Late summer and early autumn bring an abundant harvest of fresh local produce to our community, and accessing it is as easy as visiting your local farmers market.
Farmers Market Week, celebrated the first full week of August every year, reminds us to utilize this community resource to get fresh, healthy food, support local businesses and celebrate the abundance of our communities. Celebrate Farmers Market Week this year from Aug. 4 – 10!
Fresh produce is delicious and exceptionally nutritious, according to Melinda Cater, a dietitian at Johns Hopkins. Cater said, “Produce from local farmers has spent more time on the vine, on the tree or in the ground, so you get better taste and more nutrients. When it comes to fresh fruit and vegetables, the shorter the time and distance from farm to sale, the higher the levels of vitamins and minerals.”
Buying produce grown and sold locally is better for your health and your taste buds, and buying anything at the farmers market benefits your community. Farmers markets host many small businesses, from farms to artists to food trucks, and using your dollar with a local vendor ensures that your local economy sees the benefit of that profit.
Nothing beats fresh fruits and vegetables, and you can often find great deals at farmers markets. Stock up for the year and preserve it for later use; can, freeze, ferment or dehydrate anything you can’t use fresh to keep until the next time it’s available fresh and local. You can attend workshops on food preservation hosted by CCE Master Food Preservers to learn how to make the most of a farmers market haul.
Upcoming events include a Tomato Preserving Workshop at the CCE Ontario office on Aug. 27. Check out the schedule of events at cceontario.org (pre-registration is required for all events).
New York State has several benefits that make shopping at the farmers market accessible to low-income families, including the Farmers Market Nutrition Program and FreshConnect Checks. These benefits are available to participants in WIC, low-income seniors and SNAP EBT recipients. You can learn more about these benefits and find a market near you at https://cceontario.org/agriculture/local-foods.
Find a market near you and reap the benefits this Farmers Market Week!
