5 Reasons Why You Should Support Your Local Farmers Market
Owners of Wild Leaven Bakery, André & Jessica Kempton at the Taos Farmers Market
Whether you look to grab fresh finds or meet your neighbors who grow your food, there are numerous reasons why you should support your local farmers market. Read below five compelling reasons why you should explore fresh produce, reduce your carbon footprint, support the local economy, connect with your community, and enjoy seasonal delights.
1. MEET YOUR LOCAL GROWERS AND PRODUCERS
In our modern days, we are often disconnected from the origins of our food. When you come to the local farmers market, you get to know your local farmers who often run their family farms, and your local producers who carefully craft their products. You have the opportunity to develop a relationship with them while getting to know where your food comes from. During the TFM season, we are always happy to meet our customers: from longtime locals to out-of-state visitors.
2. STRENGTHEN YOUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND FOOD COMMUNITY
Farmers and producers who sell directly to consumers receive about 80 cents of each food dollar. Whenever you purchase food items in major grocery chains, the farmers receive an average of only 10 cents of each food dollar. The other 90 cents goes to corporations for packaging, marketing, and transportation. When you decide to purchase anything at your local farmers market, you support small business owners and the economy of your region. During the TFM season, we make a point to purchase all our groceries from our local farmers and producers as a family and as a business.
Stop by our TFM booth to purchase a loaf of handcrafted sourdough bread!
3. ENJOY FRESH, FLAVORFUL & NUTRITIOUS FOOD
The vast majority of local farmers abstain from using pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, and genetic modification. They often use sustainable techniques, picking produce right before the market, and growing heirloom varieties. The meats, cheeses, and eggs from their animals are humanly raised, grazed on green grass, or fed on natural diets. At the farmers' market, your produce and meat are typically real, nutrient-dense, fresh, tasty, and healthier. During the TFM season, we are always excited to try new foods from our farmers' friends.
4. EXPLORE AND DISCOVER THE BIODIVERSITY OF OUR PLANET
Compared to your local supermarket, your local farmers market offers a wide variety of produce, allowing you to expand your taste buds: red carrots, green garlic, quail eggs, watermelon radishes; a rainbow of heirloom tomatoes, and much more. Not only does the food found at your local farmers' market travel shorter distances, but your participation reduces your footprint. By purchasing products directly from local farmers and producers, you’ll help conserve fuel, and minimize the impact of pesticides and fertilizers on earth.
5. CONNECT WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
Most farmers' markets offer fun activities, and entertainment such as music by local artists, while being short enough to add the trip to your leisure day. Coming to the farmers market is an enjoyable adventure for you and your loved ones. You will be able to meet up with your friends, bring your pets or children, or experience a taste of the locally produced bounty. As a family and a business, the TFM season is one of our yearly highlights. We have the opportunity to make our TFM day a fun workday, buying our weekly amount of groceries while connecting with our friends, who happen to sometimes be our customers.
Let's meet this year 2024 at the TFM booth, May 11-October 29, 8:00 am-12:30 pm
Stop by our TFM booth to purchase some handcrafted pastries!
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Resources
Do you live in the land of enchantment (aka New Mexico)? Please locate the nearest NM farmers market(s) on Farmers Markets NM.
If you're in the area, don't forget to stop by our booth and meet at the Taos Farmers Market, 8:00 am-12:30 pm on Saturdays. Hope to see you soon!
Do you live outside of New Mexico? Consider doing an online search (ex: Google 'Farmers Market near me') and use these links:
References:
10 Reasons to Support Farmers Markets (Foodwise)
9 Reasons to Shop at Farmers Markets and How to Get the Best Deals (Heifer)