food : farmers market
Buying organic products are all the rage these days. They've even hit the shelves at major grocery chains, and entire grocery chains are created around organic goods. BUT...not all organic products are created equally, in terms of quality and integrity.

I have to admit that I had been wooed by the most famous of the organic grocery chains, but I became increasingly disheartened with their offerings. Not everything is organically grown! And so much of it isn't local. Some produce comes from foreign countries (where the organic standards are even less rigid than the U.S.).

What's been the solution? Shopping at my local farmers market.

There was an era (pre-World War II) when organic produce was just called "produce". Organic was naturally the standard. Once big business started churning out fruits, veggies and grains, all hell broke loose. And here we are in the 21st century, trying to keep track of all the junk that's ended up in our food system -- pesticides, fungicides, genetically modified organisms, e. coli, just to name a few.

While the number of small, family farms dedicated to sustainable agriculture is shrinking (literally by the day), they do exist, and it's up to us to vote with our dollars and ensure the integrity of food for future generations.

Need more reasons to support your local farmers?
All that is available are seasonal items. When you eat seasonally, you get the best flavor and nutritional value.

Food is grown locally, which means it took FAR less resources (just think of the gasoline consumption alone) to get the food to you. It hasn't traveled thousands of miles to get to your plate.

If you have any questions about the product, you can ask the farmer directly. Ask how it was grown. Ask him or her how they would cook it. They'll tell you and with a smile.

You're welcome to sample the food before you buy it. Take the guess work out of choosing the right fruit or veggie. Taste it first.

Buying food from small farms, ensures the quality of the food you eat. Big companies are about keeping costs low and increasing profit. Small farms definitely aren't in the business to rake in the "dough". They're in this business because they believe in providing the best food possible, in the most socially and environmentally responsible way they know how.

The farmers market is a great outting for kids of any age. It may sound silly and hoaky, but shopping at the farmers market instantly brings you closer to the food you eat.

Be a role model for your children. Food doesn't magically appear, wrapped in plastic at the grocery store. Someone had to nurture the sustenance that nourishes your body (and soul).

Add some variety to the dinners you seem to make over and over and over again. So you might not be able to buy a tomato at the farmers market in the dead of winter (like you're able to at the grocery store), but you learn to adapt to the natural cycles of the earth. We're all accustomed to going to the store with a list in hand, but when you shop at the market without one you'll try foods that you've never tried (or even heard of) before. If you're not sure how to cook it, just ask the farmer, and he or she will tell you how. The farmers know the food the best, so their advice is spot on.

Visit the U.S.D.A's website to locate your local farmers market.

updated 7.29.07