The Farmer’s Market

Have you been to the farmer’s market lately? Do you even know if there is one in your area? Well, my wife and I found our farmer’s market in the next town over (Hubberston, MA), which operates on Sunday from 10 – 2. It isn’t huge, but has all the things you want from a farmer’s market. You can get vegetables, milk, cheese, ice cream (if you order the week before), and even some craft items. We have heard that there might be a farmer that stops by and sells meat (lamb), but thus far we haven’t seen him.

So, why make a special trip to the farmer’s market? Well, for one, all the stuff you buy is fresh. The vegetables that we buy are usually picked just that morning or the night before (can’t get much fresher than that). You are also helping out the small local farmers in your area, and with the corporate farms in the United States chewing up more and more small farms, these little farmers need all the help they can get. Also, by buying from the farmer’s market you are supporting your local community, and that is essentially helping yourself since money that spent in the community usually stays in the community. And last but not least, you are getting to know the people in your community. People at a farmer’s market are all local people, sharing a common interest in sharing in the harvest of the farmers. Talking with these people will help foster that sense of community that is sadly lacking in most towns and cities here in the United States.

Are the goods cheaper at the farmer’s market than at your grocery store? In some cases yes, but in most cases the physical dollar price is slightly higher, but if you take into account such things as growing costs, impact of the growing techniques on the environment, cost of getting the goods to market, and packaging, the goods at a farmer’s market are a lot cheaper than anything you can find at a grocery store. Add to this the fact that you know where it was grown and that you can speak personally to the farmer (or his/her helpers) about his/her farm and the cost in peace a mind alone is worth a few extra cents in physical dollar price.

So, next time you are about to do your grocery shopping, why not stop by your local farmer’s market, and support your local farmers. Then again, this is just life according to Troy.