ColumbiaMagazine.com
Printed from:

Welcome to Columbia Magazine  
 



































 
Kelli Bonifer: Farmers markets have numerous benefits

By Kelli Bonifer

Many of us grew up with a family garden and remember the fresh taste of the first tomato of the summer or the crispness of the first ear of corn. While you may not have the time or space to grow your own fruits and vegetables, you can still get the freshest produce available at your local farmers market. Shopping at the local farmers market has numerous benefits for you, your family, local farmers and the community.



Food travels an average of 1,500 miles from farm to plate. Since most growers at the markets are local, their food doesn't have to travel as far to get to the consumer. Buying from local farmers ensures that you are providing your family with fresh, high-quality fruits and vegetables. Not only does this ensure you're getting the freshest produce available, but it also helps the environment by cutting down on vehicle emissions, and lowers transportation costs for farmers.Farmers markets help develop a sense of community and unity within an area. Consumers can talk directly with farmers about their products and farming operations.By the end of the season, many find they've developed a personal connection to their local farmers.

Buying from farmers markets is good for the local economy because it keeps your money in your community. It allows growers with small-to-medium-sized operations to receive a fair price for their products without having to compete against large commercial growers. Many times, farmers markets are closer than a grocery store, so shopping at the markets could cut down on your fuel costs.

Make shopping the farmers market a family experience. It provides a great opportunity to teach your children about nutrition, and how food is grown. As children get to see the food up close, they may become interested in trying new foods.

With farmers markets in nearly all of the state's counties, you can find a market that is close to you. For dates, times and locations of your local farmers market or how to become involved with the market as a vendor, contact the Adair County Cooperative Extension Service at (270) 384-2317.

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.


This story was posted on 2009-06-11 03:55:35
Printable: this page is now automatically formatted for printing.
Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know.



 

































 
 
Quick Links to Popular Features


Looking for a story or picture?
Try our Photo Archive or our Stories Archive for all the information that's appeared on ColumbiaMagazine.com.

 

Contact us: Columbia Magazine and columbiamagazine.com are published by Linda Waggener and Pen Waggener, PO Box 906, Columbia, KY 42728.
Phone: 270.403.0017


Please use our contact page, or send questions about technical issues with this site to webmaster@columbiamagazine.com. All logos and trademarks used on this site are property of their respective owners. All comments remain the property and responsibility of their posters, all articles and photos remain the property of their creators, and all the rest is copyright 1995-Present by Columbia Magazine. Privacy policy: use of this site requires no sharing of information. Voluntarily shared information may be published and made available to the public on this site and/or stored electronically. Anonymous submissions will be subject to additional verification. Cookies are not required to use our site. However, if you have cookies enabled in your web browser, some of our advertisers may use cookies for interest-based advertising across multiple domains. For more information about third-party advertising, visit the NAI web privacy site.