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| Image: Will Etling's "Sustain," originally for GOOD magazine and contributed to Green Patriot Posters. |
Yesterday evening, some of our Farmer's Market farmers met with a reporter from our local newspaper, the Potter Leader Enterprise, to talk about the upcoming Coudersport Farmer's Market. One of her final questions was "Why should people buy their produce at the Farmer's Market?"
Taste
Freshness
Less vitamin loss
You know who's growing your food and they hold responsibility
You can talk to your farmer about how the produce was grown: chemicals?, pesticides?, etc
Price - often our Farmer's Market prices are equal to or even less than the local grocery stores
Locally grown = less gas used to bring it to your area
The list went on and on.
To buy from your local producers is the very tip of an enormous iceberg of responsibility. When you buy locally you're supporting your local economy. When you buy locally it cuts down on the number of trucks bringing your produce to you (often all the way from Mexico!) and this decreases national gas consumption, thus decreasing American dependence on foreign oil and gas. Less trucks driving means less air pollution. Which means a decrease of the destruction of the ozone layer. Which then decreases incidences of skin cancer. Which decreases medical bills. You can see where this is going. Socially, politically, environmentally, economically, and more - it really is good sense to buy from your local farmer.
Buy Fresh, Buy Local
Think Globally, Act Locally
The Farmer's Market will kick off slowly on May 28th. The cold and rainy weather has set back our planting season, but we'll have some fresh produce, locally canned vegetable and preserves, and local maple syrup. We may only be one booth. But if you come, we will grow! We look forward to seeing you!
Coudersport Farmer's Market
Coudersport Town Square
Coudersport, PA
Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Great article. Farmer's markets are steadily growing in popularity around the U.S. We're getting one in our town this year, which is great news. We grow a majority of our own fruits and vegetables, but when we do buy things we do our best to buy from local growers. It's even better when we get to KNOW our growers, like we've done with the folks we buy meat from.
ReplyDeleteWe encourage the community to support local farmer’s markets for many reasons.
ReplyDeletea. Produce is locally grown and very fresh
b. Farmers’ markets help farmers stay in business
c. It draws in visitors to help local economy.
We’ll have scapes available in early June. The scapes are the flower stems that the garlic plants produce before the bulbs mature. When harvested while they are young and tender, the scapes are delicious. Scapes provide an early substitute for fresh grown garlic and have a milder flavor.
Cook them as you would asparagus, sautéed or steamed. Scapes offer a wide range of uses from soups, stir fries, salads to garnishes. Their flavor makes a perfect harmony when mixed with grilled summer vegetables.