized economy. So yes, we should remember to support local farmers.
Protect the environment.
Food in the United States travels an average of 1,500 miles to get to your plate. All this shipping uses large amounts of fossil fuels and other natural resources, which contribute to pollution and also create a lot of trash.
Conventional agriculture also uses way more resources than sustainable agriculture. Moreover, it pollutes the water, land, and air with toxic agricultural by-products.
Food at the farmer’s market is then transported shorter distances and is usually grown using methods that minimize the negative impact on the planet.
Nourish yourself
Is it even worth reminding ourselves that most food we find in grocery stores nowadays is highly processed and grown using all kinds of pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, and other genetic modifications? Some of it has been irradiated, waxed, and even gassed in transit.
All these practices could have a negative effect on human health. In comparison, the majority of food that’s found at the farmers market goes through minimal processing, and many of the local farmers go to great lengths to grow the most nutritious produce possible.
And how do they do that? By using various sustainable techniques, picking produce right before the market, and growing all kinds of varieties.
Discover the spice of life: Variety
At the farmers market, you will find a wide range of produce that you wouldn’t usually see in your average supermarket. Whether we’re talking about red carrots, a rainbow of heirloom tomatoes, cauliflower, nettles, green garlic, maitake mushrooms, and even watermelon radishes. It’s a great opportunity to try and taste the biodiversity of our planet.
Promote humane treatment of animals
At the farmers market, expect to find all kinds of meats, cheeses, and eggs from animals that have been raised the good old-school natural way.
All those animals have seen green grass (and I say that because you would be shocked to learn more about the conditions of other animals raised in the industrial system). They also eat natural diets and have been spared the cramped and unnatural living conditions of cages.
Know where your food comes from
A regular trip to a farmer’s market is probably one of the best ways to connect with the land from which food comes. Also, meeting and talking to farmers and food artisans is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about how and where food is produced.
Learn cooking tips, recipes, and meal ideas.
There aren’t many grocery store cashiers or produce stockers who could give you tips on how to cook the ingredients you need. But farmers, ranchers, and artisans can.
And they will because they’re also extremely passionate cooks with tons of free advice about how to cook the foods they are selling. You could even try attending free seasonal cooking demonstrations by leading Bay Area chefs. Or, if you prefer, you could try evening classes on food preservation and learn many other kitchen skills.
Connect with the community.
Well, wouldn’t you rather stroll around outdoor stalls of fresh produce on a sunny day than actually roll your cart around a grocery store with all those artificial lights and invading ads?
Another reason why we should support local farmers is because we will also have a more pleasurable experience. Shopping won’t be a chore anymore; it will be a way to socialize and connect with the community.
You will have a place where you can meet up with your friends, bring your kids, or just get a much-needed battery recharge at the end of the week.
Farmers markets always offer food that aligns with a healthy eating pattern.
All the existing guidelines for a healthy eating pattern will recommend that you get a variety of food from all five food groups. These food groups could also include fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy.
You can visit all kinds of booths for seasonal fruits and vegetables, but also local grain, protein, and dairy products. This way, you can build a healthy plate. However, don’t forget: a healthy relationship with food also means enjoying treats.
If you are also looking for other types of organic food that you might not find at the local farmer’s, well, I got you covered! For instance, if you’re looking for organic coffee, I highly recommend you try this Pureoast Low Acid Coffee Ground organic house blend from PureRoast Coffee.
I am particularly looking for coffee that’s not as acidic as other types, for the simple reason that it hurts my stomach. If you’re also into low-acid coffee, you definitely have to try this.
Now, in case you don’t find anything to snack on at the local farmers market, you also need to try the Simple Mills almond flour crunchy cookies with toasted pecan. They’re my absolute favorites!
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