by Linda L Kinyon

Created on: September 18, 2009   Last Updated: April 27, 2011

If you're not shopping at your local supermarket for produce, you are truly missing out on the ambiance that the local farmers market has to offer. Local farmers markets have readily fresh available produce at reasonable cost and you are helping to support your local farmers and community.

When shopping at a supermarket, you probably don't know where the produce came from unless you happen to see a sign stating that something was grown in a specific geographical region. Even then you may still question the nutritional value of the fruits and vegetables that you're purchasing, after all, that's a long ways for a fruits and vegetables to travel to get to your local grocer. Most likely the fruits and vegetables were picked when they were still green and are just now ripening. At the local farmers market, you can be assured that your produce is fresh and was picked at it's peak. You'll also be assured that your fruits and vegetables have traveled a very short distance to be available for you to eat.

At the grocery store, you won't be able to determine what chemicals or pesticides were used on your vegetables or fruit. You won't be offered much in the line of recipes either. When you shop at the local farmers market you can ask the vendor exactly what has been used on the huge tomato that you find or inquire as to the availability of gravenstein apples or bartlet pears in the next few weeks. Often the vendors will even have samples available as well as a few great recipes or even some great suggestions on how to cook something up for a real taste treat.

Getting to know the various vendors by making a weekly trip to the farmers market is also great fun. You will find the old timers swapping stories under the huge weeping willow by the creek or see the young children scampering around enjoying the last vestiges of the summer sunshine. Families will enjoy the time spent at the local farmers market and the children will be welcome to wander through most of the booths and admire the offerings of delicious foods.

Grocery stores just don't hold the same allure that the local farmers market holds. You are always hurried to get in and out and get home to make dinner. The pace of the local farmers market is much more relaxed and you have an enjoyable visit as you wander the various booths and make friends with the vendors.

If you happen to be a vegan you want the freshest possible foods for your family. A farmers market will help you to support that lifestyle choice. At the local grocery store you don't know for sure when those tomatoes were picked, how far they have traveled or even if they were picked ripe or green. You won't know if they traveled next to animals or were sprayed with an animal fertilizer either. The freshest foods are picked when fully ripe and taken directly to the local farmers market before they have a chance to change colors or age.

At the local farmers market you will often be invited to "sit a spell" and visit over a fresh apple or even a fresh tossed salad. Friendships are established or even re established if you had lost touch and happen to find each other here.

Local economy is boosted and there is just something about knowing where your produce comes from and that it is healthy. Most small towns are actually very closely knit and the farmers market just seems to draw them even closer.

Why not check out your local farmers market and see what they have to offer. Who knows, it may just change your eating habits in the most healthful of ways.

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