13 reasons to shop at the farmers market

The peasant market is on the rise, with more than 8,500 markets now listed in the US Department of Agriculture's National Farmers Market Directory. These open-air markets offer locally grown - usually organic - fruits and vegetables. Farmers who grow agricultural products often work on their own stalls, sometimes selling other fresh homemade products such as cheese, nuts, flowers and jams. But the benefits far outweigh the freshness. Please read on to find out all the reasons for seeing the local farmers market as soon as possible.

Credit: Adob ​​e Stock / jackfrog

1. You will maximize your nutrition

[123 grocery products may look similar to the farmer's market The products obtained, but the nutritional aspects may vary. “Shopping at a farmers' market means buying foo, which is seasonal and local food, which leads to the highest point of consumption for its nutritional value,” said Minh-Hai Alex, a registered dietitian in Seattle, Washington. Seasonal products are more nutritious than products when harvested at the peak of ripeness. It has been shipped to all parts of the country or has been spent on the shelves for a few days. In most farmers markets, there are often some organic produce.

Credit: Adob ​​e Stock / smashingoats 2 You can ask questions

Shopping at the Farmers Market allows you to discover new products and make recommendations about you The problem with food is usually from the person who cultivates it. “It’s good to be in contact with the average farmer. I like to talk about their growth and prepare you for the idea of ​​h,” registered nutritionist Minh-Hai Alex said. "Even as a dietitian, I definitely don't know what ferns are before moving to the northwest." (She knows that Fiddleheads is a grassy, ​​nutritious mind. Ferns. To maximize your learning experience.) Please ask questions. The seller can guide you to select projects, provide service suggestions, and explain how various foods are grown.

Listen immediately ]: 'The Simpsons' writers at the marathon Living in the middle of the joke

Image source: Berc / Adob ​​e Stock 3. You may be able to fight colds and flu

[ 123] Antioxidants are the top line defense against disease, including colds and flu. Your best source of protective nutrition ients? Eat garden fresh fruits and vegetables. “Food purchased at the farmer's market is usually fresher than similar products in the store,” said Becci Twombley, director of sports nutrition at the University of Southern California. “Antioxidants are very sensitive and can degrade quickly, so the fresher the food, the stronger its antioxidant capacity.” In order to get the most benefit, you can eat a variety of colorful farmer's market fruits and vegetables to get more kinds. Different antioxidants.

Source:

DzoPhotography / iStock / Getty Images 4. You will expand your taste

Humans are visual in food. Although this may work for you in a candy store, the farm's fresh variety of "eye candy" can be favored. “Children and discerning adults are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables when they are full of vibrant colors and look appetizing,” says registered dietitian Becci Twombley. She said that the farmer's market is an ideal place to pick up new food. If your diet lacks healthy food, please taste at least one new food per purchase. Or if your child has a limited taste, provide gentle encouragement or lead by example.

Credit:

Adob ​​e Stock / ajlatan 5. You support local agriculture

According to the sustainability table, there were 4.1 million in the United States in 1959. The farm, and today it is 2.2 million. Although the number of farms has decreased in recent decades, the average size of farms has declined. The good news is that local farmers' markets account for a small portion of total US agricultural sales but are growing. “It is very important to support local farmers in this agribusiness and an increasingly globalized economic world,” said registered dietitian Minh-Hai Alex. Your purchases help the nearby farms thrive and increase the demand for locally grown produce to make the public easierGet the benefits of seasonal food.

Credit:

Past Media / Adob ​​e Stock 6. Support your community

Buying from local farmers also means supporting your community . Local retailers, including farmers' markets, account for more than three times the sales of their communities, according to the Farmers Market Alliance, compared to chain competitors. Local growers also created 13 full-time jobs for every $1 million in sales, while industrial growers created three out of every $1 million in sales. “The sale to the (farmers) market allows us to start our business slowly,” Freddy Kaufmann, a Florida-based small business owner, told Farmer's Market Coalition. “We will not be here without the market.”

