Farmer's Market Season is Here!

Farm market season is almost here. In fact, many farmer's markets will have their opening this Saturday, April 4^th. The market season is a marker I look forward to each year. It's a sign that spring has sprung and fresh, local meats and produce are on their way.

My partner and I often hit as many as three markets each week to buy from our favorite farmers. It's a tradition that keeps us in touch with our food and with each other. You will see us around on Saturdays at the Culpeper, Charlottesville, and Madison markets. He will be wearing our wicker "backpack" basket, and I'll be carrying a reusable bag or three. Markets are great chance for people to connect, to take some time out of their busy schedules and relax, talk, and share something they care about: eating well. It's also a great chance for parents to share where food really comes from, and the fun of choosing new items to try.

Many people think that there's nothing to be had at these markets this early in the year, but it is often the best time to find hidden treasures. Fresh baby spinach and asparagus are just coming in, tender and crisp. Since many farmers now use hoop houses, a more extensive array of lettuces will be on hand for that first big spring salad you've been craving. Or, whip up a dip with fresh baby spinach and cheeses from the local dairies (there's fresh goat cheese right here at the Culpeper market!). Radishes and other ground crops winter over well, so expect to find perfect items for a roasted root vegetable stew! Looking to make the switch to leaner, healthier meats raised closer to home (not in Argentina or Chile')? Local beef, chicken, pork, and eggs are usually available at the very start of the season.

This is also a great time to get to know your local farmers. Markets won't be as busy now as they will later in the season, so take the time to talk to you farmers. They can often offer you new recipes, tell you what products to expect later in the season, and offer advice on storing your purchases. It's also the perfect opportunity to talk to them about their farms and how they are raising what you eat. Most farmers are happy to talk about the methods they use in production, which can give you important insight into how your food was raised and what you're eating.

Shopping at local markets helps support our local farmers and the local economy, and provide healthier, fresher food picked at the peak of ripeness. Ripe foods don't ship well, so you won't find items this packed full of nutrition and flavor in most stores. Local markets help foster community, a sense of commitment and respect between farmers and consumers. They also encourage accountability. As one local hog and chicken farmer said "If someone ever got sick from my meat, everyone would know it and I'd be out of business. I have to be extra careful, extra clean, because I know the people I sell to. They trust me." In a world where most of our products are shipped from coast to coast and country to country, local markets give farmers and consumers the rare chance to look each other in the eye, to develop a network of trust and support, and to know that everyone is there for the same reason: We care about what we eat.