Why Shop at Farmers Markets

There are a number of benefits to shopping at your local farmers market. Outside of growing or foraging your own food, there is no more sustainable way to eat. Buying from local, small farms, especially if they practice organic and / or regenerative farming, ensures that you are directly supporting the people that grow your food, supporting practices that nourish and enrich the soil, reducing your carbon footprint, and ensuring that you are eating the most delicious and seasonal produce.

For more information, here are some more details on why this is an awesome way to shop.

Ripeness is guaranteed

Most of the produce you buy at the grocery store is picked before it is ripe and transported as far as 2,000 miles before it reaches your store. In contrast, farmers market produce is generally ripened on the plant, picked right before the market, and transported less than 50 miles.

Higher nutritional value

Because it has traveled shorter distances to get to you, and because fresh food degrades quickly after being picked and transported, food from a farmers market will be more nutritious.

More options

Farmers markets are generally comprised of a multitude of diverse vendors who sell produce that they are passionate about, or that their land is well-suited to grow. Because of this, small farms do not cave to the same pressure as grocery stores, who typical only offer the most popular products that are the most likely to sell before spoiling.

Reduced carbon footprint

The carbon footprint of goods from a local farmers market is small because they have traveled shorter distances, don’t have as much / any packaging, and minimal if any refrigeration.

Direct support for workers & your local economy

Farmers markets are only comprised of local vendors, usually those that are 50 miles or less away from the market. Because of this, you are guaranteed to be buying locally, that your money is supporting your local economy, and that it is going directly to the farm workers, and not to middlemen. Produce at your local grocery store is likely grown across the country, and sometimes overseas, and is marked up by the store and other parties along the way.

Meet people! Learn things!

When you shop at a farmers market you will have the opportunity to speak directly to the people that grow your food. This is invaluable in getting to know more about how your food is grown, and will give you insight into the level of care and effort required, increasing your appreciation as well as your willingness to pay an extra dollar or two. You’ll also likely see the same people on a recurring basis, and may make some friends.

Ethical treatment of animals

If you buy meat from a farmers market, you will likely be supporting the humane treatment of animals, as small farms care for their animals in a way that large and factory farms do not.

Guaranteed seasonality

Small local farms only sell produce that is in season, which means you’ll have different options throughout the year, ensuring lots of variety, and that you will always be getting the highest nutritional value.