- They eliminate the middle guy, which means higher financial returns for them because of direct selling, price control, and regular income. Our local market is right near the library, making Saturday morning trips into town multi-purposed. Families can visit the market, county offices, the library, and the local area museum all within the same two blocks.
- Customers and producers give each other feedback. Customers know how their fruits and veggies are produced, and what their meat ate during its short lifespan. Really, wouldn't you rather have your cattle eating grass their entire lives than genetically modified corn that's loaded with antibiotics?
- They're friends of the environment, reducing food miles, vehicle pollution, unnecessary packaging, noise, and fossil fuel use. And many of the farmers in my area use natural pesticides, which makes the foods safer to eat as well.
- Not only does the consumer know where the food that's bought at a Farmers' Market comes from, but the vendors often can educate their customers on other things like how to prepare and cook fresh ingredients versus things you'd buy in the store.
- Farmers' Markets encourage those who are unemployed (or underemployed) to tap into their talents. Our local market has people who, in addition to fruits, veggies, and meats, also sell honey, birdhouses made from gourds, jams and jellies, flowers, jewelry, salsa, pies, breads, dairy products, pottery, and locally roasted coffee beans. (Obligatory shout out to Black Dog Coffee, which helps get me through slow days.) They also feature a couple of hours of free, live music from local musicians such as our town's very own County Clerk, Jennifer Maghan. When people are successful at doing something new, it raises their self-confidence and encourages other people to re-evaluate their own skills.
- They regenerate small towns, bringing new life to otherwise stagnant areas of cities and towns.
- The most important reason to shop your local Farmers' Market is because it stimulates local economy and keeps your dollars in your town. It increases self-employment, encourages citizens to support local business, and even attracts new retailers. Our town has since enjoyed the opening of a new tavern bookstore. That's right, you can peruse new and used books while having a pint of ale, glass of wine, a panini sandwich or quesadilla and a soda, or a cup of Black Dog Coffee.
And there you have it! What do you like best about your local Farmers' Market? What do you wish they did differently? Can you think of other benefits? I'd love to hear all your comments!
