Farmers Markets: Bringing the Farm to Table
Farmers markets are becoming more available and popular in neighborhoods across the country and are a great way to support local vendors in your community. These can be affordable options and farmers markets help us overcome the obstacle to healthful eating. This can be a great family activity where everyone can participate in purchasing, preparing, and tasting many healthy items. Vendors at Farmers markets even include more than just fruits and vegetables—many now include bread, nuts, seeds, soap, cheeses, honey, eggs, grass-fed beef, fresh cut flowers, and perhaps even local roasted coffee.
Here are some ideas to enjoy your experience at your local Farmers market:
Ask Questions: The people selling products want to answer your question. Ask how the food is grown. Sometimes samples and recipes are also available along with tips on selecting and storing fruits and vegetables. This is our chance to learn something new about a product that hasn’t been tried before.
Be Flexible: Accept that produce will not always look perfect. Keep in mind that it has been grown locally and picked recently, which means it is packed with flavor and nutrients.
Reusable bags: Bring eco-friendly bags to carry your purchases home but be sure to separate raw meat and poultry from ready-to-eat foods such as fresh produce and breads.
Time your outing: The less traffic in the market, the more opportunities you will have to get the best products and chat with vendors. If you are shopping on a budget, going at the end of the day will usually enable you to get some great deals and negotiate prices.
Food Safety: Always be mindful of how vendors practice food safety—all meat and dairy products should be in a cooler with ice. Only buy pasteurized milk and dairy products, eggs should be properly chilled at 40 F, avoid produce with mold, bruises or cuts as these are places for dirt and bacteria. Wash produce even if you plan to peel it before eating.
Do your homework: Find a market that is in a convenient location and has hours that fit your schedule so this shopping could be part of your weekly routine. These sources can help find options in your location:
o National Farmers Market Directory—enter your City, State or Zip code for markets near you: National Farmers Market Directory (nfmd.org)
o Minnesota has a great website that provides options to search location, click on recipes as well as a wholesale directory if you would like to visit the farm:
o North Dakota: https://www.nd.gov/ndda/marketing-information-division/local-foods/farmers-
o Wisconsin: WI Farmers Market Association - Find a farmers market (wifarmersmarkets.org)
o Iowa: https://iowaagriculture.gov/horticulture-and-farmers-markets
o South Dakota:
o https://www.farmersmarketplaces.com/state/index.php?st=SD&page=1
o https://extension.sdstate.edu/tags/farmers-market-operation
o Nebraska: https://www.nebraska.gov/apps-ag-farmers-market/
Information contributed by Denise Cleveland, TEAM Dietitian
