For those who prefer to spend weekends on land rather than water, consider a family outing or bike ride to your local farmers market. Not only will you find a variety of healthy and yummy items to choose from, but you will also be making a positive difference in your community.
- Support family farmers. Agribusiness has become big business and many small farms struggle to stay afloat financially. Purchasing directly helps local farmers and can have a positive ripple effect in your community.
- Enjoy the freshness. Even if you do not have a green thumb or space for your own garden, you can enjoy fresh-picked produce without the extra chemicals required for transportation and storage. Fresh from the farm to your table is both healthy and tasty.
- Environmentally friendly. On average, food usually “travels” more than 1,000 miles to get to your kitchen table. Transportation costs, potential storage concerns, and the chemicals used to preserve freshness add to our carbon imprint. In contrast, fruit and vegetables available at farmers markets generally travel short distances and are grown with resource conservation methods.
To find a farmer’s market near you, check out the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ handy locator feature. Browse community markets by county, city, or ZIP Code. Many farmers markets welcome well-behaved pets on leashes, so Fido and Fifi can join in the family outing.