While much of the United States sleeps in on weekend mornings, a quiet revolution goes on in America. We are taking charge of the food we eat and supporting our communities by shopping at farmer’s markets. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), there are nearly 3,000 farmer’s markets throughout the country where every summer weekend we buy and sell fresh, organic produce, swap recipes with neighbors, and generally revel in the vitality of local markets.

Popular Pastime

Why the rise in farmer’s markets? Our health, our earth, and our community. Health is the number-one reason that markets are popping up everywhere. As Americans have become increasingly health conscious, we have increased the amount of fruit and vegetables in our diets, and insisted on the freshest and best-tasting produce available.

The earth is another reason for farmer’s markets’ popularity. We want assurance that growing methods are not only non-toxic, natural, and safe for us, but safe for the soil as well. Be certain to ask farmer’s market vendors whether they use chemicals to fertilize crops or control pests.