Finding your nearest Farmers Market is easy - Visit: www.localharvest.org

Recent food trends show that more and more people have taken an interest in eating healthy food, organic food and locally grown food. Your local Farmers' Market offers the best chance to find what you are looking for, and perhaps find or taste something new. Locating the Farmers' Market nearest to you is now only a few clicks away. Localharvest.org is a useful and straight-forward site designed to faciliate your quest. Simply enter your zip code, search "farmers market" and a map and list of your local markets will appear. Directions are just a click away.














Click the map above and see how easy it is

There are so many advantages to shopping at your local Farmers' Market- most important of which is being able to purchase a wide variety of farm fresh produce. The fruits, berries and vegetables sold at the market are locally grown and picked when perfectly ripened. This freshness enhances the flavor, texture, and aroma of the produce. Keep in mind that the fruits and vegetables at your chain grocery store are picked unripe, and on average travel over 1400 miles before appearing in your store. Farmers' Markets allow local farmers direct access to the buying public. Conversely, local consumers enjoy access to locally grown, farm-fresh produce as well as the personal interaction with the farmer who has actually grown the produce.















The Gurus Of Green, Tailgate Old School

Meeting local farmers such as Mike and Bob (seen above) can be a great and enriching experience. I met these Gurus of Green at the St. Petersburg Farmer's Market last year while I was on holiday. Because of my urban garden project and interest in good food, we compared growing tips, recipes, and they suggested places and things to see or do while I was in town. They also sold me some delicious spinach, picked earlier that morning.

Many people now consider values other than price, appearance, and accessibility while choosing what to eat. How something was grown- organic or not, pesticides or not, sustainably or not - as well as where something was grown are heavily weighted values for many. The popularity of such books as The Omnivores Dilemma and new food trends such as the locavore diet have helped to raise public consciousness about the morality and sustainabilty of current eating habits. A few years back I coined the term "ethicurean" to capture this emerging nuance:

This growing concern and thoughtful awareness has helped to restore and support smaller organic farms and popularize Farmer's Markets and community supported agriculture [CSA]

Most vendors at your local farmers' market come from small, family operated farms…as a result spending your money at such markets keeps your money within your community and supports the local economy. You can often find great bargains at a farmers' market - particularly at the end of the day, when farmers don't want to bring home boxes of unsold, ripe tomatoes or slightly limp spinach. Produce at a farmers' market is available according to the season. Adapting to eating seasonally can require a minor adjustment, but it is one which will put you in touch with the rhythms of your local seasons and with delicious fresh fruits and vegetables.

Share your local farmers market experience or comments below

Categories: Organic Gardening , Sustainable Living