In most cities and towns you will find a farmers' market
in full swing during the summer and harvest months.
We will be writing about our local farmers' market in an upcoming post.
There is so much to say about this topic, but today we are focusing on buying local, because that is what we are doing when we buy from the growers and artisans at our neighborhood farmers' market.
There is so much to say about this topic, but today we are focusing on buying local, because that is what we are doing when we buy from the growers and artisans at our neighborhood farmers' market.
When we buy local, we are doing a wonderful thing. Namely, we are supporting a local grower or farmer or
artist, and that means we are directly contributing to our local economy. We put our money back into our
community. But what does that mean,
exactly? Let's find out, shall we?
If you support local growers, you are likely to get
fresh, non-pesticide grown produce. Many
local growers use more natural fertilizers when growing vegetables. Those farmers that raise livestock often allow
for free-range and/or grass-fed animals, so the meat on your table does not
have GMO's Or Genetically Modified Organisms (more about this in a future post.)
The animal didn't consume growth hormones so you and your family aren't
consuming them either.
The grocery stores or supermarkets have produce
and other products that are shipped in from all across the country. The use of fossil fuels for transportation of
these products is considerable. Now I
know most for places, especially in the mid west where we live, it is difficult to
get some things locally. Our climate is
not conducive for bananas and pineapples and the like. However, when thinking about purchasing these harder-to-find items, consider buying organic. At
least that way, you still are avoiding the toxic consumption of
pesticides.
As long as we're talking about what we're eating, let's
not forget about FLAVOR! The fact of the
matter is that fresh grown, vine-ripened produce taste good. Certainly it taste better than the stuff
on the grocery shelf that was picked weeks before it was ripe and allowed to sit
in a warehouse before it got to you. You know exactly what I'm talking about....strawberries that don't even smell like strawberries and cantelope that has no flavor and feels like Styrafoam in your mouth.
According to The Vineyard, Farmers' Market Association, eating fresh rather than frozen or otherwise processed produce is healthier due
to the fact that fresh retains its nutritional value.
Did you ever wonder why some produce in your grocery store is so shiny? It has wax on it. It turns out that
produce stored in warehouses will draw pests, which also means pest droppings.
This often means that fungicides are used or waxes in order for the
produce to look good for sale.
Those large farms that we see on television that produce
thousands of acres of produce are required to grow vegetables that "look
good" on the store shelf. In other
words, they have to have a certain appearance after they have been in a box and
hauled across country.
Ever hear of heirloom produce? Probably the most common heirloom vegetable
is the tomato, like the ones to the right. Put simply, the heirloom
taste better than it looks. It isn't
perfectly shaped, but it surpasses the spongy tasteless variety of tomato that
is trucked in to your store. Your local
produce farmer knows the difference.
Heirlooms are from plants that have been cultivated for many years. evem decades.
To the left are some tomatoes from the grocery store. They are perfect in appearance having survived the trip cross country. They were picked well before they were ripe. They will not taste as good as a tomato ripened in your local farmers garden.
Earlier we mentioned that buying local supports
community. Think about it. If we are supporting local growers, we are
supporting each other. The whole idea
behind community is that everyone is included.
It doesn't matter if the community is a small town in rural Minnesota or
a large metropolitan area in New York.
If we support local, everyone has a chance at good food. We can teach our children the importance of
growing food and not just running to the corner store to pick up something
processed and packaged.
I know it isn't just that easy, but we can start by getting out on Wednesday afternoon or Saturday morning and visiting the local growers and artisans at the farmers' market. Even if its only a few months out of the year, we still can get fresh produce and maybe even meet someone new.
I know it isn't just that easy, but we can start by getting out on Wednesday afternoon or Saturday morning and visiting the local growers and artisans at the farmers' market. Even if its only a few months out of the year, we still can get fresh produce and maybe even meet someone new.
Buy local, support your community, and eat well at the
same time!
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