Y
es!, summer is here in full swing — the heat, humidity and a bounty of fruits and veggies are available for you to enjoy. What better place to find fresh fruits and veggies than your local farmers’ market. You can find them in every town and most larger markets have their own website or the towns/counties have a guide online. I personally am a farmers’ market stalker. I love walking around discovering new foods and ways to use them. This is the best time of year to buy from and support your local farmers for a variety of reasons.
- The produce is picked in the morning or the day before.
- Produce has a higher nutritional value because it’s fresher.
- Cut down on carbon footprint
- Better value for your money
Farmers’ markets are a great place to explore and try new foods. I know there are those of you that are intimidated by this type of venue. It’s really quite easy, walk in with your list and the intent to buy one new thing every week, this way you can start to stretch your food awareness muscle. If there’s someone choosing or buying a veggie that you’d like to know more about or how to cook…ask them! You’d be surprised to know how much people love to share their recipes and food knowledge with others.
There’s a plethora of vendors from organic fruits and veggies to exotic mushrooms, pickles, kombucha, bakeries that are gluten-free and conventional to new types of cheeses, organic wines and a variety of chilis. There’s something for everyone to try and enjoy. The most important thing is that you enjoy yourself and have fun with food.
A couple of farmer’s market cautions…Similar to a grocery store run, don’t go hungry or you’ll come home with things you normally would never buy. Go with a budget, know what you want to spend as it’s easy to get carried away. Bring your own reusable bags this way you don’t have to keep running back to the car and you can enjoy the experience. Bring an open mind with you, there might be some great finds that you can add to your meals. And remember, it’s a great place to meet like minded people who care about their health and wellness too! 😉