Credit:

william87 / Adob ​​e Stock 7. You will protect the environment

If your Health problems are not limited to the health of the body and the nutrition of the earth. The farmer's market is also a win-win situation. Purchasing locally grown foods will reduce the “food miles” (food distance) products from the place of production to the final sale for final consumption. This reduces fossil fuel energy use, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions during transport.

Credit:

Adob ​​e Stock / oticki 8. You will save money

Farmers based on data from the Farmers Market Alliance, fruits and vegetables on the market The cost is often the same or insufficient for the cost of the physical store. Local farmers sell seasonal foods that are adequately supplied and spend less on marketing and packaging, allowing them to compete on price. Another cost advantage is that you can bulk purchase products during the peak hours of their seasons and freeze or save them so that they may be out of date or more expensive. Farmers also froze tomatoes and berries during the high season for later use in salsa and jam.

Credit:

Adob ​​e Stock / Zsolnai Gergely 9. Homemade food (without additives) [1]23]

Homemade foods from farmers' markets, such as bread, cakes and sauces, usually contain no artificial additives that may or may not increase health. Most of the additives used to extend the shelf life of foods are not necessary for food sold by fresh farmers, who are quickly transferred from the kitchen to the consumer. When buying candy from local farmers' markets, keep in mind that although they may be more natural than commercial snacks, they should be eaten in moderation.

Credit:

Jupiterimages / Stockbyte / Getty Images

10. Reduced waste generated

When you shop at the farmers market, you will be happy to know all Food can be used for ease of use. According to the Farmers Market Alliance, most suppliers can predict how much food they will sell on the market and prepare accordingly. Unlike grocery stores and restaurants, farmers tend to recycle the remaining food. Farmers may turn the remaining zucchini into zucchini bread, kale into kale slices, basil into pesto, and then sell the prepared food on the market. The excess fruit becomes a mix of candied fruit, pies, fruit skins and gossip. Some farmers feed unused agricultural products to livestock or compost or donate additional mucus to the charity.

Credit:

markobe / Adob ​​e Stock

11. Sensory pleasure and memory

From the colorful display and the buzz of music and dialogue to The aroma and taste of delicious food samples, the farmer's market is a sensory feast. Linda Wasmer Andrews said in today's psychology journal that in addition to its sheer fun, research shows that sensory stimulation can keep the brain young. Multisensory stimuli are occasionally used as complementary therapies for dementia. A sensory-rich environment may also help delay age-related memory loss and prevent the formation of proteins in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease. In order to increase these potential extra allowances, please pay attention to interacting with other and absorbing sounds, sights and tastes.

Credit:

viki2win / iStock / Getty ImagEs

12. Better weight management

Shopping at the farmers market offers many weight-control privileges: physical activity, nutritious food, whole food and improved awareness of food. Fruits and vegetables are nutritious, and each serving provides more vitamins, minerals, water and satiety fiber than processed foods such as pretzels, white rice and soft drinks. The Farmers Market Alliance found that proximity to farmers' markets was associated with a lower body mass index. Paying more attention to your food choices combined with daily activities can help to control your weight healthily.

Cr Editor:

Adob ​​e Stock / WavebreakMediaMicro

13. You will build a community awareness

"The local farmers market is a natural place to interact with neighbors Place," psychologist Linda Wasmer wrote Andrews. She said that people who are immersed in the peasant market can provide a sense of belonging, trust in their neighbors, and an important feeling. Buying locally grown products in the community market also allows you to interact with like-minded people and possibly make new friends. In addition, according to the Farmers' Market Alliance, people who frequently enter the farmer's market have 15 to 20 social interactions per visit, and the grocery store may have one or two interactions.

Credit:

Adob ​​e Stock / Julie

What do you think?

Whether you regularly or occasionally shop at a local farmers' market, remember to load nutritious whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains. Changing your lifestyle and incorporating more nutritious foods can bring a variety of benefits. Are you shopping at the farmers market? If so, what foods do you usually buy there, and what benefits do you experience? Add any tips or benefits? Please let us know in the comments below!

Credit:

Scott Griessel / Adob ​​e Stock