Celebrating The Farmer’s Market and Fresh Local Food!

If you have been following me on Facebook or Instagram, you know that I am a huge fan of local, seasonal produce! One of the pillars of Simple | Pure | Whole^TM Wellness is to nourish your body with real, whole food. To satisfy this need, I love to visit my local farmer’s market to pick up a wealth of fresh locally-grown organic veggies.  Shopping from your local farmer’s market allows you to get the freshest, most vibrant food while supporting your neighbors and community. It is a great opportunity to experiment with new foods and try a variety of nourishing ingredients.

National Farmer’s Market Week has just come to a close as an important reminder of all that local farmer’s and markets do for our health and communities! These community gathering spots offer an easy way to connect with healthy food and those who work hard to provide it. They also provide a wealth of benefits. 

An Economic Boost

Evidence shows that farmer’s markets significantly improve the health and well-being of their communities, economies, and environments. For example, growers selling locally create 13 full time jobs per $1 million in revenue earned compared to only 3 for those not selling locally. Also stimulating the local economy, farmer’s markets return more than three times as much of their sales to the local economy compared to chain retailers. 

Good for the Body and Soul

When you buy the majority of your food at the farmer’s market, you are more likely to make healthy choices that promote a balanced weight and vibrant energy. Markets provide a wealth of produce options, much of it produced with sustainable, organic methods. Instead of filling up your grocery cart with processed foods, the farmer’s market offers you the opportunity to stock up with fresh, clean and nutrient-packed foods. In fact, studies have also shown that local farmer’s markets are good for our health and wellbeing. People living closer to farmer’s markets are more likely to have lower body mass indexes (BMIs) and also benefit from the increased social and informational encounters with the people growing their food. 

Harmony with the Seasons and Local Environment

Eating in tune with our local environment and the seasons helps us stay in tune with our bodies and the rhythms of nature.  A great way to find produce that is fresh and in season is to shop your local farmer’s market! You will find freshly picked food that has higher levels of nutrients while simulaneously decreasing your environmental impact on the earth.

Unique Real Food Options

One of my favorite reasons for shopping at the farmer’s market is the opportunity to sample new-to-me produce options and learn about real food options straight from the source! Farmer’s are amazing people and usually truly care about the food they are producing. They can be a treasure trove of information about traditional varieties of fruits and vegetables and offer a new recipe to enjoy their bounty. For example, the variety and flavor of heirloom tomatoes currently at our local market is unmatched at any supermarket. Instead of the uniform and transportable yet flavorless options which typically stock supermarket shelves, heirloom varieties come in a bright spectrum of colors, sizes, shapes and patterns. They are beautiful and also filled with sweet, juicy flavor! As I learned from one of my local farmer’s, to be considered heirloom, a vegetable or fruit variety must have existed for at least 50 years and have often been kept due to their flavor and disease and pest resistance. They are also open-pollinated, meaning that pollination happens completely naturally via insects and the wind. 

Are you looking to eat well, locally and sustainably where you live? Search for a farmer’s market near you and explore other local food options like CSAs, farm-to-table restaurants and more via the Eat Well Guide.

For some creative and allergy-friendly ways to use up the abundance of local greens you can often find at your local farmer’s market, check out my Glorious Greens for Great Health virtual workshop and cookbook!

What do you love about your local farmer’s market? What are you snatching up in season currently where you live?

 

 

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Every body is unique so be sure to check with your health care professional before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. These are products that I use and should not be considered medical advice.

This post was shared with: Motivation Monday, Healthy, Happy, Green & Natural Party, Tuesday’s Table, Tasty Tuesday, Two Cup Tuesday, Summer Family Fun Party, Waste Not Want Not Wednesday, Create & Share DIY Recipe Party, Plant-Based Potluck, Full-Plate Thursday, Create It Thursday, Weekend Retreat, Family Fun Friday, Crafty & Delicious, Friday’s Five Features,Real Food Friday, Fat Tuesday