Why it's important to shop the Farmers' Market

As August kicks off, produce in Indiana is at its peak. So much is in season and farmers’ markets are bursting with the scents, colors and textures of all the great, locally grown fruits and veggies.

Farmers’ markets are a huge part of Cafe Baby’s story. It’s given the company a platform and a community that comes together once a week.

Mom and local farm owner, Claire Trost, shares how important and special it is to shop your local market as we celebrate National Farmers’ Market Week!

Support Your Local Community

When giving your dollars to someone local versus a national retailer, it is more likely to stay in your local community.

The grower will use their profit from the market to visit restaurants, hairdressers, or send their kids to dance lessons in your town. This keeps people in your town employed and those amenities that you love in business.

Whereas, if purchasing though a major retailer, a few of your dollars will be used as wages or even corporate donations but well over half of them will be shipped out of your community.

Limit Your Global Footprint

Barbra Kingsolver makes a great case for consuming food that comes from your local community within the first few pages of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.

She writes, “If every US citizen ate just one meal a week (any meal) composed of locally and organically raised meat and produce, we would reduce our country’s oil consumption by 1.1 million barrels of oil every week.”

A typical meal travels 1,500 miles (more miles than most Americans travel on yearly vacations) to get to your plate,  consuming natural resources and adding to pollution every mile.

The Learning Experience

Whether you are introduced to a new vegetable like fennel or kohlrabi or just getting a better understanding of seasonality, the farmers’ market can teach consumers a lot about food.

The farmers’ market is an opportunity to ask the experts, the farmers. The farmers also know their products best. They can be a great help in cooking their produce or meat and will happily share tips so that you have a great experience with their products.

Get to Know the Farmer or Maker

The farmers’ market is nice because it gives you a bit of a “behind the scenes” peak at your food as it introduces you to the person who is responsible for it.

You get to meet the person who planted and cared for the growing seed. You can talk with the person who feeds the chickens every day.

Many of the farms at the market are family-run farms that are trying to stay competitive in a global food market. It is so great to start to build a relationship with them and know that you are directly impacting a person who is passionate and transparent.

Superior Taste and Nutrition

The taste of a fruit or a vegetable that has just been picked is vastly different than something that has sat for weeks in storage. And, when just picked, nutritional elements are at their peak.

Fresh food from your community gives new meaning to “real” food.  Not to mention, fewer chemicals- if any at all- are used at the farmers’ market as the produce does not have to be waxed or gassed in order to survive shipping and shelf life.

It’s Fun!

Honestly, who really enjoys the grocery store?

It’s always freezing cold, no one talks to each other, artificial lights shine bright, everyone is in a rush and it always seems just a little stale.

At the farmers’ market, things are alive!

The food isn’t packaged, letting shoppers use all their senses to see, feel, smell and even sometimes taste it.

People shop as a family and visit with friends.

You feel more connected to not just your community, but also to the earth, thanks to the shining sun and fantastic produce, meats, cheeses and artisan products available for purchase. 

After a stressful week inside, in front of computer screens, this is the perfect way to spend a Saturday.

Café Baby​ provides health-conscious parents with a convenient, long-lasting range of fresh, handmade baby food and lactation products. These mom and baby friendly foods are fresh-frozen for easy access and are shipped to your doorstep. Shop their age-based menus at www.cafebabytogo.com. 

Claire Trost is a freelance writer and owner of Bent Arrow Acres, a sustainable farm in Russiaville, Indiana. Every August, Bent Arrow Acres runs their local food challenge, encouraging their social community to eat only local food for the whole month! Join the challenge and follow along with #bentarrowacreschallenge2019 on social media.