With the local farmer's market season right around the corner, getting our daily dose is going to be easier than ever. Farmer's markets, produce stands and even roadside vendors will be popping up all over the place and are your unrivaled source for the best and most nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, bar none.
When you buy locally, not only are you supporting your local farmer but you are getting the produce at its peak form. It's ready to eat right now. When you buy your "fresh" produce in a super market you're never really sure how long it's been sitting or since it has to be picked early, so that it has time to ripen, you may have to allow it to sit longer to be ready to eat.
Much of the produce that is sold at large supermarket chains is grown hundreds of miles away in places like California, Florida or even Mexico. These days as much as a week, if not longer, has passed since it was picked, packaged and trucked to the store where it can sit on shelves even longer. Since the produce has to be picked before it's ready in these cases, it is prevented from ever reaching it maximum nutritional potential - not the case with farmer's markets!
Very possibly the most important reason for buying from a farmer's market (again, besides supporting our local farmers) is avoiding Genetically Modified foods. It is left to be determined if genetically modified foods are safe or harmful, that is a controversial debate. The first genetically modified food was introduced to the market in 1996 -- 16 years ago -- so it is difficult to determine any long-term health/side effects this early. High levels of pesticides are used in GM foods. Antibiotics are used in GM foods; the issue with this is that it makes antibiotics less effective in humans after consuming large amounts of antibiotics in GM foods.
Half of all GM foods are produced in the US, mostly in large, industrial "farms." By shopping at farmer's markets, signing up for a subscription from a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm, or patronizing a local co-op, you may be able to avoid these GM products and save money at the same time.
When you purchase from a local farmer's market, you have the ability to speak with the farmer directly. You can find out how he or she feels about GM foods and whether or not they use them in their own operation. In most cases, you will find that they do not. You can also discuss the pesticides they use, the exact location where the produce is grown and what other foods they grow or have available.
In order to find local farmer's markets, besides just riding around looking for them, I suggest going to Google and searching your local area. One farm that I found in my search actually is a CSA farm: http://www.millerfarmsmarket.com/ and worth looking into if it is close to you. If it's not close by, search to find one.
Having this information and using your knowledge to feed yourself and your family healthier, fresher, more nutrient rich options is the best choice! Supporting your local farmers also helps to keep you money in your community and stimulates your local economy. It's a win/win really!
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