In our ever quickening world, people seem to have forgotten some of the simple pleasures of life in favor of “quick and easy.” One of those things is farm markets.

All across the county in recent years, farm markets have seen attendance rates slowly declining as people choose to forgo the old market tradition in favor of speed shopping at the local supermarket, prepared meals to go, or ordering from a mail-order food service. And while these alternative do provide a certain level of “convenience,” there’s something you lose in the process.

Fresher Food

Sure all those signs at the supermarket say “fresh, local produce,” and some of those mail-order boxes give you a picture of a some farm family that supposedly grew the food contained within, but how do you know how fresh that food really is? Legally the word “local” can apply to any produce from under 400 miles away. That “fresh local” produce may have been riding around quite a while before it ended up your supermarket.

On the other hand, at your local farm market, you can find out exactly where the farmer is from and therefore how local that produce really is. Generally the more local it is, the fresher it’s going to be.

Buying local is important in products other than produce as well. Did you know that eating local honey can help reduce spring and fall allergies? This is because of the small amounts of local pollen you’re exposed to when you ingest local honey. But it only works when you buy local. Pollen-infused honey from the other side of the country (which you’d probably get from a supermarket) isn’t going to help you.

Connection With the Growers at Farm Markets

When you buy at a local farm market, you get to talk directly to the growers. You can find out what production methods are used. (Many farmers who are not certified organic still sell unsprayed produce). This applies to other products too.

Want to know if the cow that beef came from had a good life of living on pasture or spent a terrible life being fed nothing but corn in small stall in a dark barn? Well, that’s something you can’t find out by picking up a package of steak at the supermarket. But you can find that out by talking to farmers at your local farm markets.

Less Waste

Supermarkets and mail-order boxes have “high” standards of what produce must look like. It doesn’t matter how tasty, well grown, or good quality it is; if it’s not aesthetically pleasing to look at, it gets rejected. This makes it very hard on farmers, as Mother Nature never grows everything perfectly. There’s always a tomato with a “nose” or a two-legged carrot somewhere.

There’s nothing wrong with this “ugly” produce, but supermarkets reject it because it doesn’t “look right”. At local farm markets, however, farmers can sell their ugly produce themselves so they don’t have to take a loss based on aesthetics. In fact, you sometimes even find such ugly produce being offered at a discount, often called “seconds;” something you won’t find in a supermarket.

Entertainment at the Farm Markets

When was the last time you walked into a supermarket and were greeting with a dazzling performance of live music? Never? Well then you’re definitely missing out because some of the greatest musicians you’ll ever hear are hiding out at the local farm markets. Over the years I’ve spent at markets, we’ve been treated to the talents of Jackson Cavalier, Helen Ellis, Meyer and McGuire, Almost Irish, Anthony Siciliano, Mary Monroe, Thomas O’Bine, Big Sugar Creek and Friends, and a slew of others whose names I don’t know, but enjoyed just the same.

You also get treated to fun events like a Kids’ Day or Harvest Fest. These events often include music, food, and activities related to the theme. It’s all just a great atmosphere that makes going to a farm market something of a fun adventure, rather than just a dreaded trip of going to the grocery store to stock up for the week.

So in a world that is already too fast paced, take a little time to slow down. Grab the kids and make an outing of it. If time is short, call ahead to the farmers so they can save you what you need. Most have their numbers listed right on their business pages and can have your order ready when you arrive at market. Take a little time to see what you’ve been missing; you might find you’re glad for the slower pace.

By Amber Reifsteck, The Woodland Elf

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