For several years now, there has been an increasing popularity of locally grown foods. Local organics have gone from a fringe luxury to a regular grocery list staple- and for good reason.

The rise in popularity is due to several factors. First, Americans have become more health-conscious. As their awareness has grown, there has also been an increase in demand for fresh, high quality produce. And since proximity is the number one metric used to determine the freshness of a product, the increasing popularity of locally grown foods continues to escalate.

Farmers Markets

The demand for locally grown foods has brought with it a growing popularity of local farmer’s markets. Regular visitors to farmers’ markets are able to enjoy fresh, wholesome produce throughout a slightly extended growing season. This also helps the small farms stay alive amidst stiff competition from outside conglomerates.

Farmers often harvest during the early dawn hours, just prior to heading to the market to sell. This means just a couple of hours lie in-between their dirt, and your purchase. The fresher the produce, the fuller the flavor.

Why Choose Farmer’s Markets?

Buying from the farmers’ markets cuts down on the distance from point A to point B on the produce delivery route. This leads to a reduction of pollution as less fossil fuels are being burned to place the fresh produce in the hands of waiting customers. It also cuts down on the excess packaging that routinely rots our landfills.

The increasing popularity of locally grown foods, along with the markets that support them, has led to the happy side effect of stronger local communities benefitting from local economic development.

Many downtowns have been revitalized by the help of a new farmers’ market rolling into town. People head to the farmers’ market to shop, but also end up patronizing some of the local business that might otherwise be hurting for business.

The Best Reason to Buy Local

Sure, the food tastes fresher and it’s fun to support your community, but another excellent reason to support farmers’ markets is the social aspect. Farmers’ markets have been around in one form or another for thousands of years. It’s somehow fitting to minimize the distance between farmer and consumer and reestablish the historic ties that have bound them together. You may even pick up a few gardening tips or make some new friends along the way.

Also, there is so much more conversation and exchange taking place on even the slowest day at a farmers’ market than there ever would be in the produce section of a busy grocery store.

The increasing popularity of local grown foods doesn’t appear as though it will to slow any time soon. So why not wake up early next weekend, and give local grown foods a try?