WV Farm Bureau Magazine July 2013 | Page 15

A s you go about your weekend errands you may encounter a closed street with pop up tents across the alley. Congratulations! You have found your local farmers market. Farmers markets have been around for years but have become more popular thanks to the “Go Green” movement. At these farmers markets you can find a variety of items including fresh baked goods, jams, organic or grass-fed meats, fresh fruit and vegetables, flowers, and even plants for the do-ityourselfer. There are many reasons to support farmers markets but here are 8 reasons why we should eat locally: • Farmers markets allow us to eat seasonally and reconnect with the cycles in our environment. • Eating locally helps support our local farmers (because without farmers there would be no food!). • Local foods help protect our environment by not having food travel thousands of miles, burning precious fuel. • Eating food fresh from the garden means we are eating less-processed food, without additives or preservatives. • Farmers markets add a little diversity to our diet because varieties like red carrots or heirloom tomatoes are normally not offered in grocery stores. Nothing is as fun as preparing something you have never tried before! • We are able to connect with the farmers who provided our delicious meal. Sometimes we can even go to the local farm for a fun visit or pick