Can You Get Any Fresher?

Can You Get Any Fresher? It’s the season of vine-ripened-and-freshly picked.

There’s no better place––except your own backyard garden––than a local Farmers Market. Farmer’s markets are in full swing in many neighborhoods, so I want to share a few reasons to encourage you to make them a regular activity on your Summer calendar:

1. Taste the Difference: Farmer’s markets offer the freshest food around – usually only hours from the field – so you get top quality, perfectly ripe flavor.

2. Help the Environment: Eating locally saves vast amounts of packaging waste and energy required to ship food around the globe.

3. Shop Organic for Global Health: Farmer’s markets attract vendors who use organic growing methods, meaning you gain access to foods free of synthetic pesticides. Plus, buying organic supports good land stewardship.

4. Become Part of Your Community: Festive and lively, farmer’s markets are social venues where you bump into friends and meet local farmers face to face.

5. Support Local Farmers and Your Local Economy: In an era when sustainable farmers struggle to survive, farmer’s market profits – which go straight into growers’ pockets – help keep small farms alive.

6. Learn About Food: Kids and adults alike enjoy exploring firsthand how foods are grown, harvested and eaten by browsing market stalls and talking to farmers.

7. Boost Your Nutrition: Tantalizing produce displayed in farmers’ bins and baskets encourages you to eat more fruits and vegetables and consume your five daily servings.

8. Treat Your Senses: Experiencing the colors, smells and tastes of a farmer’s market is a sensual experience that connects you to the land.

9. Find New Cooking Ideas: Community chefs at the farmer’s market are happy to share recipes for in-season foods.

Covid-19 brings a few revisions to the 2020 Farmers Markets than we’ve known previously, so please check before you go, the requests/regulations of your local market. A few tips may include:

• Observe and comply with all distancing signage in the market area. Wear a mask where appropriate.

• Research before you go whether the market accepts cash only or accepts credit cards only. If cash is acceptable, take plenty small bills.

• Markets are a great place to walk and fully experience the outing. Park the bicycles, scooters, skateboards and “mosey” through the market.

• Take-your-own-tote. • Don’t litter––discard properly any trash you may have created.

• Tell the farmers “Thank You.”

The benefits of shopping the Farmers Markets far outweigh the current restrictions, so go ahead and get fresh this summer!