by Mary Knetter

Created on: October 07, 2008

With supermarkets and hometown grocery stores stocking food from around the world, we have the convenience of inexpensive foods that can be grown in any country and made available year-round.

But have you ever left the grocery store disgusted with yourself and the foods you buy? Do you ever wonder if your money went to support underpaid and overworked employees? How can you support your local economy and know the money goes back into YOUR community?

The answer is simple: Shop at your local farmer's market.

For most people, spring, summer and fall provide a great opportunity to take advantage of locally grown products available at local farmer's markets and give you a great feeling of satisfaction for supporting a local farmer. Here are a few pros and cons to consider before you get started.

FIRST, THE PROS

You get what you pay for-Farmer's markets are a great place to get the freshest vegetables, fruits and other foods. You'll get the best of what's in season in your region from growers who are knowledgeable about what they do.

You can establish a relationship with the people who grow what you buy-By getting to know the growers, you'll establish a relationship with producers may be able to cut you a deal because you're a good customer to them. They can also give you information about how the product is grown and some recipes to bring out the best of what you buy.

It cuts out the middleman-All the money you spend goes directly to those who work the land and grow the product. You aren't supporting a large corporation that takes a big cut and gives the rest to the people doing the grunt work.

The money you spend goes back into your local economy and helps to improve it-The money you pay a producer helps the economy in your area. That farmer can use that money to buy food, gasoline and equipment to improve their business, all of which can be purchased locally.

You get more value from your dollar-Producers sell the best quality product they can. Often it is picked or harvested within the last 24 hours and is grown by someone who is knowledgeable and has a passion for what they grow. You're also supporting a way of life for someone passionate about what they do.

Some farmers may let you sample before you buy-Many producers sell jams, jellies and slice up sample bites of their products to let you have a taste. They offer the stress-free "try before you buy" option. What grocery store lets you do that?

Local farmers markets are a "green" option-Because growers ship their product

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