#FarmersMarketWeek: The Shortest Distance to Better Eating

This Week In Ag #127

What is food grown for? Sounds like an easy question, right? You’ll immediately answer nutrition. Now consider that a pear loses about 30% of its vitamin C just sitting in cold storage. That’s how most pears are stored and shipped. So nutrition may not be the top priority. Okay then, it must be for taste, right? Think about the last time you bought a tomato at the store, sliced it and ate it. Now, recall the last time you ate a tomato from your garden, or a neighbor’s garden. Still think taste is the priority of the commercial food supply chain? The sad but true answer is that much of the food we consume is grown to be shipped and stored. The typical tomatoes you purchase in the grocery store are raised for a 3-week supply chain, when you consider harvest, transportation, handling and storage.  In many cases, food must travel from California to Carolina, or Mexico to Maine. And for those looking to reduce carbon footprints, that’s a long, energy-burning journey. But there is one sure way to get your hands on food that’s delicious, nutritious, fresh and earth-friendly. Shorten the supply chain. How? Do what I do every week. Visit your local farmers’ market.

As we celebrate #NationalFarmersMarketWeek, we recognize the nearly 12,000 local farmers’ markets spanning from sea to shining sea. Demand for locally grown food has skyrocketed: 80% of Americans visit a farmers market at least once annually; 41% admit to shopping there at least six times per year. Overall the number of farmers markets have grown 6x since 2000. But the benefits go well beyond bringing farm-to-table freshness to your dinner table. Patronizing farmers markets is a great way to support your local community by keeping the dollars local. You’ll support small-scale family farms. Plus, many folks enjoy the social experience. So if you don’t already, join me in visiting a farmers market this week. Pick out some delectable melons, potatoes, berries, tomatoes and of course, sweet corn. You’ll definitely taste the difference, while making a difference in your community.