Many people are concerned with food miles and want to buy locally grown food. They also want to support their local farming community and eat fresh produce. The answer is the Farmers Market, a growing movement that has become a familiar sight. The produce sold at these markets tends to be organically grown and meat is normally humanely reared. Farmers obtain a better price for their goods, consumers like the freshness and the local economy benefits. It’s also better for the planet.
The number of markets of this kind in the United States is estimated at around 4,000. They are also popular in Europe and have been a traditional way of life in Asia. Produce at Farmers Markets usually includes meat, poultry, fruit, vegetables, eggs, cheese and honey. Some markets also supply local restaurants. Many of them operate on a weekly basis and build up a core of loyal customers.
A lot of farmers run the markets as a co-operative scheme, giving customers value for money. The public likes the personal shopping experience with the stallholders, which is missing from shopping in a supermarket. Some of the markets include arts and crafts stalls and other products, whilst others have a strict food only policy.
The Union Square Green market in New York City is an example of a bustling, urban market. It sells Atlantic seafood, grass fed raw milk cow’s cheese and bread made in wood ovens. All this can be washed down with farm made cider and there is a stall for hand made maple products. Santa Fe in New Mexico has a market, run by Native Americans, who rear buffalo meat and also sell posole and different varieties of dried chile.
There are lots of vegetables piled high at the Farmers Market in Boulder, Colorado, in addition to goat’s cheese, free range chickens and cut flowers. The Dane County market takes place in Madison, Wisconsin and there are sausages, rabbits, honey, and baked goods available. A variety of berries are also for sale along with wild hickory nuts.
Dungeness Crab is considered to be a delicacy and this is sold at the Portland Farmers Market in Oregon, along with wild mushrooms, cranberries, breads and pastries. Children can learn how to cook in their own cooking classes. Seattle University U-District Market is a food only market and sells cider, hazelnuts, wild huckleberries, free range eggs, mushrooms and grass fed goat’s meat.
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