If you’re looking for a new weekend activity in the summer months, we have the perfect destination – your local farmers market! The summer months are peak harvest season for farmers, so there’s no better time to explore your local farmers market for fresh produce and more.
If you’ve never visited a farmers market before or are eager to learn more about them, read on to learn all about farmers markets!
There are a lot of benefits to buying from a farmers market.
If you’re asking yourself why you should visit your local farmers market instead of your usual grocery store, there are many reasons! First, local produce at farmers markets is likely more fresh than grocery store produce. When you buy from a farmers market, you also know exactly where your produce came from. Also, it offers the opportunity to support your local farmers and local businesses. An added bonus is walking around a farmers market offers an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful weather and get a little exercise.
Farmers markets offer more than produce.
Although most farmers markets offer plenty of produce options, many markets also offer much more. In addition to locally grown fruits and vegetables, you can also find cheese, bread, meat, coffee and other food products to buy, as well as snacks and meals you can enjoy while browsing the market. Many farmers markets also offer non-food related products, including flowers, art, jewelry and crafts.
Farmers markets are growing in popularity.
There are over 8,500 farmers markets currently registered in the USDA Farmers Market Directory, according to the Farmers Market Coalition. In any given area, you’re likely to find various options for farmers markets, and it’s not hard to see why they’ve become so popular!
To find farmers markets in your area, a quick Google search should pull up plenty of options. Alternatively, you can use the USDA’s National Farmers Market Directory here. Residents at The Villages at Two Rivers have plenty of local options for farmers markets, including the Piney Orchard Farmers Market and the Bowie Farmers Market. Or, residents can visit nearby Annapolis, Baltimore or Washington, D.C. to explore the farmers markets in those cities!
SOURCE: Farmers Market Coalition
