By Fredrica Syren
We try to shop at local farmers markets for as much of our food as possible. We’re lucky to have a farmers market relatively close to our home seven days a week. Some of our friends and family feel it’s hard to find everything they need there. I disagree, but maybe it depends on what you eat. Our family has “learned” to eat according to the seasons, but we never feel deprived of anything or think we’re eating the same thing over and over again. Seriously, besides local and seasonal fruits, veggies and nuts, you can find eggs, milk, cheese, fish and sea foods, bread, other baked goods, chocolate, mushrooms, meat, poultry, and honey. I guess what they feel they can’t find, depending on the season, is the variety of fruits or vegetables they normally would buy at the store. But the items not in season have traveled from another country.
On Saturdays, one of the larger farmers markets is in Little Italy. We go as a family and everyone enjoys it. There is something special about smelling and tasting all these wonderful goodies. I also love talking to and getting to know the person who grows my food.
Spending money at the farmers’ markets is making a big impact. A report published by USDA found that the number of farmers’ markets has grown. In 2011, 1,000 more markets opened.
When we spend our money there, not only will the demand for more markets increase, but also there will be more demand for more organic and humane farms. As a result, this could create tens of thousands of jobs.
I encourage and challenge everyone to visit a farmers market today, and to change the way we shop and eat.