On the heels of a cooking class that teaches parents and kids how to incorporate farmers’ market produce into their life, I want to take a moment to persuade you to try shopping at a farmers market. I am not providing you any new information that hasn’t been published in many studies, but I will give you my personal experiences, none of which have been studied. Certainly there are many reasons to shop at the grocery store (time and convenience being two) but I will mention a few benefits for both you and the farmer if you choose my favorite way to shop.

I have a tendency according to my wife to be a “Know it all,” but I knew that before she mentioned it, so I will try not to be too “preachy.” I also cannot wear the halo of a saint, because I too have been spotted on many occasions buying my produce in a grocery store. The point here is not to condemn one, but to promote the other.  If I haven’t mentioned, I can be longwinded (also a point made by my wife that she felt I didn’t already know).

Straight to the point!  Here are some reasons to shop at the farmers market, including my personal favorites.

Farmer
•    Increased revenue
•    Direct marketing improves business skills
•    Increased networking and support with other farmers
•    A connection between rural and urban communities improves awareness and creates a better sense of community
•    Direct marketing cuts down on costs such as fuel, packaging and waste
•    Interaction with the consumer helps the farmer to understand the market better and adjust for demands
•    Money stays in the community longer creating a more stable local economy
•    Farmer is able to offer a premium product increasing like-ability

Consumer
•    Buying direct can lower the cost
•    Premium products are offered and taste better
•    Direct marketing cuts down on costs such as fuel, packaging and waste
•    Interaction with the consumer helps the farmer to understand the market better and adjust for demands
•    Money stays in the community longer creating a more stable local economy
•    A connection between rural and urban communities improves awareness and creates a better sense of community
•    Spin off-businesses are created as a result of markets

My reasons:
•    The food is better
•    The farmers are interesting
•    The people watching is fantastic
•    It feels like home
•    It’s a bit of a spiritual connection

That’s all for this week!

Cook
Husband
Educator
Father… Chef Marc Dunham