Five Very Good Reasons for Shopping at Your Local Farmers Market

We are soon approaching my favorite time of year. Within the next couple of months, local farmers markets will be opening for the season. if the experience and the atmosphere are not enough incentive to go, I thought that I would give you five more good reasons to attend your local farmers market.

1) Support your local economy. We have become more nationalized in our economy by shopping at national chains. Money spent with local farmers is available to your local economy again, perhaps to be spent at your business. There is also no middleman, so prices tend to be a bit lower, especially later in the season.

2) Variety. It is unlikely that your local farmers market will have more quantity than your local supermarkets or that they will have some of the fruits or non-seasonal vegetables, however there will be more variety of in season produce. Don't be afraid to try something a little different and ask how to prepare it. Many people do not realize that there are different varieties of tomatoes suitable for juice, paste, and stuffing as well as for your salads and hamburgers.

3) Quality. The vast majority of produce on your supermarkets shelves are selected for three qualities: Consistency, shelf life and shipping suitability. While they may not be perfectly round and bright red, varieties of tomatoes purchased from local growers can change the way you shop forever. Try Brandywines, German Johnsons, or Mortgage Lifter and you will never buy another South American hydroponic tomato when these are available, to say nothing of difference in freshly picked green beans or sweet corn

4) Freshness. Locally grown produce can be on your table within hours of being picked. In order to be ripe for you, shipped produce must be picked days before peak ripeness to allow for transit times.

5) Interaction with the grower. If you want to know if something is organic or a good way to prepare eggplant, ask the grower. It is a fair bet that he eats from his garden as well as marketing from it. Its a great way to show your children where their food comes from as well.

Attending a local farmers market can be both entertaining and educational. Farmers who grow produce for direct marketing are a dying breed and a valuable resource to conserve through your purchases. With the rising costs of fuel, you might just find a few bargains too.